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Lab Equipment
Updated September 9, 2025
Cryogenic freezer
A cryogenic freezer is a lab device that stores biological samples at extremely low temperatures. It preserves them by halting all biological activity.
Category
Lab Equipment
Use Case
Long-term storage of biological samples at ultra-low temperatures
Key Features
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Ultra-Low Temperature Storage Capability Uniform Temperature Distribution System Advanced Digital Temperature Control Interface Secure Locking And Alarm Mechanisms Energy-Efficient Insulation And Compressor Design
In Simple Terms
What It Is
A cryogenic freezer is a special kind of freezer that gets extremely cold, much colder than the one in your kitchen. While your home freezer might keep things around -18°C (0°F), a cryogenic freezer can drop all the way down to around -150°C (-238°F) or even colder. It uses special coolants, like liquid nitrogen, to reach and maintain these super-low temperatures. Think of it as a deep freeze on steroids, designed to preserve things that ordinary freezers can’t handle.
Why People Use It
People use cryogenic freezers mainly to preserve biological materials for a very long time without them going bad. At regular freezer temperatures, cells, tissues, bacteria, or other sensitive samples can still slowly deteriorate because some chemical processes don’t fully stop. But at cryogenic temperatures, almost everything grinds to a halt. This "pause button" effect means scientists can store important research samples, medical specimens, or even reproductive cells like sperm and eggs for years, keeping them in exactly the same state as when they were frozen. It’s crucial for research, medicine, and biotechnology where preserving life’s building blocks is essential.
Everyday Examples
You might not have a cryogenic freezer at home, but they play a role in things that affect daily life. For instance, in fertility clinics, they’re used to freeze eggs or embryos, helping people have families when they’re ready. In medical labs, they preserve blood, tissue samples, or vaccines that need long-term storage. Even some foods, like high-quality seafood or specialty herbs, are flash-frozen using cryogenic methods to lock in freshness until they reach your plate. While it’s lab equipment, its impact shows up in healthcare, science, and sometimes even the food you eat.
Technical Details
Definition
A cryogenic freezer is a specialized laboratory apparatus designed to preserve biological samples, chemicals, or other materials at extremely low temperatures, typically ranging from -150°C to -196°C. These ultra-low temperatures are achieved using cryogenic agents such as liquid nitrogen or specialized mechanical refrigeration systems. The primary function is to halt all biological activity and chemical degradation, ensuring long-term sample integrity for research, medical, or industrial applications.
How It Works
Cryogenic freezers operate by maintaining a consistently ultra-low temperature environment through either vapor-phase or liquid-phase cooling. In liquid nitrogen-based systems, samples are stored above a reservoir of liquid nitrogen, where the continuously evaporating nitrogen gas creates a uniform cold vapor that envelops the specimens. Mechanical freezers use advanced cascade refrigeration systems with multiple compressors and refrigerants to achieve similar temperatures. Both systems incorporate precise temperature controllers and monitoring systems to maintain stability, with alarms to alert users of deviations. The extreme cold effectively suspends molecular motion, preventing enzymatic activity, microbial growth, and chemical reactions that would otherwise degrade samples.
Key Components
Common Use Cases
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