Sample collection details
This section outlines the collection process, the types of samples required and the forms that must be completed to process plasma, serum and DNA.
Sample packs
Blood sample pack contents:
- 2 x EDTA tubes
- 1 x serum tube
Always use the tubes provided (BD Vacutainer blood tubes as supplied in the standard sample packs). Substituting alternative tube types may invalidate the sample or delay the processing at the lab. These tubes will be used to biobank plasma, serum and DNA.
For participants where giving blood is not an option, a saliva pack can be used to biobank DNA.
Saliva sample pack contents:
- 1x GeneFix Saliva Collection Kit
Forms to be completed
The following documents must be completed for each participant:
- Consent form
- Data collection sheet (DCS) for capturing participant personal details
- Sample Linkage Forms (SLF)
- Clinical Report Form (CRF) for common or rare disease projects
- Health and Lifestyle questionnaire
Please ensure you review the inclusion/exclusion criteria before recruiting to any common or rare disease project. All participants must be resident in the UK.
Collection packs
New collection packs can be ordered by emailing the central packing team.
Each participant must have their own collection pack. Any unused barcodes must be destroyed, as all barcodes are unique to that pack and recruitment event.
Sample Linkage Form (SLF)
The SLF must accompany all barcoded samples sent to UK Biocentre (UKBC).
It must include the correct project code and the site code for the hospital where recruitment took place. The date and time of venepuncture is also important for tracking how long it has been between sample collection and being processed at the lab.
Reporting and tracking
We will provide reports on samples holdings. Recruiters with access can view cumulative participant recruitment through the Grafana consent events table.
Mental Health participants
Participants recruited through Mental Health studies should return completed saliva kits directly to the UKBC.
Standard sample pack blood collection tubes
A guide to the tube types and age groups is provided separately:
| Adults (age 16 and over) | 2 x 4 ml EDTA and 1 x 6ml Serum |
| Children aged 2 to 16 years old | 1 x 2 ml EDTA and 1 x 2ml Serum |
| Children aged 6 months to 2 years old | 1 x 2ml EDTA |
| Babies up to 6 months | 1 x 1 ml EDTA |
If you have any concerns about suggested volumes, please contact us.
Notes
Do you require additional samples?
If additional samples are required for adequate analysis of disease (e.g. stool sample, skin biopsy) this must be agreed with the BioResource before recruitment. These collections may require a change to the ethics and involve additional costs.
Providing saliva in place of blood samples
In rare cases where blood sampling is not possible, for example if a participant is difficult to bleed, a saliva sample may be collected for DNA extraction. A limited number of saliva kits are available. Please note:
- Saliva samples cannot provide plasma or serum for future analysis
- DNA from saliva is lower in quality and purity than DNA from blood
- Saliva samples are not suitable for all laboratory techniques
Samples from minors
Standard clinical practice for minors applies. If there are concerns about the appropriate sample volume, a smaller sample will be accepted.
Samples from under-12s
For participants under 12, the priority is to collect 1 x EDTA tube for DNA extraction.
Taking care with posting dates and times
Packs are sent to UK Biocentre using the Royal Mail 24 hour tracked service, which means they arrive the next day. To avoid delays:
- use a Royal Mail post box rather than a hospital post room, as hospital systems may add an extra day
- check that the post box has a same day collection
- take extra care when posting on Thursday or Friday afternoons to ensure arrival within the three-day transit window. If blood samples are in transit for more than three days, they can only be used for DNA extraction and not for serum or plasma storage.
Public holidays
We will notify sites and collaborators of any special arrangements around public holidays. Recruitment normally pauses for a few days before and after Christmas to ensure all samples arrive and are processed before the holiday period.
Frozen samples
If you hold frozen samples from a previous NIHR BioResource project that need to be transferred to UKBC, please contact the samples team.