The Retrovirology Specimen Archiving Facility, a 400 m² room, uses electrical freezers and an automatic-fed liquid nitrogen system to store up to three million specimens in 24-hour monitored temperature-controlled freezers. This state-of-the art specimen archiving facility is a national treasure of Thai specimens, especially specimens collected from RV144 “Thai trial”, the first, and currently only, Phase 3 HIV vaccine trial demonstrating modest efficacy of 31.2%, and its followed studies (RV305, RV306 and RV328), for all investigators, researchers and scientists who would like to work in HIV research field. 

All archived specimens are managed using software that allows effective traceability of collected specimens. The software also keeps a record of specimen details and information such as specimen collected date and time, type of specimen and how many aliquots of specimens are stored. 

The Oxygen Sensor system is installed within the facility to detect the oxygen levels within the facility in case of liquid nitrogen leakage. The Retrovirology staff who works with the facility has completed the International Air Transport Association (IATA) training of biological specimens shipping internationally. AFRIMS has plan to expand this specimen archiving facility to its freezer farm within the next few years.