Russ,
speaking from my own experience at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology,
Washington D.C., we stored everything at -80 for years.  When I left AFIP in
1991, we were still using antibodies frozen from 1982.  Some antibodies had
to be re-titered because they became more concentrated.  We froze the
antibodies in 10 ul aliquots.  We took out what we needed out of the freezer
to avoid the freeze-thaw cycle.  We never had a problem.

Joe Nocito, B.S., HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Supervisor
Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals
San Antonio, Texas 


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	RUSS ALLISON [SMTP:Allison@Cardiff.ac.uk]
> Sent:	Wednesday, April 19, 2000 3:38 AM
> To:	histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	Re: storage of antibodies
> 
> 
> Are there any contra-indications to storage at minus 80?
> 
> My thoughts have always been that the lower the temerature, the 
> slower the reaction - any reaction.  (Don't get sidetracked!!)
> We are talking here about chemical reactions in the broadest 
> sense and it is they which cause antibodies to "go off", meat to rot, 
> reagents to "age" and bugs to grow.
> The lower the temp., the more these reactions and these outcomes 
>  are inhibited.
> 
> Problems are caused by:
> 1 Repeateated freezing and thawing - issues well rehearsed in 
> these columns.
> and
> 2.The rate of thawing, and the example I always give is red blood 
> cells are not lysed by freezing but they are by inappropriate 
> thawing (generalisation, OK?)
> 
> So, do some antibodies NOT need storage at minus eighty 
> because they "go off" more slowly than others, or because they 
> thaw "better" from minus 20 than from minus 80?
> 
> Is my premise that everything can be stored at minus 80, but only 
> some things at minus 20 right or wrong.
> 
> Is my premise the lower the temp the better right or wrong - given 
> the strong caveat about thawing.
> Just curious.
> Russ
> 
> p.s.Did you hear about the vicar and the actress on the hospital 
> ethics committee?
> 
> Russ Allison, 
> Dental School
> Cardiff
> Wales