IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) has announced positive results of its Proficiency Testing (PT) programme in China. According to IBBL, the results indicate an encouraging consistency between the measurements obtained by the Chinese and international participants, pointing towards an increasing standardisation of biobanking and laboratory practices worldwide.
Founded in 2008, IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) is an autonomous not-for-profit institute dedicated to supporting biomedical research for the benefit of patients. It is an integrated research infrastructure offering bioservices, including the collection, processing, analysis and storage of biological samples and associated data.
In addition, IBBL carries out research to optimise biospecimen processing and certify biospecimen quality. IBBL is ISO 9001:2008 certified and ISO 17025:2005 accredited. IBBL’s quality management system is conceived to be compliant with NF S96-900:2011 and ISO 17043:2010. IBBL’s mission is to provide biospecimen related services and a biobanking infrastructure for applied medical research. IBBL’s vision is to be an international centre of excellence in biobanking and a valued partner in developing better healthcare solutions.
The Biobank Branch, China Medicinal Biotech Association (BBCMBA), established in 2009, is a national committee which works on promoting the standardisation of biobanking in China. The slogan of BBCMBA is: Industry standard, Education and training, Academic communication and International cooperation.
The one-year pilot PT programme, which began in July 2018, offered two testing schemes: ‘DNA quantification and purity’ and ‘RNA quantification and purity’. About 30 participants enrolled for each scheme.
“These results demonstrate that the performance of the biospecimen testing methods of Chinese biobanks and testing laboratories is in line with that of our international colleagues, and that the measurements obtained by Chinese institutions can therefore be considered trustworthy and of high quality.”… “This will further contribute to enhancing data exchanges between China and international laboratories, thus strengthening cooperation and supporting the development of global health.” – Prof. Hengjun Gao, President of BBCMBA
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the pilot, since it marks a step forward in terms of biospecimen quality and standardisation of biobanking practices worldwide.” … “This is particularly relevant when considering that participation in PT programmes is a requirement for biobanks seeking accreditation according to the new ISO 20387 norm.” – Dr. Fay Betsou, Chief Scientific Officer at IBBL
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