BIOBANKING 250 200 150 100 50 0


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Day of the year Fig 3. A scatter plot of daily collection of COVID-19 blood samples over 365 days.


code (TOPCOG) into the Biochemistry laboratory information management system (LIMS) which would mean the sample was removed from the ‘track’ and colleagues in Biochemistry would keep them in cold storage until collection. When the Biorepository started collecting samples from Blood Sciences for COVID-19 studies the EDTA sample would be centrifuged to separate the red blood cells from the plasma and 500 microlitre aliquots of plasma would be stored. Scanning the EDTA tubes was very labour intensive as other factors such as a readable barcode had to be present and there had to be sufficient quantity of sample remaining to process. Later the buffy coat and remaining red blood cells were added to the collection requirements, which involved further processing.


These evolved processes led to the collection of over 63,000 COVID-19 positive blood aliquots. An example of the daily collection rates is in Figure 3. In addition, the staff collected over 30,000 blood samples not linked to a positive COVID-19 test for prevalence studies and public health research.4 Not only did the Biorepository staff need to consider the nature of the samples, their storage requirements and transportation methods but also all the associated data requirements. All whilst the banking of samples continued. Once Biorepository staff had gained an understanding of sample processing throughout Biochemistry and Haematology, we were able to organise and plan our work more effectively. On a daily basis we applied a flexible approach to the retrieval of surplus SST and EDTA blood tubes. These were physically collected by biorepository staff as often as this could be facilitated.


26 Eventually the methods were


streamlined as solid tissue collection had ceased and so the department then developed more effective ways to identify the study cohorts. This success led to an urge to develop and document high biobanking standards through accreditation by UKAS.


Accreditation In 2024, the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Biorepository became the first biobank in the United Kingdom to achieve accreditation to ISO 20387:2018. This journey started several years before this milestone was formally assessed and awarded by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the UK’s national body for assessment. ISO 20387:2018 establishes


comprehensive quality requirements for the operation of biobanks, covering areas such as ethical governance, sample traceability, data integrity, staff training, equipment calibration, and documentation control. It sets a benchmark for biobanking quality, equivalent to ISO 15189:2022 for clinical laboratories. Accreditation here provides robust quality assurance to the service, researchers, funders, and regulatory authorities that the Biorepository meets internationally recognised standards. It confirms that specimens are collected, processed, stored, and released under validated protocols, and that all associated data are handled in accordance with rigorous quality management systems. UKAS accreditation also entails regular audits and continuous improvement cycles, reinforcing the culture of accountability and quality that underpins the Biorepository’s operations.


04 Jan 2021


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This level of oversight enhances the scientific validity and reproducibility of research using biobank samples. For collaborative projects involving academic, clinical, and commercial stakeholders, ISO 20387:2018 accreditation serves as a recognised quality benchmark and helps in promoting trust, transparency, and confidence in the handling of specimens. For researchers and diagnostic laboratories accredited under ISO 15189:2022, working with a biobank accredited to ISO 20387:2018 provides assurance that the specimens used meet correct quality standards and provides quality evidence that makes working with suppliers and users of specimens much easier to justify for their own accreditation. Similarly, academic institutions


are increasingly operating under Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) frameworks. ISO 20387:2018 accreditation supports these efforts by demonstrating that specimen provision is consistent with the regulatory expectations for traceability, governance, and sample quality, all of which benefit institutional accreditation and compliance processes that are applied in projects that the Biorepository supports like Radiogenomics.


Living Lab Radiogenomics The NHS GG&C Biorepository plays a pivotal role in supporting a large number of major research projects, with one large example within precision medicine being the Living Lab Radiogenomics project.5 This project demonstrates the value of having a high-quality, ethically sourced human tissue specimens in helping to advancing diagnostic and therapeutic research.


Part of the wider Glasgow Living Laboratory programme, the Radiogenomics project is an example of collaborative healthcare innovation, bringing together NHS, academia, and industry partners. The project integrates digital imaging techniques with pathology and molecular profiling in a cohort of over 1,400 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The Biorepository is involved in identifying, retrieving, cutting and scanning authorised FFPE tissue blocks from participating patients. These samples are then quality checked, anonymised, and after creating digital images they are released for a range of applications. These include the development of AI tools for personalised cancer diagnostics, tissue microarray (TMA) creation, and advanced spatial genomics testing.


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