GenVault utilizes a proven ambient temperature sample storage matrix, FTA paper, for long-term maintenance of biosample integrity
GenPlates, multiwell plates for ambient temperature biosample storage and retrieval, utilize a storage medium that allows the complete elimination of cryostorage for a multitude of sample types. This medium is FTA® paper from Whatman, Inc. Inside each of the 384 wells of the GenPlate is a 6mm disc of FTA paper, which when inserted into the well takes the form of a cup. We refer to this cup-shaped paper disc inside a well as an “element”.
FTA paper is a cellulose-based matrix containing chemicals for cell lysis and nucleic acid preservation. The chemicals are activated when a biological fluid contacts the surface. An additional feature of this chemical treatment is bacterial and viral inactivation. Not only are the biosamples protected from microbial growth contamination, but the user is also protected from any potential biohazards present in the biosample. These features make FTA paper an ideal medium for transporting bioamples at ambient temperature without the requirement of a biohazard shipping label.
FTA paper is a commonly used substrate for DNA storage in a number of industries such as pharmaceutics, law enforcement, agriculture and governmental regulatory agencies. This medium has been available commercially for a number of years by Whatman Inc., who have demonstrated that DNA stored on FTA paper has a long, useful lifetime. In fact, suitability for use of DNA recovered from up to seventeen year-old biosamples in human identification assays has been demonstrated, inarguably.