The biobank of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study: a resource for the next 100 years.
BACKGROUND
Long-term storage of biological materials is a critical component of any epidemiological study. In designing specimen repositories, efforts need to balance future needs for samples with logistical constraints necessary to process and store samples in a timely fashion.


OBJECTIVE
In the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), the Biobank was charged with long-term storage of more than 380,000 biological samples from pregnant women, their partners and their children for up to 100 years.


METHODS
Biological specimens include whole blood, plasma, DNA and urine; samples are collected at 50 hospitals in Norway. All samples are sent via ordinary mail to the Biobank in Oslo where the samples are registered, aliquoted and DNA extracted. DNA is stored at -20 degrees C while whole blood, urine and plasma are stored at -80 degrees C.


RESULTS
As of July 2006, over 227,000 sample sets have been collected, processed and stored at the Biobank. Currently 250-300 sets are received daily. An important part of the Biobank is the quality control program.


CONCLUSIONS
With the unique combination of biological specimens and questionnaire data, the MoBa Study will constitute a resource for many future investigations of the separate and combined effects of genetic, environmental factors on pregnancy outcome and on human morbidity, mortality and health in general.
Rønningen
Kjersti S
KS
Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. kjersti.skjold.ronningen@fhi.no
Paltiel
Liv
L
Meltzer
Helle M
HM
Nordhagen
Rannveig
R
Lie
Kari K
KK
Hovengen
Ragnhild
R
Haugen
Margaretha
M
Nystad
Wenche
W
Magnus
Per
P
Hoppin
Jane A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000592:standards; D001771:Blood Banks; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011786:Quality Control; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013696:Temperature; D014556:Urine
D004247:DNA