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THE CURRENT STATE OFIN-HOUSE SPECIMEN STORAGE:SEPARATING MYTH FROM REALITYFINDINGS FROM THE 2015 SPECIMEN STORAGE QUALITATIVE STUDY

Check out the full research study to take a deeper diveand learn how outsourcing specimen storage can helpyou focus on more critical initiatives.

To provide a better understandingof the pros and cons of current specimen storage practices, G2 Intelligence and Iron Mountain conducted a series of qualitative interviews with lab managers,directors and vice presidents throughout the United States.

REALITY

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROL

PERCEPTIONTemperature and humiditycontrols are not a priorityfor ambient specimen storage.

LOOKING FORWARD

Apply controls to maintain atemperature below 80 degrees across all of your storage areasto lower the risk of degradationand increase the likelihood that specimens will be able to support future research needs.

The recommended temperature range for the storage ofspecimens is typically defined as a cool, dry environment below 77-80 degrees Fahrenheit (25-27 degrees Celsius).

REALITYPERCEPTIONLabs place a high importanceon reducing litigation riskby adequately preservingspecimens.

LOOKING FORWARD

Eliminate inconsistences, increase control and improve visibility by centralizing “spill-over storage”in a scalable, temperature-controlled storage facility.

In-house storage locations can unknowingly become high-riskwhen storage becomes fragmented across multiple locations withvaried environmental and access controls.

REALITY

STAFF PRODUCTIVITY

PERCEPTIONIn-house storage enhancesstaff productivity becauseeverything is onsite andeasily accessible.

LOOKING FORWARD

Partner with a third-party vendorto move less active, archival inventory offsite on a routine basis. This creates space for your most recent and active inventory onsite and shifts the burden of moving old inventory to the vendor, freeing up the bandwidth of your limited resources.

With limited space onsite, slidesand blocks must be shifted and moved frequently, absorbingthe limited bandwidth of onsite resources.

REDUCED RISK OF LITIGATION

REALITY

COST OF STORAGE

PERCEPTION

Outsourcing storage ismore expensive thanin-house solutions.

LOOKING FORWARD

Conduct a cost/value analysisto help you determine whetherthe benefits associated within-house storage justify the costs and resources required to manage in-house programs. This processcan also help you identify alternative methods to to allocate onsite space and resources more strategically.

Most labs aren’t able to citethe actual cost of managingspecimens in-house—includingreal estate and resource lineitems—on their budgets.

REALITY

EASE OF LOCATION AND ACCESS

PERCEPTIONSlides and blocks must bestored onsite for quickand easy access.

LOOKING FORWARD

Employ a hybrid model in whichyou continue to store only themost recent and active specimens onsite and centralize all otherspecimens with an offsite vendorto gain optimal access, controland scalability.

Only about 10% of all of slidesand blocks are recalled at some point, and most requests comewithin the first three years of slide/block storage.