Only 9.7% of responding Japanese fertility facilities have alarms on their cryostorage tanks, a nationwide survey finds. Routine liquid nitrogen checks are near-universal, but planning for sudden tank failure is patchy. The study was published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics on 29 September 2026. J Assist Reprod Genet

Mizuno and colleagues surveyed 622 Japanese fertility facilities, with a 56.6% response rate. Of those that responded, 92.1% checked liquid nitrogen levels weekly or more often, most by direct level measurement (72.2%). Only 9.7% had alarm systems installed on their storage tanks. Procedures for responding to tank failure were established at 45.2%, and only 30.4% had considered responses aimed specifically at preventing specimen loss. Mizuno et al., 2026

Citing limited preparedness for rapid liquid nitrogen loss due to vacuum insulation failure, the authors call for detailed guidelines and standardised operating procedures for cryostorage tank management.

For laboratories, a weekly level check shows the tank was fine at that moment. Vacuum failure can empty a dewar far faster, which is why many labs add continuous monitoring with remote alerting. Labs anywhere can use this survey as a checklist. Is every tank monitored? Does the alarm reach a person out of hours? Has the escalation been tested? Is there a written SOP for vacuum failure and rapid nitrogen loss, and have staff drilled it? Is there a spare tank with nitrogen ready to receive specimens?

Sources

29 September 2026. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

• Nationwide survey of cryostorage tank management for fertility preservation in Japan

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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10815-026-04037-3