Storage is the part of handling most often left to habit. It is also where the difference between a batch that matches its certificate and one that no longer does is usually introduced.
Three variables
- Temperature — lower is generally better for long-term storage of lyophilised material.
- Light — several sequences are photosensitive; amber vials and closed boxes exist for a reason.
- Moisture — the reason lyophilised material is sealed and why vials should equilibrate before opening.
Freeze-thaw cycling
Repeatedly moving material between frozen and ambient conditions is more damaging than continuous storage at a moderate temperature. Where a batch will be accessed repeatedly, aliquoting once and returning the bulk to storage limits the number of cycles the material sees.
Label everything
Date of receipt, lot number, storage location. Reconstructing provenance later from memory is not a substitute for a written record, and a batch without traceability cannot be tied back to its analytical data.
Transport
Brief excursions from cold storage during shipping are normal for lyophilised material and are not equivalent to storing it warm. What matters is the conditions the batch spends most of its life in.
For laboratory and research use only. Not intended for human or animal consumption, or for any medical, diagnostic or therapeutic use. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.