CASE STUDIES
Discover how Only Imaging provides professional TTR solutions to global partners.
Tracking Vials in Liquid Nitrogen: Cryogenic Labeling Solutions
While cold chain logistics deal with temperatures down to -40°C, the medical, bio-banking, and pharmaceutical research sectors operate in an entirely different realm. Preserving human tissue, stem cells, IVF embryos, and critical biological samples requires Cryogenic Storage.
These samples are plunged directly into liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures of -196°C (-320°F).
At this extreme temperature, the laws of physics change. Standard plastics shatter like glass, and standard printing inks completely fail.
The Catastrophe of a Lost Label
In a cryogenic laboratory, traceability is not just a logistical metric; it is often a matter of human health and years of scientific research. Every single 2ml cryogenic vial must carry a flawless, scannable 2D barcode.
If a laboratory uses a generic resin ribbon to print their vial labels, the results are catastrophic. When submerged in liquid nitrogen, the extreme thermal shock causes standard resin polymers to contract violently. The ink simply shatters and delaminates from the synthetic label surface. When the vial is retrieved months or years later, it is completely unidentified. An unidentified biological sample must be destroyed.
The Engineering Challenge of Cryogenics
Surviving liquid nitrogen requires a highly specialized chemical approach. The ribbon must print crisply on small curved surfaces (like a 2ml vial), withstand the violent thermal shock of rapid freezing, and resist the harsh laboratory chemicals (like Isopropyl Alcohol and Xylene) used to sterilize the vials before and after storage.
The Solution: Only Imaging SP-Cryo Resin
Only Imaging supplies the world’s most demanding research facilities with the SP-Cryo Resin Series.
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Absolute Cryogenic Stability: Formulated specifically for ultra-low temperature storage, the SP-Cryo resin bonds permanently to cryogenic polypropylene labels. It withstands direct immersion in liquid phase and vapor phase nitrogen (-196°C) without micro-cracking.
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Freeze-Thaw Durability: The ink structure is designed to survive multiple rapid freeze-thaw cycles. You can pull a vial from liquid nitrogen, thaw it in a warm water bath, and the barcode will remain razor-sharp.
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Chemical Sterilization Resistance: The highly cross-linked resin easily survives wipe-downs with medical-grade disinfectants and lab solvents.
Conclusion: Zero Margin for Error
In bio-banking and medical research, you cannot afford to lose your data to extreme temperatures. Secure your life-saving research with medical-grade cryogenic formulations.
ONLY IMAGING is a leading supplier of labels, printing equipment and associate consumables, including TTR products in various widths and lengths. Please take the opportunity to learn more about our range of high-quality thermal transfer ribbons and explore our other products for any further questions you may have click Here.
