Human Sample Material
Different Sample Types
Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Tissue
Snap Frozen Tissue
Biological Liquids (Blood, Urine, Saliva, Follicular fluid, Seminal plasma, Cerebrospinal fluid...)
Others (Cells, Stool...)
Tissue Samples
1. Storage of Snap Frozen Tissue Samples
Snap frozen (= Flash frozen) tissues are stored in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen in cryo tanks. The temperature varies between -140°C and -160°C. It's supervised 24/7 and recorded for quality traceability.
2. Storage of FFPE Blocks & Slides
Samples taken from surgeries and biopsies are Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE). Those blocks and related slides occurred in the last 30 years are stored in the well-organized archive at room temperature. Since 2012 samples have been labelled with 2D Data Matrix codes.
Liquid Samples
1. Handling of Liquid Samples
A fully automated robot system to process liquid samples has been custom-designed for Biobank Graz. Freezing of aliquots taken from primary tubes is performed within a few minutes by the robot system on a single tube level.
2. Storage of liquid samples
Storage of liquid samples is realized in fully automated storage system at -80°C with single tube picking of single aliquots at -20°C or -80°C assisted by 2D Data Matrix codes.
