title: An IT-Supported Evaluation Tool for Biobanks Based on International Guidelines to Improve the Biosample Quality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The quality of samples stored within a biobank relies on the specimen collection, the transportation, the pre-analytical processing and the long-term storage. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential tools to guarantee the quality of samples.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to present an IT-supported tool (Pre-An Evaluation Tool) that allows assessing the compliance of current pre-analytical procedures (defined in SOPs) of a biobank with international guidelines. The Pre-An Evaluation Tool was implemented based on CEN technical specifications for pre-analytical procedures using REDCap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data collection instrument of the Pre-An Evaluation tool consists of more than 250 items related to the CEN technical specifications. In order to create a dynamic questionnaire, items following a branching logic were implemented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Pre-An Evaluation tool is a user-friendly tool that facilitates the assessment of the coverage of the CEN technical specifications by specific SOPs. This tool can help to identify gaps within SOPs and therefore contribute to the overall quality of biological samples stored within a biobank.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical Universit of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabrina B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Neururer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical Universit of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical Universit of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Göbel
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*