Background: Packaging in 0.5ml cryotubes and 0.3ml High Security straws was used to store more nasopharyngeal samples from Covid-19 pandemic surveillance in Ivory Coast. Previous studies have reported that there would not be, under experimental conditions, a significant difference in the survival rate values (per freeze-thaw cycle) of samples between cryotubes and High Security straws. However, storage in resin straws or High Security straws leads to a slight increase in the survival of microorganisms compared to cryotubes (Thammavongs et al., 2004). Methods: Aliquoting is use like method to put nasopharyngeal specimens in cryotubes 0.5ml and in high security straws 0.3ml. Results: from April 2020 to December 2021, out of a total of 1,092,901 nasopharyngeal samples received at Pasteur Institute of Ivory Coast, 18.97 samples were placed in High Security Straws 0.3ml versus 9,441 in cryotubes 0.5ml. The results indicate that there are more nasopharyngeal samples put in the 0.3ml High Security Straws than in the 0.5ml cryotubes. Conclusion: Two of the conditions that could justify the safe cryopreservation of microorganisms contained in samples collected during a pandemic are the following: a secure closure by hermetic welding and a gain in terms of space for high-security straws compared to cryotubes.

Aims: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a new human disease caused by the Coronavirus SARS-COV-2. It was classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The Institute Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI), through its specialized units and its Center National of Reference (CNR) for respiratory viruses, has been entrusted with the mission of coordinating the diagnostic and conservation efforts of COVID-19 for the country. The objective of this study is to evaluate the costs of cryogenic conservation of biocollections during the COVID pandemic at the Côte d'Ivoire Biological Resource Center (CeReB) from 2020-2021. Methodology: Cost and sample data were collected using a questionnaire administered to the IPCI administration, the Supply Management Unit (UGA) and CeReB staff that ensured data quality. Results: For our study period, of the 1,225,710 SARS COV 2 samples collected by National Surveillance 92.7% (1,137,210/1,225,710) were received in IPCI laboratories for diagnosis. Variable costs are higher than fixed costs in both cryovial and chaff collection production. The total production cost of the straw collection is 3.5 times the total production cost of the cryovial collection Conclusion: This study establishes a generic analysis of the capital and operating costs required to integrate nasopharyngeal specimen cryopreservation and can serve as a model for the implementation of cryopreservation programs.

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