RESEARCH CONDITIONS. Through Biobank West, researchers can handle samples more effectively and with greater quality assurance. The biobank’s first regional laboratory has now been inaugurated at Östra Hospital.
Biobank West can assist researchers with collection, handling, storage and traceability of biobank samples. The biobank is operated by Region Västra Götaland in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg’s Core Facilities. Biobank West already has two laboratories, located on the Sahlgrenska University Hospital grounds and behind Microbiologen at Guldhedsgatan 10.
“We have been tasked with becoming regional, and we regard our new lab at Östra as a first step away from the Sahlgrenska grounds,” said jokingly Linda Paulson, head of unit, when she opened the inaugural seminar in Östra’s auditorium on Wednesday.
Well organized
The biobank operates using a quality-assured, standardized process, which means all samples are handled similarly. Jenny Isaksson, who has operational responsibility, described how Biobank West facilitates the handling of biobank samples and ensures good sample quality.
“Samples that are handled and stored at Biobank West follow quality-assured procedures from reception to withdrawal,” Isaksson said. “In addition to collecting liquid samples such as serum, plasma, urine and fluids, we can handle tubes with whole blood for immediate freezing and other materials, such as buffy coat, cell fraction and plasma for circulating cell-free DNA. We can also collect tissue samples in cool boxes.”
A big advantage for researchers who keep their samples at Biobank West is the ability to obtain a small sample without having to thaw excessive quantities. Such handling ensures good sample quality.
If you have your own freezer that needs to be better organized, Biobank West can come to your laboratory and help on site. You can also sign up on the waiting list to rent freezer space at the biobank.
Flexibility and service
Many of the researchers using the biobank are employed or affiliated with Sahlgrenska Academy. The seminar included presentations on three of the projects already using the biobank branch at Östra Hospital. Obstetrician Teresia Svanvik talked about the GO PROVE project, which involves building a biobank for studies on toxemia of pregnancy. Research Nurse Wiveka Björkvall described the purpose and logistics for all samples in the BASUN project on bariatric surgery. Martin Dahlin discussed the CITUP project he heads at the Sahlgrenska Cancer Center. This project monitors children with several different cancers using samples of plasma, white blood cells and urine in an attempt to find a new way to optimize cancer treatment for each individual child. All three speakers provided a strong, positive picture of their collaboration with Biobank West as a flexible and service-oriented research partner.
Biobank West also participates in Biobank Sweden, the national research infrastructure that, among other things, facilitates collaboration in multicenter studies through increased harmonization with national and international guidelines.
Read more about Biobank West (in Swedish) here: https://www.biobankvast.se/
TEXT AND PHOTO: ELIN LINDSTRÖM
