Defining Automated Bio-banking
Bio-banks are dedicated organizations that contain and manage collections of biological samples and related information
. The biological samples are collected and stored according to specific standards and then are available to be picked up when needed. Bio-banks are used in multiple domains, from the genetic domain, where preserving genetic resources is essential, to providing help so that medical research is conducted properly.The processes of storing and supervising the samples are complicated and time and space consuming, that being the reason why pharmaceutical companies normally rather outsource it to specialized companies, than creating their own internal repositories. Sample integrity and immediate access are available when working with sample management professionals that have extensive experience in bio-banking activities.
Various types of organizations, state-held and private ones, take a great deal of interest in the automated bio-banking field. The ability to store samples on a wide-scale level and for a long period of time in these repositories can ease a lot the medical researchers efforts to discovering new treatments for illnesses.
Depending on what is needed, automated bio-banking systems can keep the biological samples for shorter or longer periods of time. Whatever the time-frame selected is, the samples will require constant monitoring to avoid getting deteriorated in time. The samples also require special protection measures against damages, to maintain sample integrity.
With the help of dedicated software tools, all sample information is recorded in databases. All bio-banking-related tasks are automated, including sample loading and retrieval. Dedicated robotics for working in a specified temperature range assure the sample integrity, while individual tubes and plates are accessed by using sample cherry picking techniques that leave the other samples untouched. Real-time sample storage and retrieval processes can be video monitored with the help of specific software tools.
Specific standards for reliability and sample integrity need to be met by the bio-banking management systems, since the sample repositories contain from hundreds of thousands up to tens of millions of samples that need to be stored at -80C or colder. This is the reason why the samples require continuous monitoring and also a backup plan to protect the samples against possible facility power outages.
Using automated bio-banking services is now standard procedure and most pharmaceutical companies worldwide do it. Therefore, it is important keep in mind that it is required that the sample integrity is well protected while collecting, storing and accessing the samples.
by: Jack Wogan.