A storage system for storing a plurality of samples in a plurality of trays, the system comprising: a cold storage compartment (110, 410) having a plurality of stationary vertical tray support racks, a storage compartment front, a width and a height; a tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) having a rear adjacent the storage compartment front and a tray shuttle compartment front wall, where the front wall has a small sealed opening that connects one or more modules on the opposite side of the front wall from the cold storage compartment; one or more processing modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900), disposed exterior to the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) and abutting the front wall of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420), where each processing module (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) is releasably connected to the front wall of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) by way of the small sealed opening; a gantry operated tray shuttle (150, 452) disposed within the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420), the tray shuttle (150, 452) comprising means for translating horizontally and/or vertically within the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420), whereby each processing module (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) is capable of receiving one or more trays from the tray shuttle (150, 452) and the tray shuttle (150, 452) transfers to the one or more modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 900) a tray of interest where the one or more modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) are disposed exterior to the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) and abutting the front wall of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) such that the one or more modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) are removable and where the tray shuttle (150, 452) is a conveyor on the horizontal and vertical axes that is able to access each tray of the plurality of stationary vertical tray support racks across the entire width and height of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420); an input-output module for transferring a tray for storage to or from the storage compartment (110, 410); and a system controller directing operation of the storage compartment (110, 410), the tray shuttle (150, 452) and the input-output module. a cold storage compartment (110, 410) having a plurality of stationary vertical tray support racks, a storage compartment front, a width and a height; a tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) having a rear adjacent the storage compartment front and a tray shuttle compartment front wall, where the front wall has a small sealed opening that connects one or more modules on the opposite side of the front wall from the cold storage compartment; one or more processing modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900), disposed exterior to the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) and abutting the front wall of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420), where each processing module (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) is releasably connected to the front wall of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) by way of the small sealed opening; a gantry operated tray shuttle (150, 452) disposed within the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420), the tray shuttle (150, 452) comprising means for translating horizontally and/or vertically within the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420), whereby each processing module (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) is capable of receiving one or more trays from the tray shuttle (150, 452) and the tray shuttle (150, 452) transfers to the one or more modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 900) a tray of interest where the one or more modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) are disposed exterior to the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) and abutting the front wall of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420) such that the one or more modules (160, 162, 164, 166, 800, 900) are removable and where the tray shuttle (150, 452) is a conveyor on the horizontal and vertical axes that is able to access each tray of the plurality of stationary vertical tray support racks across the entire width and height of the tray shuttle compartment (140, 420); an input-output module for transferring a tray for storage to or from the storage compartment (110, 410); and a system controller directing operation of the storage compartment (110, 410), the tray shuttle (150, 452) and the input-output module.