• Esther Herpel, Sabrina Schmitt, and Michael Kiehntopf.
• Pathologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
• Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2016 Mar 1; 59 (3): 325-35.

AbstractDuring the last years, many biobanks that collect and provide biomaterials as well as associated phenotypical data have been established on national and international levels. However, due to the heterogeneity in structure and process landscape between biobanks, quality issues arise, which might affect equivalence of sample quality and thus usability of biomaterials for scientific research projects as well as interoperability of biobanks.Here, we will give an overview on the influence of biobanking procedures on sample quality and on potential quality control measures for research biobanks, mainly focusing on tissue and liquid biomaterials. General infrastructural requirements as well as the influence of preanalytical variables affecting sample quality and usability are described and opportunities and drawbacks of different quality assurance procedures are discussed. As there is increasing consensus on national and international levels that evidence-based standardization and harmonization of biobank structures and workflows are urgently needed for quality-assured biobanking, recent activities in the development and implementation of an ISO Standard for biobanks will be illustrated in the last section of this article.

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