Abstract: Disclosed is a method of changing the temperature of a liquid sample, comprising: providing a receptacle having inner and outer walls defining an annular portion therebetween for receiving therein a liquid sample, inserting said liquid sample, at a first temperature, into said annular portion, and exposing said receptacle to a second temperature different from said first temperature, Further disclosed are a receptacle useful in the above method and a chamber useful for performing said method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of changing the temperature of a liquid sample, comprising: providing a receptacle having inner and outer walls defining an annular portion therebetween for receiving therein a liquid sample, inserting said liquid sample, at a first temperature, into said annular portion, and exposing said receptacle to a second temperature different from said first temperature. Further disclosed are a receptacle useful in the above method and a chamber useful for performing said method.

Abstract: A preservation solution for preserving a biological material at a low temperature including one or more polyphenols, and a method for preserving a biological material are provided. The method includes adding the preservation solution to a biological material, cooling the biological material and storing it under appropriate storing conditions. The method can be used for hypothermic preservation or for cryopreservation, including freezing and lyophilization, of any biological material, including cells selected from RBC, WBC, MNC, UCB, MNC, and bacteria. A method is also provided for freezing RBCs such that upon thawing, the RBCs include less than 2% free hemoglobin.

Abstract: A method for changing the temperature of a sample from an initial temperature via an intermediate temperature to a final temperature, one of the initial and final temperatures being above the freezing point of the sample and the other being below the freezing point is provided. The method is for changing the temperature of a sample having minimal dimension in each of two mutually perpendicular cross-sections exceeding 0.5 centimeters, and at least one of the cross-sections having an outer zone and an inner zone.