PREVENTING SAMPLE DEGRADATION FROM TRANSIENT TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS
Methods and devices can protect samples maintained at controlled temperatures from degradation due to transient temperature fluctuations.
1 . A method for preventing or reducing sample degradation of a sample in a sample container in a controlled temperature device subject to transient temperature fluctuations over a period of at least one month, which method comprises placing the sample container into a thermoconductive container holder having a thermal conductivity of at least about 150 watts per meter.degree Kelvin and a density of at least about 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter in such device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein such device is a refrigerator or freezer.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a biological sample.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the device is a freezer, and the controlled temperature is below freezing.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the sample is a living cell.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the sample is a protein or protein extract.
7 . The method claim 1 , wherein the container holder is composed of a material with a thermal conductivity greater than 10 Watts per meter.degree Kelvin.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the material is an aluminum alloy.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the material has a density of greater than 1 gram per cubic centimeter.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the container holder will fit into a space having a width and length of at least 5 ×5 inches and a height of at least 1.5 inches.