Cryostorage and Sample Storage Services

HTA-licensed storage for clinical samples, IMPs, and biological materials - based in Greenwich, London.
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Flexible, regulated storage when you need it

hVIVO's cryostorage facility in Greenwich provides secure, regulated storage for clinical trial samples, investigational medicinal products (IMPs), biological materials, and critical reagents. Whether you need long-term archival storage or capacity at short notice, our facility is HTA licensed, staffed and monitored 24/7, and backed by on-site generator power to protect your samples around the clock.

We offer the full range of storage temperatures from ambient through to liquid nitrogen vapour phase (-196°C), with flexible short and long-term arrangements to suit your programme.

Need storage at short notice?

Our Greenwich facility can accommodate urgent storage requests. Get in touch via the page form and we'll respond the same day or call 020 7756 1300.

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Storage Capabilities

Ambient: 15-22°C

For non-temperature-sensitive materials, reference documents, and dry goods requiring controlled room temperature storage in a secure, monitored environment. 

Refrigerated: 2-8°C

Standard cold storage for biological samples, reagents, and pharmaceutical products requiring refrigerated conditions in line with GDP guidelines. 

Frozen: -20°C

For samples and materials requiring standard frozen storage, including certain reagents, plasma samples, and pharmaceutical intermediates. 

Ultra-Low: -80°C

Long and short-term ultra-low temperature storage for clinical trial samples, biospecimens, cell lines, and temperature-sensitive biological materials. 

Liquid Nitrogen Vapour Phase: -196°C

Long-term cryogenic storage for cell therapies, gene therapy vectors, master cell banks, and materials requiring indefinite archival at the lowest available temperature. 

Why Store with hVIVO

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HTA & Home Office Controlled Drug Licenses

Our premises hold HTA and Home Office controlled drug approval licenses, covering the full range of clinical and pharmaceutical storage requirements.

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BSL-3 Approved

The facility is approved for the storage of BSL-3 pathogens, genetically modified organisms, and other specialist biological materials requiring higher-containment conditions. 

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Chain of Custody

Every sample intake, movement, and retrieval is logged with full chain-of-custody documentation available for regulatory audit.
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24/7 Monitoring, Response, and Backup Power

All storage units are continuously monitored with automated alarms and on-site generator backup, ensuring your samples are protected regardless of power disruption. 
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Own Logistics - Oxford, Cambridge - London Corridor

We use our own transport for collections and deliveries within a two-hour radius of our Greenwich facility, covering the Golden Triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge, reducing cold chain risk and logistics cost for local teams.
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Integrated Laboratory Services

Storage sits alongside our sample processing, PBMC isolation, aliquoting, and kit production capabilities — so your samples can move seamlessly between storage and analysis. 

Beyond Storage: Integrated Sample Services

Sample Processing and Aliquoting

Our GCLP-certified laboratory can receive, process, aliquot, label, and prepare samples for storage or onward distribution — all within the same facility.

 

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PBMC Processing and Isolation

Specialist isolation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from whole blood samples, supporting cellular immunology, vaccine response, and T and B cell assays.

 

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Clinical Trial Kit Production

We supply labelled, traceable collection kits to clinical trial sites, ensuring chain-of-custody integrity from first collection through to storage and analysis.

 

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Working with hVIVO Cryostorage

From initial consultation through to long-term storage and retrieval, our team manages every stage of your sample journey. Here is how the process works.

Step 1: Consultation and Requirements

We start by understanding your storage needs - sample types, volumes, temperature requirements, regulatory obligations, and timelines. This ensures we set up the right storage arrangement from day one and can flag any specialist requirements such as HTA coverage or controlled drug licensing upfront. 

Step 2: Secure Sample Intake and Documentation

On arrival, samples are logged into our system, assigned unique identifiers, and documented with full chain-of-custody records. Every intake is checked against your specifications before samples are moved to the appropriate storage unit.

Step 3: Controlled Storage and Monitoring

Samples are stored under validated, continuously monitored conditions with automated alarms configured to alert staff immediately if any unit drifts outside its target range. Our on-site backup generators ensure uninterrupted storage in the event of a power disruption. 

Step 4: Inventory Management and Reporting

You have access to a full inventory record of your stored samples at any point, including location, condition, and storage history. We provide regular reporting and can accommodate ad hoc inventory queries at short notice.

Step 5: Retrieval and Distribution

Individual vials, plates, or full collections can be retrieved and shipped at short notice. We handle outbound logistics including labelling, packaging, and cold chain documentation, with use of own logistics available within the Oxford, Cambridge, and London corridor reducing costs for local teams. 

Find the hVIVO Cryostorage Service

Find us at Unit 3 in Greenwich Business Park, London SE10k

FAQ

Get in touch with us

Our cryostorage services support a wide range of biological materials, including clinical trial samples, biological specimens, cells, tissues, and reference materials. Storage conditions are carefully controlled and monitored to preserve sample integrity over short‑ or long‑term periods.

Our storage facilities operate within controlled, monitored environments as required. We use continuous temperature monitoring, alarm systems, validated processes, and detailed documentation to ensure sample security, full traceability, and ongoing compliance with regulatory and quality standards.
Yes. Our cryostorage services can be seamlessly integrated with our laboratory, bioanalysis, and clinical operations. This integrated approach reduces sample handling risks, shortens timelines, and supports efficient end‑to‑end management of clinical and research materials.
The hVIVO cryostorage facility in Greenwich holds an HTA (Human Tissue Authority) licence, a Home Office controlled drugs licence, and is approved for GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3) biological material storage. Laboratory accreditations across the broader hVIVO site include, GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practice), CAP (College of American Pathologists) accreditation and is UKAS Accredited testing laboratory No. 27882, with all assay processes validated to FDA, EMA, and ICH guidelines. See the full laboratory accreditations page for detail.

Yes. The facility holds a Home Office controlled drugs licence covering all drug classes, enabling the storage of investigational medicinal products including scheduled substances used in clinical trials. Storage conditions are maintained to the highest standards, with full documentation to support auditing. For sponsors requiring IMP storage as part of a broader clinical trial programme, this can be integrated with hVIVO's sample processing, kit production, and laboratory analysis services.

The Greenwich facility operates with an uninterrupted backup power supply designed to maintain freezer conditions during a power outage. All storage units are under continuous 24/7 automated temperature monitoring with alarm systems configured to trigger an immediate response from on-site or on-call staff. Validated emergency response procedures are in place to ensure that sample integrity is maintained and any excursions are documented and escalated appropriately. This infrastructure is why organisations trust hVIVO with samples that represent years of clinical work and cannot be replaced.
Yes. hVIVO's Greenwich facility is approved for the storage of biological materials up to Biosafety Category 3, including viral vectors and infectious pathogens. This is a specialist capability not available at all storage providers. The facility's adjacent CL3 laboratories are also able to thaw and manipulate these materials where required, providing a fully contained end-to-end capability for sponsors working with higher-risk biological agents.
We offer ambient (15-22°C), refrigerated (2-8°C), frozen (-20°C), ultra-low (-80°C), and liquid nitrogen vapour phase (-196°C) storage. All units are validated and continuously monitored. 
Yes. In addition to biological samples, we store investigational medicinal products (IMPs), critical reagents, cell lines, viral vectors, master cell banks, and other biological materials. If you are unsure whether we can accommodate your material, contact us and we will advise. 
Yes. Our GCLP-certified laboratory can perform contamination screening prior to storage, including mycoplasma testing and pathogen testing. Samples can be received, tested, and transferred directly into long-term storage without leaving the facility. 
We can move quickly for urgent requirements. Contact us and a member of the team will respond the same day to discuss your needs and confirm next steps. 
Storage contracts range from one month to multi-year and we can accommodate most terms on a fixed term or pay as you go contract.

Sample or product storage required?