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    4. / Quality Consumables: Matrix 2D Barcoded Tubes

Quality Consumables: Matrix 2D Barcoded Tubes

Written by | Published: 12.03.2015

Matrix 2D TubesWhen it comes to variables that can be controlled, the quality of a biobank’s laboratory equipment and consumables may play a formidable role in ensuring that biospecimens can be stored efficiently and in a way that protects usability. One product that meets this standard is Thermo Scientific’s space-saving Matrix 2D bar-coded screw-top storage tubes. 

According to an earlier post, Matrix tubes offer superior performance in three key areas:1

  • Functionality: Because the materials used to construct the tubes don’t bind proteins or DNA, researchers can recover the entire sample after storage. This is particularly good news for researchers in the -omics fields.

  • Resilience: The team observed exceptional tube integrity (no failures via leak test) after five freeze/thaw cycles (-196°C). They also noted a 0% failure rate after drops from 91.4 cm (frozen 96-tube racks) when compared with competitor tubes.

  • Traceability: High-contrast bar coding resists chemical exposure and abrasion and offers enhanced readability even when conditions are less than ideal. This 2-D bar code etched in the screw top allows biobankers to track samples and researchers to use accompanying sample data to augment their work.

Matrix tubes, which were recently featured in “Inside the Mayo Clinic Biobank,” a video collaboration between the National Press Foundation and the Mayo Clinic, are suitable for both manual and automated storage under conditions ranging from room temperature to vapor phase liquid nitrogen. They are compatible with the full line of Thermo Scientific bar code readers, which enable integration with existing tracking systems to ensure that researchers have access to accurate linked data for the generation of reproducible, verifiable experimental findings.

Further information on Matrix storage tubes and optimizing sample storage can be found here.

 

References 

1. Biagioni, K. “Three Reasons to Choose Thermo Scientific Matrix 2D-barcoded Cryostorage Tubes,” Accelerating Science: Inside Biobanking, May 8, 2014. 

2. National Press Foundation. “Inside the Mayo Clinic Biobank,” online video clip, June 2, 2015.

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