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Efficiently Maintaining a National Resource of Historical and Contemporary Biological Collections: The NHLBI Biorepository Model.
Pubmed ID: 28186851
Pubmed Central ID: PMC5326980
Journal: Biopreservation and biobanking
Publication Date: Feb. 1, 2017
Affiliation: 3 Information Management Services, Inc. , Calverton, Maryland.
MeSH Terms: Humans, United States, Models, Theoretical, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.), Biological Specimen Banks, Investments
Authors: Wagner EL, Shea KE, Marchesani L, Meagher K, Giffen C
Cite As: Shea KE, Wagner EL, Marchesani L, Meagher K, Giffen C. Efficiently Maintaining a National Resource of Historical and Contemporary Biological Collections: The NHLBI Biorepository Model. Biopreserv Biobank 2017 Feb;15(1):17-19.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Reducing costs by improving storage efficiency has been a focus of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Biologic Specimen Repository (Biorepository) and Biologic Specimen and Data Repositories Information Coordinating Center (BioLINCC) programs for several years. METHODS: Study specimen profiles were compiled using the BioLINCC collection catalog. Cost assessments and calculations on the return on investments to consolidate or reduce a collection, were developed and implemented. RESULTS: Over the course of 8 months, the NHLBI Biorepository evaluated 35 collections that consisted of 1.8 million biospecimens. A total of 23 collections were selected for consolidation, with a total of 1.2 million specimens located in 21,355 storage boxes. The consolidation resulted in a savings of 4055 boxes of various sizes and 10.2 mechanical freezers (∼275 cubic feet) worth of space. CONCLUSION: As storage costs in a biorepository increase over time, the development and use of information technology tools to assess the potential advantage and feasiblity of vial consolidation can reduce maintenance expenses.