title: Preanalytical variables affecting the integrity of human biospecimens in biobanking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most errors in a clinical chemistry laboratory are due to preanalytical errors. Preanalytical variability of biospecimens can have significant effects on downstream analyses, and controlling such variables is therefore fundamental for the future use of biospecimens in personalized medicine for diagnostic or prognostic purposes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The focus of this review is to examine the preanalytical variables that affect human biospecimen integrity in biobanking, with a special focus on blood, saliva, and urine. Cost efficiency is discussed in relation to these issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of a study will depend on the integrity of the biospecimens. Preanalytical preparations should be planned with consideration of the effect on downstream analyses. Currently such preanalytical variables are not routinely documented in the biospecimen research literature. Future studies using biobanked biospecimens should describe in detail the preanalytical handling of biospecimens and analyze and interpret the results with regard to the effects of these variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Nykoebing Falster Hospital, Nykoebing Falster, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; christina@ellervik.dk christina.ellervik@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellervik
authors.affiliation: International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, Vancouver, Canada; Editor-in-Chief, Biopreservation and Biobanking, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaught
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000191:economics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D001769:Blood; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012463:Saliva; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014556:Urine