Ikea Samla Box Sample Archive / Biobank

thingiverse

Recently the need arose for a cost effective sample archive in -80°C freezers. To some extent we have custom tubes, and wanted a stackable storage solution for chest freezers. Lacking a good commercial solution, I drew up some inserts for Ikea Samla boxes (39x28x14 cm / 11L) to be milled or laser cut (from 40mm XPS foam from the hardware store). DIN A3 Mylar stencil material was then labeled and cut on a Silhouette Cameo 3 (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B008HNQ9A2, penholder with mounted STABILO permanent marker, autoblade on setting 3) The mylar label allows for the archive position to be entered in the laboratory information system (LIS), so that samples may be retrieved later. Our TA's note the last free box # and position. Samples for the archive are first placed on a separate foam rack (kept near the computer) starting with the last free position. The sample archive positions are then easily entered into the LIS. Later the tubes are transferred to the corresponding box/position near the freezer (preventing unnecessary freeze/thaw cycles). The last free box/position is noted again (on the empty rack that is taken back to the computer worksstation).