The cornerstone of successful clinical trials and research projects is safely transporting, handling, and storing biological samples. However, there can be many challenges when it comes to ensuring biosamples are kept safe, preserved properly, and organized. Improperly managing biospecimens can result in mixed up samples or even missing samples. These types of errors resulting from mismanagement can drastically alter a clinical trial’s outcome. This often leads to higher costs. Unusable samples, data loss, and other problems are entirely preventable. Here are four challenges often associated with biospecimen management and how to overcome them.
Challenge 1: Transporting Bio-Samples Globally
For some clinical trials and studies, biological samples are often collected from around the world. They just need to be stored in a single safe location. If you need to choose a biological sample management provider, make sure they can handle global sample transport. Make sure the biological sample provider has proven experience as transporting samples safely requires specific expertise and knowledge.
Challenge 2: Compromised Sample Security and Safety in a Biorepository
When you collaborate with an experienced biological sample management provider, you greatly reduce the risk of compromised or misplaced samples. A reputable repository will prioritize sample safety, security, and integrity.
Challenge 3: Small Sample Storage Projects can be Expensive
Sometimes, larger sample management services don’t have the capabilities to provide custom storage solutions. They are not prepared for projects that have smaller storage needs. They accommodate, but oftentimes charge a premium price to store samples. Or they offer another expensive option of managing samples in-house. A repository should offer competitive pricing as well as custom storage solutions.
Challenge 4: Managing Samples is Often Time-Consuming
Not only can it be costly but managing biological samples can also be time consuming for lab technicians and scientists. Sometimes, lab techs do not have the capabilities for managing bio samples. Working with a bio sample management expert can help streamline the process and free up time for research and other related tasks.
3 Tips for Improving Biosample Management
There’s no doubt that research teams spend a lot of time and effort collecting biosamples. They are the basis for research and will be for years to come. It’s important to have them readily accessible, preserved, well-documented, and easily managed. It’s not adequate to just stash tubes, plates, and trays of RNA, DNA, tissue, protein, cell lines, serum, urine, or plasma in a freezer. That just won’t work for a long-term storage option. Here are three expert tips for better managing specimens whether you manage them in-house or partner with a biobank.
Plan, Plan, Plan
There’s no doubt you are aware of the protocols for experiments and research projects before running them. You have everything all ready. You have every step planned out so the integrity of the project is not compromised. Planning ahead includes designing the study and collecting biological samples. This means planning the collection of samples, storing and preserving them, as well as how you plan to use them.
Label, Document, & Track
Data management best practices include closely monitoring samples from the cradle to the grave. Everything bit of information is important, and everything needs to be labeled, documented, and tracked. There are numerous software options that make data management efficient and thorough. But it can also be done on spreadsheets or in notebooks, as long as it is done.
Biobanking
It’s a good idea to consult with a repository whether you need to archive samples for your own use or want to share them with the scientific community. A biorepository can assist with sample procurement, management, and storage.
Final Thoughts
Even though managing biological samples has plenty of challenges, there are ample solutions to consider. Ultimately, it’s about finding the processes that work best for specific situations and circumstances for your lab, clinical study, or project.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4779093/
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/bio.2011.0050
https://www.who.int/ihr/training/laboratory_quality/5_b_content_sample_mgmt.pdf
