Hi everyone,
we recently switched most of our -80°C freezers to the absolutely scorching -70°C in my lab.
We did so because apparently the -80°C guideline originated from a technical limit imposed by the cooling fluid used back in the day. Thus it has nothing to do with a potential increase of our beloved samples stability over time.
It has no impact on sample life BUT the energy spent for going lower and lower in temperature increase exponentially. From what i can remember the increase in energy cost could be as high as 30%.
Here are some resources on the subject.
https://sustain.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/resources/UBC_Why_Chill_Up_Info_Sheet_1.pdf
https://www.freezerchallenge.org/uploads/2/1/9/4/21945752/minus-70-is-the-new-minus-80_3.pdf
https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/jcm.42.3.1257-1259.2004
https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1476-511X-11-53.pdf
https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/sites/default/files/attached-files/seracare_stability_of_genomic_dna_at_various_storage_conditions_isber2009.pdf
https://www.kidney-international.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0085-2538%2815%2949680-2
https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/sites/default/files/attached-files/seracare_aabb_poster_20y_stability_viruses_dna_rna.pdf
What do you think of that ?
Dear Philippe Paget-Bailly Congratulations!
Good move. I am impressed. The attached links are indeed helpful.
As responsible citizens of planet earth, we all should follow suit.
Thanks Philippe Paget-Bailly
Save Energy Save Earth
Philippe Paget-Bailly I believe that the switch from -80°C storage to -70°C storage for environmental reasons is a valid and sensible decision. The commonly used guideline of -80°C storage temperature originated from the technical limitations of cooling fluids used in the past, rather than being based on the long-term stability of samples.
The primary motivation for switching to -70°C storage is the significant reduction in energy consumption. It has been observed that the energy required to achieve and maintain temperatures lower than -70°C increases exponentially. By transitioning to -70°C, laboratories can potentially reduce energy costs by up to 30% compared to using -80°C freezers. This reduction in energy consumption aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The decision to switch temperature settings should be supported by scientific evidence and careful consideration of the specific samples being stored. The resources provided in the discussion include studies and information sheets that discuss the stability of various samples at different storage conditions. These resources can help researchers assess the impact of the temperature change on the integrity and longevity of their specific samples.
It is important to note that while the change in storage temperature may not directly affect the stability of the samples, researchers should ensure that the new storage temperature is within an acceptable range for maintaining sample quality and functionality. Factors such as the nature of the samples, intended duration of storage, and any specific temperature requirements should be taken into account.
In conclusion, the decision to switch from -80°C to -70°C storage for environmental reasons is a valid choice that can potentially reduce energy consumption without compromising the stability of samples. It is important for researchers to evaluate the specific requirements of their samples and consider the available scientific evidence when making such a transition.
In general most chemical reactions that degrade samples are slowed with decreasing temperature. This means that the colder it is the longer they will last. If you have a high turn over of your freezer contents then raising the temperature will not be a problem.
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