How to: Establish and run a stool bank

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has shown clinical success for recurrent Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) since 2013.
• Inconsistent protocols for donor screening, sample preparation, and administration exist globally.
• Lack of European consensus on legislative aspects and standardized recommendations for FMT products.

Purpose of the Study:

• Establish the Netherlands Donor Feces Bank (NDFB) in 2015 to provide a standardized FMT product.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for donor recruitment, selection, screening, and sample processing.
• Ensure consistent quality and safety for FMT treatments in the Netherlands.

Main Methods:

• Detailed donor recruitment and rigorous screening protocols implemented.
• Standardized procedures for the preparation, freezing, storage, and distribution of fecal suspensions.
• Established protocols for the administration of fecal microbiota suspensions to patients.

Main Results:

• Summarized experience in donor recruitment and screening processes.
• Detailed methodology for fecal suspension preparation and transfer.
• Overview of patient experiences and follow-up after FMT using NDFB-sourced material.

Conclusions:

• The NDFB provides a standardized approach to FMT for recurrent CDI.
• Established SOPs ensure consistent product quality and safety.
• Experience highlights the importance of standardized procedures in FMT implementation.