Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Complete CITI training and contact the Biobank CRC, Annabelle Doo, annabed@hs.uci.edu.

Reach out to your attending physician or the Biobank CRC, Annabelle Doo, annabed@hs.uci.edu.

• Blood
• Urine
• Saliva
• Ascites fluid
• Peritoneal lavage fluid
• Pleural fluid
• Tissue specimens

• Enrollment is completely voluntary. Only patients who are willing to sign an informed consent form will be enrolled.
• Patients who decline or have 3 failed contact attempts will not be reached again.

Yes, you must complete your CITI training and be onboarded by the Biobank CRC.

• Secure Storage: All biospecimens are stored in a state-of-the-art ICTS facility with restricted access.
• Data Protection: A secure relational database maintains the medical data associated with each specimen, ensuring subject confidentiality.
• Limited Access: Only authorized ICTS personnel have access to the data, and no identifiable information will be published.
• Unique Identification: Each specimen receives a unique sequential number (e.g., 01-10001), distinct from medical record numbers, using a dual barcode and alphanumeric system.
• Follow-up Potential: With subject consent, researchers may request additional information or specimens if needed for their studies.
• Advanced Management: We use Freezerworks^TM, a specialized repository tool, for:
  • Inventory management
  • Collection and storage tracking
  • Quality assurance
  • Distribution oversight
  • Basic and clinical annotation
  This comprehensive system ensures the integrity, security, and optimal utilization of our valuable bio-specimens for leading-edge research.
• Tissue Specimens (Fresh and Frozen):
  • Obtained during surgical procedures
  • Only excess tissue not needed for diagnosis is collected
  • Rapidly transported to pathology to minimize degradation
  • Pathologist ensures sufficient tissue for diagnosis
  • Both cancerous and non-cancerous tissues collected when possible
  • Divided into small fragments and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen
  • Stored long-term in -80°C freezers
  • For pre-consent surgeries, tissue may be contributed after a two-week retention period
• Blood Samples:
  • Two 6ml purple tops are collected during routine procedures to minimize discomfort
  • Processed to separate plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • Stored in 1ml aliquots at -80°C
• Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Tissues:
  • Accessed through partnership with ETR
  • May have paired live tissue or blood samples
  • Clinical information available with appropriate approvals
• Urine Samples:
  • 10-20ml collected in sterile containers
  • Special collection methods available for those unable to provide samples independently
• Saliva Samples:
  • Collected using a spatula from the mouth cavity
  • Subjects refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, or oral hygiene for 1 hour prior
  • 30-second oral rinse with saline solution before collection
• Body Fluids (Ascites, Peritoneal Lavage, Pleural):
  • Excess fluid from routine medical procedures
  • Aliquoted into 10ml tubes
  • Stored in -80°C freezers

Our meticulous collection and storage processes ensure high-quality biospecimens for research while prioritizing patient care and diagnosis.

• The CCR/ICTS research team will collect information from the subject’s medical record. This information will be saved in the OnCore Clinical Trial Management System, which is password protected. Subjects’ medical records and personal health information will be handled confidentially per HIPAA guidelines.
• In addition, OnCore CTMS is also used for data tracking and detailed descriptions of the sample collections.

• For Clinicians and Researchers: Contribution to science, potential authorship, access to datasets, continuing education opportunities.
• For Patients: Contribution to research, no cost, minimal burden, privacy protections.