Current standards for the storage of human samples in biobanks

Biobanks are diverse in their design and purpose; the idea of fully harmonizing historical and future biobanks is unaffordable and unfeasible. Biobanks should focus their efforts instead on developing and maintaining high-quality collections of samples capable of providing a wide range of biological information using processes that minimize introduced variability. A full data audit trail on sample processing, archiving, and quality control procedures should also be provided. This should enable the data derived from biobanks to contribute as part of wider collaborative efforts with other similar resources.