RESUMO
The mission of the Andalusian Public Health System Biobank is to offer the best options for biological samples of human origin and associated clinical information, protecting the rights of citizens who donate their samples for research. Since the Andalusian Biobank provides high-quality biological samples of all types in a specified format, adapting the preanalytical phase according to the requirements of the research, prospective collection and distribution of samples are being prioritized in order to contribute to the sustainability of the Biobank. The Andalusian Registry of Donors for Biomedical Research is a tool for the recruitment of donors and the prospective collection of samples. Its operation is based on the informed consent of donors for their incorporation into the Registry and contact with possible donors under request from specific projects. An additional advantage of this unique initiative is to ensure that societal actors work together throughout the entire research process, establishing alliances with patient associations and groups to develop joint actions and promote biomedical research. Here, we describe the creation, ethical-legal aspects, management and results of the Andalusian Registry of Donors for Biomedical Research after five years of operation.
RESUMO
High-quality human DNA samples and associated information of individuals are necessary for biomedical research. Biobanks act as a support infrastructure for the scientific community by providing a large number of high-quality biological samples for specific downstream applications. For this purpose, biobank methods for sample preparation must ensure the usefulness and long-term functionality of the products obtained. Quality indicators are the tool to measure these parameters, the purity and integrity determination being those specifically used for DNA. This study analyzes the quality indicators in DNA samples derived from 118 frozen human tissues in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) reactive, 68 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, 119 frozen blood samples, and 26 saliva samples. The results obtained for DNA quality are discussed in association with the usefulness for downstream applications and availability of the DNA source in the target study. In brief, if any material is valid, blood is the most approachable option of prospective collection of samples providing high-quality DNA. However, if diseased tissue is a requisite or samples are available, the recommended source of DNA would be frozen tissue. These conclusions will determine the best source of DNA, according to the planned downstream application. Furthermore our results support the conclusion that a complete procedure of DNA quantification and qualification is necessary to guarantee the appropriate management of the samples, avoiding low confidence results, high costs, and a waste of samples.