Blood Processing and Storage

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP 05.002.1)

PURPOSE

Blood samples are drawn from patients that have been through the informed consent process and agreed to participate in the tumor biobank program. Blood samples are obtained by personnel qualified to draw blood from patients in the cancer center, the hospital or in the physician’s office. Processed blood products are an important tumor biobank resource.

SCOPE

This standard operating procedure (SOP) describes how blood should be processed, accessioned and stored. The SOP does not cover detailed safety procedures for handling blood and it is recommended that personnel follow institutional biosafety guidelines.

REFERENCE TO OTHER TJUHBB SOPS OR POLICIES

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This SOP applies to all qualified tumor biobank personnel and clinical staff at the collection centers that are involved in recruiting patients and the acquisition of informed and voluntary consent. This may include the following personnel:

Tumor Biobank PersonnelResponsibility
Tumor Bank ManagerTransport, process and store blood and blood products

MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND FORMS

The materials, equipment and forms listed in the following list are recommendations only and may be substituted by alternative/equivalent products more suitable for the site-specific task or procedure.

Materials & EquipmentMaterials & Equipment (Site Specific)
Evacuated blood collection tubes for plasma (e.g. Lavender top tube with EDTA) with sample
2.0 ml cryovials
Centrifuge
Storage Boxes
Lymphoprep
Item required for Sepmate Protocol

DEFINITIONS

See the TJUHBB Glossary.

PROCEDURES

This procedure is intended to ensure that blood samples obtained from consented participants are processed in a safe and efficient manner while eliminating the risks of contamination and loss.

Timing for Blood Collection and Processing

  • Blood collection should be done pre-operation and as close as possible to the time when the tissue is donated to the biobank or at an alternative time, if appropriate for the research study.

Verification of Identification Information on Tubes

  • As applicable, verify the accuracy of patient information (in keeping with privacy and ethical policies) and ensure that it corresponds with the information on labels on blood collection tubes.

Accessioning of EDTA Blood Tubes

  • For EDTA (lavender-top) blood tubes, three (3) 7 mL lavender-top EDTA tubes will be provided in a standard bio-hazard bag with the corresponding de-identified labels.
  • Upon receiving the blood collection tubes, one patient label should be placed on the side of each lavender-top tube after blood collection has taken place.
  • Blood should be processed following the Sepmate Protocol (attached following this SOP).

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Accessioning and freezing should occur within 4 hours of blood collection.

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Rejection

Proper tracking of blood samples from the OR is critical to maintain quality banking standards.

  • A sample may be rejected if it is unlabeled or the custody of the sample is undocumented.
  • A sample may be rejected if it remains at room temperature for greater than two hours.
  • A sample may be rejected if the integrity of the blood tube is compromised. This can include leakage or a broken/loose cap.
  • A sample may be rejected if it has clotted before freezing or further processing for plasma and white blood cells.

Alternate Processing of Blood Samples

If blood has been collected in specific collection tubes for extraction of DNA or RNA then proceed with processing of these collection tubes as per established procedures for DNA and RNA processing and extraction.

APPLICABLE REFERENCES, REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES