Cryogenic Era in Szeged: Storing the Discoveries of the Future at -150 °C

Until now, samples were stored at -80°C. While this established practice provided a stable foundation, cryogenic storage at -150°C or below - using a liquid nitrogen-based cooling medium - opens up a new time horizon: it can preserve the structural and molecular state of biological samples, including human blood plasma, over decades.

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With this development, the storage time of plasma samples used in research is significantly extended. This is not only a technological advancement, but a matter of research security: greater long-term comparability, more stable data quality, and increased scientific responsibility.

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One of the system’s key features is that it minimizes the temperature difference between storage and sample handling. The Askion units are connected via a rail system to a temperature-controlled workstation. Sample picking, retrieving samples, and storage of the samples are fully automated, performed by robotic arms in a closed and controlled environment.

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Another major advantage of the automated cryogenic system is its capacity: it can store up to one million sample tubes. The freezer units are being delivered in multiple phases, with the first installation completed in December.

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Within the long-term vision of the Frontiers Foundation, the development of CMF Biobank is not merely an infrastructure expansion, but an important milestone - ensuring that our biological samples will be available to future researchers and diagnostic procedures.