Cryo Box

Quick Answer: The Cryo Box is a cryogenic storage box with a grid of positions for cryovials, used to keep frozen samples in order in ultra-low temperature freezers and liquid nitrogen storage. Each vial can be logged by row and column, so one sample is found and removed without thawing the rest.

What a Cryo Box Does

Frozen storage holds cell lines, tissue, microbial stocks and sera for years, often across several users. Boxes bring order to it: vials stand upright in a numbered grid, boxes slot into freezer racks, and a box map records what sits where. Retrieving one vial then takes seconds with the freezer door open, instead of minutes of searching while every other sample warms.

This listing is the general cryo box; the range also includes three named materials. The Cryo Box (PP) is polypropylene and can generally be autoclaved, the Cryo Box (PC) is polycarbonate, chosen for clarity and toughness at very low temperatures, and the Cryo Box (Cardboard) is a lightweight, disposable option for mechanical freezers. The material, grid and height of this general listing are not given in the title and are worth settling first, since they decide where the box can go.

Boxes are sized to the vial. A box about 50 mm (2 inches) tall commonly fits 1.2 ml and 2 ml cryovials, while taller boxes take 4 ml and 5 ml vials, and grids of 9 × 9 or 10 × 10 positions are common. Plastic designs often have holes in the base so liquid nitrogen drains away when the box is lifted out of a tank.

Uses in Biobanking and Culture Labs

• Storing frozen cell line stocks in a liquid nitrogen vapour-phase tank
• Keeping bacterial and yeast glycerol stocks at −80 °C
• Archiving serum, plasma or DNA samples for research projects
• Organising student or project samples in a shared freezer by box and position

Specifications

Working with Frozen Boxes

• Wear cryogenic gloves and a face shield when lifting boxes out of liquid nitrogen
• Keep an up-to-date box map, and label the lid and side with owner and contents
• Work quickly: take out only the vial needed and return the box to storage at once
• Check the box’s temperature rating before its first use in liquid nitrogen

Why Choose LabEquip

Cell culture labs, biobanks, microbiology departments and hospital research units that hold long-term frozen stocks are the regular buyers. LabEquip offers PP, PC and cardboard versions in the Biology Lab Products range; share vial size and freezer type through our contact page and the right box can be matched.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a cryo box and a freezer box for microtubes?

A cryo box is sized for cryovials, which are taller than microcentrifuge tubes, and is meant for ultra-low and liquid nitrogen storage. Freezer boxes for microtubes are usually shallower and aimed at −20 °C and −80 °C freezers.

Which cryo box material should I choose?

Polypropylene is autoclavable and chemically resistant, polycarbonate is clear and tough at very low temperatures, and cardboard is light and disposable for mechanical freezers. Choose by storage temperature, reuse and whether the boxes must be sterilised.

Can cryo boxes go directly into liquid nitrogen?

Only boxes rated for it, and vapour-phase storage above the liquid is generally preferred. Liquid can seep into vials stored submerged and expands violently when the vial is warmed, which can make vials burst.

How do I know which vial size fits?

Match the box height and cell size to the vial. Boxes about 50 mm tall commonly take 1.2 ml to 2 ml cryovials, while 4 ml and 5 ml vials need taller boxes.

Why do plastic cryo boxes have holes in the base?

The holes let liquid nitrogen and melting frost drain out when the box is lifted, so less liquid is carried out of the tank and the box is lighter and safer to handle.

How long can samples be kept in a cryo box?

Storage life depends on the samples and the temperature, not the box. Cell lines kept in liquid nitrogen vapour phase can remain viable for many years, while samples at −80 °C are more affected by door openings and power failures.

Last Updated: September 2026