title: Sample Management: Recommendation for Best Practices and Harmonization from the Global Bioanalysis Consortium Harmonization Team.
abstract: The importance of appropriate sample management in regulated bioanalysis is undeniable for clinical and non-clinical study support due to the fact that if the samples are compromised at any stage prior to analysis, the study results may be affected. Health authority regulations do not contain specific guidance on sample management; therefore, as part of the Global Bioanalysis Consortium (GBC), the A5 team was established to discuss sample management requirements and to put forward recommendations. The recommendations from the team concern the entire life span of the sample and include the following: 1. Sampling procedures should be described in the protocol or within the laboratory manual. This information should include the volume of the sample to be collected, the required anticoagulant, light sensitivity, collection and storage containers, and labeling with a unique identifier. 2. The correct procedures for processing and then storing the samples after collection at the clinical/non-clinical testing site and during shipment are also very important to ensure the analyte(s) stability and should be documented. 3. Chain of custody for the samples must be maintained throughout the complete life span of each sample. This is typically maintained via paper and electronic data systems, including Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) where available. 4. Pre- and post-analysis storage location and conditions must also be clearly defined at the analytical laboratory. The storage temperature of the samples must be traceable and controlled by monitoring and warning alerts. The team suggests moving away from using temperatures and to adopt standard terminology of "room temperature," "refrigerator," "freezer," and "ultra-freezer" that have defined and industry-wide accepted temperature ranges. 5. At the end of the study, documentation of the samples' disposal is required.
authors.affiliation: Quotient Bio Analytical Sciences (an LGC company), Newmarket, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Redrup
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline K. K., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Harue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.affiliation: PPD, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaefgen
authors.affiliation: CMIC, Inc, 2860 Forbs Avenue, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 60192, USA. jenny-lin@cmicgroup.com.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Covance, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geisler
authors.affiliation: NIBR, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben M'Barek
authors.affiliation: Clinigene International Ltd (a Syngene company), Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.affiliation: Waters Technologies do Brasil, Barueri, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thales
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Jansen R&D, Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hillewaert
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000592:standards*; D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
keywords: LIMS; sample collection; sample disposal; sample management; sample storage
references.citation: AAPS J. 2014 May;16(3):392-9
references.pmid: 24550081