Identification of evidence-based biospecimen quality-control tools: a report of the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) Biospecimen Science Working Group.

January 01, 2013 By:
  • Betsou F
  • Gunter E
  • Clements J
  • DeSouza Y
  • Goddard KA
  • Guadagni F
  • Yan W
  • Skubitz A
  • Somiari S
  • Yeadon T
  • Chuaqui R.

Control of biospecimen quality that is linked to processing is one of the goals of biospecimen science. Consensus is lacking, however, regarding optimal sample quality-control (QC) tools (ie, markers and assays). The aim of this review was to identify QC tools, both for fluid and solid-tissue samples, based on a comprehensive and critical literature review. The most readily applicable tools are those with a known threshold for the preanalytical variation and a known reference range for the QC analyte. Only a few meaningful markers were identified that meet these criteria, such as CD40L for assessing serum exposure at high temperatures and VEGF for assessing serum freeze-thawing. To fully assess biospecimen quality, multiple QC markers are needed. Here we present the most promising biospecimen QC tools that were identified.

2013 Jan. J Mol Diagn.15(1):3-16. Epub 2012 Nov 27.
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