The GRCF Biorepository & Cell Center takes the following measures to ensure the safety of your specimen:
- Routine maintenance and compliance with CAP regulations for all biological safety cabinets and required cell culture equipment.
- Cell culture rooms are restricted in access to GRCF Cell Center & Biorepository trained staff.
- All cultures are tested and confirmed mycoplasma free.
- Cultures are prepared to be split between two incubators.
- All specimens are given a 9 digit unique identified upon receipt into the GRCF Biorepository & Cell Center.
- 1ml of whole blood is retained and cryopreserved prior to blood processing.
- Cryopreserved replicate aliquots are stored in separate freezers.
- Because the quality and viability of the specimen is directly related to the way in which temperature and alarms are monitored, all equipment is continually monitored.
- Every piece of storage equipment that houses specimens has an internal alarm, an external alarm, and an in-person monitoring plan.
- Storage equipment (cell culture incubators and freezers) are routinely validation for temperature consistency, quality monitoring and cold supply.
- Every label is equipped with both barcoded and human readable information. Label integrity is validated under extreme conditions.
- Disaster contingency plans are in place and routinely tested.
- Barcoded specimens and sample tracking are provided using the Freezerworks 4D relational database.