by Liam Critchley
Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers are used within many labs to ensure the safety of valuable samples. ULT freezers come in a range of options that operate between -86°C and -45°C, but most ULTs create a consistent environment where the internal temperature of the freezer remains between -70°C and -80°C.
ULT freezers are used to protect high value sample collections, with some sample collections inside freezers being worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. While there are many factors that govern the usable lifetime of an ULT freezer, most last for around 12-15 years, so they don’t last forever. It’s not just age that can be a factor for freezer replacement. There are now many more energy efficient options on the market than there were years ago, so even if your model is not old or broken, it might be time to upgrade to something that will save more energy and be better for the planet.
Read more on Labcompare.