C-28: ISBER best practices in action at CDC’s CASPIR biorepository

Abstract

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER), has developed a set of best practice guidelines for repositories, reflecting the collective experience of its members and repository professionals. The enterprise has been driven by the need for standardized, evidence based methods for collection, long-term storage, retrieval and distribution of specimens, to ensure availability of high quality biological and environmental specimens for research use. The ISBER Best Practices document represents effective strategies for the management of specimen collections and repositories, and is regularly revised to incorporate new advances. Biorepostories represent the infrastructure that includes both the physical facilities and the full range of activities associated with the repository. The Best Practices address all aspects of a repository required to ensure the quality of both specimens and associated data. A self-assessment tool is available from ISBER to assist repositories gage how well they adhere to the Best Practices. The CASPIR (CDC and ATSDR Specimen Packaging, Inventory, and Repository) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an example of a large, long term biorepository that utilizes the ISBER Best Practices framework to ensure consistent management of specimens and associated data. The CDC accrues millions of irreplaceable specimens in the course of Public Health investigations, including a variety of human, microbial and environmental samples. CASPIR was established as a centralized facility to preserve the integrity of CDC’s unique and valuable specimens for future research in a secure facility, with continuously maintained uniform conditions and standard operating procedures and quality measures.