Lessons from the Field

Blueprint for building a biorepository in a resource-limited setting that follows international best practices

Alash'le G. Abimiku, Talishea Croxton, Petronilla J. Ozumba, Ndidi Agala, Olasinbo Balogun, Emmanuel Jonathan, Enzenwa Onyemata, Kachimi Ndifon, Sunji Nadoma, Thankgod Anazodo, Sam Peters, Christine M. Beiswanger
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 8, No 1 | a722 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v8i1.722 | © 2019 Alash’le G. Abimiku, Talishea Croxton, Petronilla J. Ozumba, Ndidi Agala, Olasinbo Balogun, Emmanuel Jonathan, Enzenwa Onyemata, Kachimi Ndifon, Sunji Nadoma, Thankgod Anazodo, Sam Peters, Christine M. Beiswanger | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 21 November 2017 | Published: 28 August 2019

About the author(s)

Alash'le G. Abimiku, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria; and, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Talishea Croxton, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;and, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Petronilla J. Ozumba, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Ndidi Agala, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Olasinbo Balogun, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Emmanuel Jonathan, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Enzenwa Onyemata, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Kachimi Ndifon, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Sunji Nadoma, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Thankgod Anazodo, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Sam Peters, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Christine M. Beiswanger, Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, New Jersey, United States; and, Independent contractor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Abstract

ackground:Genetic diversity is abundant on the African continent. However, genomic research has been hampered by a lack of high quality and extensively annotated biospecimens and the necessary infrastructure to support such a technology-intensive effort.

Objective: The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) partnered with the H3Africa Consortium and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research to build an internationally recognised biorepository for the receipt, processing, storage and distribution of biospecimens for biomedical research. Here, the authors describe the procedures, challenges and results encountered.

Results: Key requirements for a high-quality biorepository were identified: (1) institutional support of infrastructure and services, (2) on-site trained staff with primary commitment to the biorepository, (3) reliance on best practices from globally recognised biorepository groups, (4) early implementation of a quality management system, (5) adoption of a laboratory information management system with demonstrated versatility in functions, (6) collaboration with external experts and sharing of experience through abstracts, newsletters, published manuscripts, and attendance at meetings and workshops, (7) strict adherence to local and national ethical standards and (8) a sustainability plan that is reviewed and updated annually.

Conclusion: Utilising published best practices of globally recognised experts in the biorepository field as a benchmark, IHVN expanded and reorganised its existing laboratory facility and staff to take on this new purpose.


Keywords

biorepository; biobank; international guidelines; best practices; developing country

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