HUVH Biobank offers the following Specimen processing services:

• Genomic DNA extraction from blood samples.
• DNA extraction from sputum.
• RNA extraction from tissue samples and cells.
• RNA extraction from sputum.
• miRNA extraction from serum.
• Serum and plasma separation.
• Automated liquid handling for aliquoting blood, urine, serum, plasma and genomic DNA.
• Automated liquid handling for DNA normalization.
• Freezing and cryopreservation of tissues.
• Isolation of PBMCs (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from blood).
• Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from bone marrow.

In addition HUVH Biobank offers sample storage at -80ºC freezers (Custody service).

All Biobank procedures are performed following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) established by Biobanks (Plataforma Nacional de Biobancos, ISBER, and others).

The management of biological samples of multicentric studies requires the following:

• Establishing Standard Operating Procedures for the procurement, processing, storage and shipment of samples.
• Establishing the codification system and sample labelling.
• Database registry of donors and samples with warranties for traceability, data protection and with tools that allow samples search.
• Coordination of sample shipment between the collaborating centres and the coordination centre.

The HUVH Biobank offers all these services for the effective and correct management of these type of studies.

The Biobank samples request (Material Transfer Service) is regulated by article 69 of the Biomedical Research Law and article 34 of Royal Decree 1716/2011.

The Biobank Material Transfer Service requires a request form that contains the description of the research objectives and the research applicant’s commitment to use the requested samples exclusively for the scientific purposes specified in the request; also the research applicant must provide the approval of his/her institution Ethics Committee to conduct the research project.

The Biobank samples request is reviewed by the External Scientific and Ethics Committees of HUVH Biobank. These committees ensure that the best possible use is made of the Biobank samples for research projects of excellence.

Sample request procedure

The HUVH Biobank sample request procedure consists on:

• Completing the for Sample request research projects form, and attaching the necessary documentation for sample request assessment. Send form and documentation to the e-mail address: biobanc@vhir.org.
• The assessment of the sample request by External Scientific and Ethical Committees of HUVH Biobank and the notification of the evaluation outcome.

HUVH Biobank coordination personnel are responsible for the management of sample requests and the contact with the research applicant.

The HUVH Biobank will send the requested samples once the HUVH Biobank External Committees have given their approval for the biobank material transfer.

HUVH Biobank samples are transferred anonymously or encoded to ensure the confidentiality of the donor information, and the amount of sample transferred shall be the minimum necessary for the project.

The cost for the Material Transfer Service, that the research applicant assumes, is based on the costs of collection, maintenance and the handling and shipping of the biobank samples.

Research applicant commitment

• Using the requested samples exclusively for the scientific purposes specified in this request.
• Not distributing the samples and data to third parties not specified in the corresponding research project.
• Ensuring the traceability of the samples.
• Assuming full responsibility for the handling and manipulation of the samples with the best and most appropriate security measures for potentially infectious samples since all human samples are potentially infective and biohazardous.
• Assuming full responsibility for the information and training of research personnel regarding the hazards and safety measures to be followed in the handling of samples of human origin.
• Returning or destroying unused samples upon completion of the research project.
• Acknowledging the source of the material in any publication or disclosures reporting use of the Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron Biobank samples with the following sentence: “The samples used in this project were provided by the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Biobank with appropriate ethics approval.”
• Sending to Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Biobank a copy of any scientific publication resulting from the research project or a report with the results.
• Ensuring the availability of validated and relevant health or genetic information obtained from the samples analysis.

Biological samples of human origin for use in biomedical research can be collected for a specific project, to create a collection or for a biobank (article 22 of Royal Decree 1716/2011, November 18th).

Human biological samples of a specific project, collection or biobank are characterized by the purpose for which they were obtained: 

• Samples of a specific project: samples are for use in a specific research project as stated in the patient/donor informed consent.
• Collection: the samples are for use in a research line as stated in the patient/donor informed consent.
• Biobank: the samples are for use in any biomedical research as stated in the patient/donor informed consent.

Biobank and collection samples must be registered on the Registro Nacional de Biobancos para Investigación Biomédica (article 37 of Royal Decree 1716/2011).

The HUVH Biobank keeps a registry of VHIR and HUVH collections that have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Clinical Research of Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron.

The HUVH Biobank offers to VHIR and HUVH research groups an advisory service on: 

• Ethical and legal aspects referred to the collection and use of human biological samples for biomedical research;
• Technical and methodological procedures for the proper collection, processing, storage and use of human biological samples for biomedical research. 

Service purpose

To promote the proper collection, processing, storage and use of human biological samples for biomedical research.

Technical procedures

• Procedure for peripheral blood collection for plasma.
• Procedure for peripheral blood collection for serum.
• Procedure for peripheral blood collection for RNA.
• Procedure for peripheral blood collection for genomic DNA.
• Molecular Medicine Ireland Guidelines for Standardized Biobanking (pages 15 to 30: Standard Operating Procedures for blood, saliva and urine collection).
• 2008 Best Practices for Repositories. Collection, Storage, Retrieval and Distribution of Biological Materials for Research. ISBER (pages 41-45: procedures for collection and processing of biological samples for biomedical research).
• A consensus protocol for the standardization of cerebrospinal fluid Collection and biobanking.

Guide for biological samples shipping

• Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances 2013-2014. World Health Organization.

Best practices for repositories

• ISBER Best Practices for Repositories: Collection, Storage, Retrieval, and Distribution of Biological Materials for Research. 2012.
• OECD Best Practice Guidelines for Biological Resource Centres. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).