Biological Material Storage Services
Why choose NCIMB for your biological material storage?
- NCIMB has more than 75 years' experience of preserving and safely storing biological material.
- Since 1982 NCIMB has been recognised around the world as a depository of biological material that is the subject of patent applications.
- We operate a well established quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2015 and are regularly audited by customers, so you can be confident that your material is in safe hands.
- We offer a range of storage options and can tailor a package to your needs.
Storage options
We offer our biological material storage customers a choice of Safe Deposit, cGMP compliant Safe Deposit or Bespoke Secure Storage. The options available for each service are summarised in the table below.
Our cGMP storage packages follow auditable procedures using validated equipment. They can be tailored to your requirements and include a choice of features including dedicated, high security and customised storage vessels or areas.
We are regularly audited by our blue chip clients from the UK and overseas, ensuring we meet their high standards.
| Options available | Standard safe deposit | cGMP compliant safe deposit | Bespoke secure storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confidential storage service | |||
|
Unique NCIMB number can be assigned: |
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| Can be converted to a patent deposit at a later date | |||
| Cryogenic freezer storage: <-120oC | |||
| Ultra low freezer storage: -80oC | |||
| Freezer storage: -20°C | |||
| Refrigerated storage of lyophilised strains: 2°C - 8°C | |||
| Held in a secure area with limited access | |||
| Dedicated cryobox or column within freezer | |||
| Dedicated, customised storage area | |||
| Continuous temperature measurements | |||
| 24/7 response to deviations | |||
| Validated freezers |
What we can store
NCIMB provides confidential preservation and off-site storage services that can reduce the risk of loss of your important biological materials. We accept microbial material up to ACDP category 2 and ACGM class 1, orthodox plant seeds and plant cell tissue cultures. We can store:
- bacteria
- plasmids
- bacteriophage
- DNA
- protozoa
- fungi
- algae
- orthodox plant seeds
- plant cell tissue cultures
Our customers
Additional services
Biological material can be sent to us ready for immediate storage, or we can prepare samples by freeze drying or cryopreservation. We can also preserve cultures and return them to you.
We can undertake viability testing of material prior to storage if required, and at agreed intervals thereafter. An annual report on the maintenance of stored products can also be provided.
We can carry out whole genome sequencing of stored isolates as well as screening for antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors.
Please contact us to find out more about our Biological Material Storage Services.
You might also be interested in:
Patent Deposit Service
NCIMB is an International Depositary Authority under the Budapest Treaty, storing material for patent purposes.
Microbial Preservation
NCIMB's offers freeze drying and cryopreservation services to help you maintain your own stock cultures.