Human biological samples are one of the most valuable resources when it comes to the progression of scientific research. Whether these samples are DNA, blood or tissue, they hold the answers needed to understand disease and unlock new therapies. As a result, the ability to correctly access, store and retrieve disease relevant human samples is an essential, yet often challenging, aspect of this discovery. Expertly managed, responsive biobanking services preserve sample quality and support reproducibility in the laboratory through efficient management and storage.
Why is biobanking important?
The standardised procedures involved in biobanking ensure sample integrity and research reliability, which is critical to:
- Medical Research: Biobanking is a stable, accessible and high-quality storage source for human samples, whether they’re to be used in scientific studies, large-scale research or clinical trials.
- Understanding Diseases: By maintaining the integrity of samples, researchers can identify genetic markers and discover new biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis.
- Medicine Development: Understanding how different individuals respond to treatments paves the way for the development of new medicines.
How biobanking ensures quality
Biobanking is a meticulous process that provides solutions to the challenges faced in human biological sample management. This is particularly critical in a complex landscape governed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
- Sample Integrity: By employing advanced temperature control systems, high-level security, designated competent staff and standardised processing protocols, specialist biobanking operators greatly minimise the risk of samples being accidentally compromised, whilst respecting the wishes of the donor. These organisations, like Biofortuna, provide high levels of assurance that any biological sample will be consistently maintained, mitigating one critical variable in experimental design.
- Data Management: Biobanking requires tracking the local temperature and location of each sample continuously, using laboratory management systems (LMS) and laboratory inventory management systems (LIMS) respectively.
At Biofortuna, internal processes and inventory tracking have been designed to support the discovery process, giving researchers daily access to their samples. This allows them to save time and effort in finding their samples, so they can focus on what really matters: advancing scientific development.
Biobanking with Biofortuna
We understand the value of your biological samples. That’s why we pride ourselves on delivering a biobanking service that meets your exact needs, giving you the confidence and control you need to focus on your research.
Our cutting-edge facilities are underpinned by a commitment to stringent quality assurance, ensuring your samples are handled with the utmost care from the moment they arrive at our accredited facilities. Whether you need support to source, store and manage daily access for your team, or require secure, long-term storage for clinical trial samples, our services are tailored to your requirements, preserving them within a range of environments, including:
- vapour phase liquid nitrogen (-196oC),
- -80oC,
- -20oC,
- +2-8oC and
- controlled ambient temperature (+15-25oC).
We’ll support you at every stage so that all work meets the highest legal and ethical standards, including:
End-to-End Sample Management: This includes expert processing, tracking and traceability, via a secure chain of custody, giving you a seamless and transparent service from sample receipt to despatch. Vial level inventory is maintained on our GLP-compliant cloud-based laboratory inventory management system.
Daily Access & Retrieval: We provide controlled daily access and next-working day retrieval of your samples, ensuring your research never faces unnecessary delays.
Full Compliance: Our Quality Management System (QMS) is compliant with both GCP and HTA regulations, ensuring patient samples are treated with respect and dignity and the patients’ consent is honoured at every stage.
Expert Guidance: From initial planning to project completion, our experts are here help you navigate complex regulations and design a biobanking strategy that perfectly aligns with your research goals.
Comprehensive Business Continuity Plans: Your samples are critical, so we employ comprehensive backup strategies to protect your valuable inventory under any circumstances:
- 24/7 power monitoring, alerting and reporting,
- dedicated, competent staff on-call round the clock,
- back up storage units available in the event of a mechanical failure,
- a full site automatic generator and
- manual filling capability for our vapour phase liquid nitrogen cryotanks.
To learn more about Biofortuna and our biobanking services, click here, or talk to an expert today.
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