Samplematrix used in lab sustainability initiative

Transfer of biological samples from frozen to room-temperature storage could reduce electricity usage, carbon footprint and operating costs at a major US university, according to a Biomatrica project.

Electricity usage could be cut by 40 million kWh, carbon footprint reduced by an estimated 18,000 tonnes, and USD16m saved in operating costs over the next 10 years.

Part of a sustainability initiative, the pilot project involved the transfer of 70,000 DNA and RNA samples from low (-20C) and ultra-low-temperature (-80C) freezers in 12 laboratories to a room-temperature storage technology called Samplematrix, developed by Biomatrica.

Fourteen other laboratories at the university provided detailed sample collection data.

In addition to the pilot project information, researchers used data specific to the university, as well as industry trends, to develop a forecast model for determining the benefits that the university could derive by applying the room-temperature storage technology to the nine to 13 million addressable samples currently stored in approximately 2,000 freezers in 350 laboratories around the campus.

Other findings released show that the university could reduce its use of chilled water by 7 million tonne-hours over 10 years by transferring samples from freezers to room-temperature storage; realise total energy savings of 160 billion BTU over the 10-year period; create a secure sample storage system that can easily be evacuated and maintained without power in any emergency situation.

Detailed information about the pilot project can be found in the case studies located on Biomatrica's website.

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