Mini-review of laboratory operations in biobanking: Building biobanking resources for translational research
In this 2020 article published in Frontiers in Public Health, Cicek and Olson of Mayo Clinic discuss the importance of biorepository operations and their focus on the storage and management of biospecimens. In particular, they address the importance of maintaining quality biospecimens and enacting processes and procedures that fulfill the long-term goals of biobanking institutions. After a brief introduction of biobanks and their relation to translational research, the authors discuss the various aspects that go into long-term planning for a successful biobank, including the development of standard operating procedures and staff training programs, as well as the implementation of informatics tools such as the laboratory information management system (LIMS). They conclude by emphasizing that “[b]iorepository operations require an enormous amount of support, from lab and storage space, information technology expertise, and a LIMS to logistics for biospecimen tracking, quality management systems, and appropriate facilities” in order to be most effective in their goals.
