Repository facility: The Milano Cord Blood Bank

In spite of abundant literature on cryobiology, relatively limited published information is available on specific features of the facilities where biological materials are stored. In this article the repository facility of a large cord blood bank is described. The 122 sq m biostorage area, which is part of the 226 sq m Milano Cord Blood Bank, is located in the basement of a hospital blood transfusion service. The repository area was designed to contain 35 liquid nitrogen (LN) tanks equipped with an automated refilling system. It was constructed according to Italian and French norms and guidelines. The current setting includes the following elements: an outdoor 6000 L reservoir connected to the area through a LN vacuum line, 30 LN tanks, a ventilation system interfaced to six oxygen sensors and a management system based on a programmable logic controller (PLC) linked to commercial proprietary software for continuous and real time monitoring of LN tanks and of the safety parameters of the repository area. T...