Biobanks: collections of cell samples
Biobank’s cell sample inventory
Biobanks (also known as biological resource centers) are entities responsible for the management of biological samples and their associated data.
These structures can collect and preserve cells in the form of samples inventory.
A cell sample inventory includes biological collections of cells and cell-lines such as fibroblasts, myoblasts, amniocytes, PBMC, gametes, etc. Each type of tissue can be preserved using different media: plasma, serum, tissues, button of cells, amniotic fluid, … Establishments specialized in cells preservation often constitute cell banks for research purposes.
The preserved cells may not all come from human organisms, some biobanks dedicate whole biological collections to microbiological samples. Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) extraction from cell samples is also in the field of competence of most biobanks.
What are the advantages of using a biobank or a cell bank for cell samples needs?
Setting up a biological collection and preparing samples for a clinical project
Saving time in the experimentation phase
Discover our services in biobanking
Setting up a collection of biological samples
After a biopsy, or other procedure to retrieve a human sample, a sample may be retained, with the patient's consent, for research purposes.
Storage of clinical samples
The samples, after collection, must be stored under certain conditions, depending on their type and shelf life, to allow for their viability.
How is a cell sample request made?
Setting up a biological collection
The first step in setting up a sample collection is to identify the partner(s) with both access to patients with the disease of interest, and also the technical capacity to collect the type of biological samples required.
Biobanks will typically be able to respond individually to certain requests, and collectively to requests that require expertise or resources not available to them. This is particularly the case for specialized biobanks such as tumor banks, cell banks, serum banks, etc.
Since these are cells and cell-lines, the request must be motivated, clear, and included in a proposal that can be shared with the biobank. The required information generally relates to the nature of the project in which the biological collection is to be built up, the number and types of clinical samples desired, the processing and preparation of the samples for analysis, etc. The information should be provided in a clear and concise manner.
The biobank can decide for or against the setting up of the project; the files are submitted to a scientific committee, which must give its approval before proceeding with the project. If the project continues, a feasibility study is carried out to determine whether the biobank has the technical capacity for the application. A financial estimate, as well as the drafting of a contract is carried out by the biobank in order to finalize the agreement between the parties. Finally, the biobank puts in place the internal operating procedure for collection, reception, storage and preparation of the biological resources until they are taken over.
Access a pre-existing collection - availability
Types of providers
There are two major categories of biological resource centers:
University hospital structures
The majority of biobanks and BRCs are attached to a public hospital organization, which give them access to clinical physicians and allow them for biological collections from patients.
Service companies
Some private service companies may provide collections built up in the course of in-house projects or organize sample collections for clinical projects.
These two types of service providers differ from their public or private nature and their degree of specialization in a certain type of biological resources: cell bank, tumor bank, serum bank, etc.
Used technologies
Automatic DNA and RNA extractors
Conservation cold environment: freezers -20°C, -80°C and tank Liquid nitrogen -180°C
Computer system for managing anonymized data
Estimated rates for this type of service
Setting up a collection: €5,000 to €15,000
The price of a biological sample depends on the preparation required (type of cells, fresh, nucleic acid extracts), the original organ, the desired quantity and the clinical information associated with the patient; and can vary from approximately €200 to €2,000.
