The Intermountain BioRepository is pleased to announce that we have completed the move of our paraffin blocks into our long term storage site. 

What this means is that all blocks are now in one location, stored on “earthquake resistant” shelving and in a temperature-controlled room. We were able to secure an ideal space in the mezzanine of the Physician Office Building immediately north of LDS Hospital in the Avenues in Salt Lake City, and acquired funding to install the shelving and update the fire suppression system. 

Previously, these blocks had been stored in six different locations in the hospital and some were a challenge to access - now they are all in one convenient place. There are approximately four million blocks within this storage site, gathered from the Urban Central Region, Dixie Regional Medical center, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, McKay-Dee Hospital, and Primary Children's Hospital. These blocks date back to the early 1970s for non-PCH surgicals (1950s for autopsy). We estimate this current space will provide us with five years of additional growth.  

We are so excited to finally have this come to fruition, and we're grateful that this accomplishment for the Intermountain BioRepository was made possible by the vision and support of our pathology departments.