Biological sample management is a complex process that requires professionalism. It involves a wide range of procedures, including sample transportation, storage, processing, and analysis.
This fragmented approach to biological sample management can lead to data management difficulties, slow sample transfer times, a poor chain of custody records, and increased storage costs.
Therefore, medical and scientific professionals should outsource their services to the right biorepository. The main objective of a biorepository is to collect and manage biological samples and specimens for laboratory research. Below are reasons to outsource sample storage and specimens transportation:
- Cost-effective
You may think setting up an on-site sample storage unit is cost-friendly, but that isn’t the case. There are various important costs to consider, such as energy costs, facilities adaptations, ongoing service costs, full-time equivalent (FTE) costs, and other installation costs.
In addition, you’ll need to consider the impact of the sample storage unit on other departments, especially from a resource point of view.
The storage cost might be high, depending on the type of biological sample. Therefore, you should consider hiring professional biorepository services. Biorepositories benefit from the economies of scale as well as a competent staff responsible for oversight and maintenance.
- Time Management
Time is a valuable non-renewable resource. Time management is a vital aspect when it comes to biospecimen procurement.
Outsourcing logistics to an expert will save you time as well as effort. In case you need urgent services, a centralized repository will employ cold-chain logistics and dedicated sample management instruments and teams to make the process seamless.
This will play a significant part in facilitating a rapid turnover of the biological sample distribution. Also, you’ll have sufficient time to focus on other aspects of your research.
- Expertise
Experience is a vital aspect when it comes to biological sample storage and specimen transportation. The right biorepository should have extensive knowledge of collecting, identifying, handling, distributing, and storing biospecimen.
Experts will use the right storage and transportation techniques to preserve the integrity of your samples. Inappropriate methods can deteriorate the biological sample, thus leading to errors in the sample analysis stage.
- Flexibility
Research professionals should engage with a biorepository firm that provides enhanced storage and transportation services.
These services are efficient, flexible, and tailored to fulfill clients’ tastes and preferences. Biological samples require different labware, depending on the purpose of the sample. Therefore, the right biorepository should have the ability to retain flexibility in labware. In addition, it should have systems in place to accommodate a large number of sample containers regardless of their types or sizes.
- Risk Mitigation
Ensuring your biological samples are safe and secure is vital. The storage location can be an important aspect in the event of a natural disaster.
Opting for an on-site sample storage unit may increase the risk of sample deterioration, especially if the area is vulnerable to seismic activity or flooding.
Researchers should invest in a commercial biorepository firm because it’s designed for biological sample storage and specimen transportation purposes. In addition, a suitable biorepository will have proactive risk management systems to ensure your samples are safe.
- Sample Safety and Integrity
The biological samples should be safe at all times. Therefore, tertiary back-up systems and generators are important elements to ensure samples are protected, especially if there’s a power supply failure.
Also, these systems should protect the samples in case of a liquid nitrogen supply failure. Avoid on-site storage because it’s costly to buy and maintain back-up generators.
A biorepository company will ensure that the back-up systems are functioning properly to improve the safety and integrity of samples. If there’s a problem with the biological samples, then the test results will be meaningless.
- Conducive Storage Temperatures
The storage temperature can determine the viability of the sample test report. Different biological samples require different storage temperatures. Storage conditions can range from cryogenic (LN2 vapor) to ambient, with temperatures including -196?C, -80?C, -20?C, and 4?C.
- -196 is the best temperature for storing tissue samples
- – 80 is the ideal temperature option for proteins and nucleic acids
- – 20 is recommended for either RNA or DNA samples.
- 4 is the ideal temperature for biological samples consisting of enzymes and antibodies.
Standard freezers store biological samples that aren’t stable at warmer temperatures. A biorepository company uses automated systems to catalyze the storage and transportation process.
- Space Saving
An in-house sample storage unit can cause space constraints in your research area. This can lower the efficiency of the test results.
Therefore, scientific professionals should opt for a reputable biorepository company. Experts will store the samples in a safe, conducive environment that suits your needs. You’ll have sufficient space to conduct your ongoing research. Additionally, you will reduce the burden of monitoring the samples as well as maintaining the systems.
- Centralization
Centralizing the sample storage and biological specimens transportation can help in saving time and money.
Biorepository firms handle a wide range of sample types in multiple storage conditions, including viruses, proteins, bacteria, cells, and tissue specimens. There are numerous benefits of investing in a centralized biorepository company:
– Minimize sample handling delays
– Easy identification of sample locations
– Simplify vendor management
- Data Management
Data should accompany biological samples stored for both short-term and long-term use. The data you keep with the sample is quite important.
Therefore, the Biorepository experts will label the samples appropriately and keep them safe. Researchers should work with robust data to attain viable results.
A suitable biorepository company will use a laboratory information management system (LIMS) to monitor sample status and location in real-time. In addition, implemented software security measures will restrict unauthorized access to the sample data.
Conclusion on the Biological sample management
There are numerous benefits of investing in a biorepository company, including time-saving, cost-effectiveness, data management, sample integrity, and risk mitigation.
In-house sample storage can be quite expensive and cumbersome because you’ll have to consider several factors, such as installation costs, variety of storage temperatures, labware format, and storage location.
Therefore, researchers should outsource their biological sample storage and specimen transportation to a reputable biorepository company.
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.
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