Abstract
Background: Biospecimen quality is crucial for clinical and translational research and its loss is one of the main obstacles to experimental activities. Beside the quality of samples, preanalytical variations render the results derived from specimens of different biobanks or even within the same biobank incomparable. Specimens collected along the years should be managed with a heterogeneous life cycle. Hence, we propose to collect detailed data concerning the whole life cycle of stored samples employing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. Methods: We describe the processing chain of blood biosamples that is operative at the biobank of IRCSS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy (BioBIM). We focus on the problem of tracing the stages following automated preanalytical processing: we collected the time stamps of all events that could affect the biological quality of the specimens by means of RFID tags and readers. Results: We developed a pilot study on a fragment of the life cycle, namely the storage between the end of the preanalytics and the beginning of the analytics, which is usually not traced by automated tools because it typically includes manual handling. By adopting RFID devices we identified the possible critical time delays. At 1, 3 and 6 months RFID-tagged specimens cryopreserved at -80°C were successfully read. Conclusions: We were able to record detailed information about the storage phases and a fully documented specimen life cycle. This will allow us to promote and tune up the best practices in biobanking because i) it will be possible to classify sample features with a sharper resolution, which allows future utilization of stored material; ii) cost-effective policies can be adopted in processing, storing and selecting specimens; iii) after using each aliquot, we can study the life cycle of the specimen with a possible feedback on the procedures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 129-135 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | International Journal of Biological Markers |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2011 |
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Keywords
- Biobank
- Radio-frequency identification (rfid)
- Specimen collection
- Specimen retrieval
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Cancer Research
- Oncology
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
RFID as a new ICT tool to monitor specimen life cycle and quality control in a biobank. / Nanni, Umberto; Spila, Antonella; Riondino, Silvia; Valente, Maria Giovanna; Somma, Paolo; Iacoboni, Mauro; Alessandroni, Jhessica; Papa, Veronica; Della Morte, David; Palmirotta, Raffaele; Ferroni, Patrizia; Roselli, Mario; Guadagni, Fiorella.
In: International Journal of Biological Markers, Vol. 26, No. 2, 01.04.2011, p. 129-135.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - RFID as a new ICT tool to monitor specimen life cycle and quality control in a biobank
AU - Nanni, Umberto
AU - Spila, Antonella
AU - Riondino, Silvia
AU - Valente, Maria Giovanna
AU - Somma, Paolo
AU - Iacoboni, Mauro
AU - Alessandroni, Jhessica
AU - Papa, Veronica
AU - Della Morte, David
AU - Palmirotta, Raffaele
AU - Ferroni, Patrizia
AU - Roselli, Mario
AU - Guadagni, Fiorella
PY - 2011/4/1
Y1 - 2011/4/1
N2 - Background: Biospecimen quality is crucial for clinical and translational research and its loss is one of the main obstacles to experimental activities. Beside the quality of samples, preanalytical variations render the results derived from specimens of different biobanks or even within the same biobank incomparable. Specimens collected along the years should be managed with a heterogeneous life cycle. Hence, we propose to collect detailed data concerning the whole life cycle of stored samples employing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. Methods: We describe the processing chain of blood biosamples that is operative at the biobank of IRCSS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy (BioBIM). We focus on the problem of tracing the stages following automated preanalytical processing: we collected the time stamps of all events that could affect the biological quality of the specimens by means of RFID tags and readers. Results: We developed a pilot study on a fragment of the life cycle, namely the storage between the end of the preanalytics and the beginning of the analytics, which is usually not traced by automated tools because it typically includes manual handling. By adopting RFID devices we identified the possible critical time delays. At 1, 3 and 6 months RFID-tagged specimens cryopreserved at -80°C were successfully read. Conclusions: We were able to record detailed information about the storage phases and a fully documented specimen life cycle. This will allow us to promote and tune up the best practices in biobanking because i) it will be possible to classify sample features with a sharper resolution, which allows future utilization of stored material; ii) cost-effective policies can be adopted in processing, storing and selecting specimens; iii) after using each aliquot, we can study the life cycle of the specimen with a possible feedback on the procedures.
AB - Background: Biospecimen quality is crucial for clinical and translational research and its loss is one of the main obstacles to experimental activities. Beside the quality of samples, preanalytical variations render the results derived from specimens of different biobanks or even within the same biobank incomparable. Specimens collected along the years should be managed with a heterogeneous life cycle. Hence, we propose to collect detailed data concerning the whole life cycle of stored samples employing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. Methods: We describe the processing chain of blood biosamples that is operative at the biobank of IRCSS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy (BioBIM). We focus on the problem of tracing the stages following automated preanalytical processing: we collected the time stamps of all events that could affect the biological quality of the specimens by means of RFID tags and readers. Results: We developed a pilot study on a fragment of the life cycle, namely the storage between the end of the preanalytics and the beginning of the analytics, which is usually not traced by automated tools because it typically includes manual handling. By adopting RFID devices we identified the possible critical time delays. At 1, 3 and 6 months RFID-tagged specimens cryopreserved at -80°C were successfully read. Conclusions: We were able to record detailed information about the storage phases and a fully documented specimen life cycle. This will allow us to promote and tune up the best practices in biobanking because i) it will be possible to classify sample features with a sharper resolution, which allows future utilization of stored material; ii) cost-effective policies can be adopted in processing, storing and selecting specimens; iii) after using each aliquot, we can study the life cycle of the specimen with a possible feedback on the procedures.
KW - Biobank
KW - Radio-frequency identification (rfid)
KW - Specimen collection
KW - Specimen retrieval
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959299056&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79959299056&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5301/JBM.2011.8323
DO - 10.5301/JBM.2011.8323
M3 - Article
C2 - 21574153
AN - SCOPUS:79959299056
VL - 26
SP - 129
EP - 135
JO - International Journal of Biological Markers
JF - International Journal of Biological Markers
SN - 0393-6155
IS - 2
ER -