Launch of the 2021 Biospecimen Proficiency Testing Programme: 10 years of dedication to quality

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• Biobanque Intégrée du Luxembourg (IBBL)

IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2021 edition of its Biospecimen Proficiency Testing (PT) programme, an internationally-recognised quality assessment tool to verify the precision and accuracy of laboratory biospecimen testing methods. The 2021 edition marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the programme.

Endorsed by the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER), the PT programme acts as an external quality assessment tool, offering laboratories working with biospecimens the opportunity to verify the accuracy, precision and efficiency of their routine methods and benchmark their performance to that of other expert laboratories. Regular participation in the programme allows participants to comply with certification and accreditation requirements, as well as monitor their performance over time and prove consistency.

“For the past decade, our PT programme has proven to be an integral part of a biobank laboratory’s quality management system, contributing to the standardisation of both sample processing methods and measurements. Indeed, it also supports participants in complying with the requirement of standards such as ISO 20387 and ISO 17025”, explains Dr Amélie Gaignaux, IBBL’s PT Project Manager.

The 2021 PT programme offers a total of 20 schemes.

1 Combined Processing and Testing Scheme

• Circulating Tumour Cells (CTC) Isolation and Detection

13 Processing Schemes

• Dual DNA/RNA Extraction from Frozen Tissue
• Cell Free RNA (cfRNA) Extraction from Plasma
• CSF Aliquoting
• Viable PBMC Isolation
• DNA Extraction from Whole Blood
• DNA Extraction from FFPE Material
• DNA Extraction from Frozen Tissue
• Microbial DNA Extraction from Saliva
• Microbial DNA Extraction from Stool
• Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) Extraction from Whole Blood
• RNA Extraction from Whole Blood
• RNA Extraction from FFPE Material
• Total RNA Extraction from Frozen Tissue

6 Testing Schemes

• DNA Integrity
• DNA Quantification and Purity
• RNA Quantification and Purity
• RNA Integrity
• Cell Viability
• Tissue Histology

As the sole PT programme in the world that focuses on biospecimens, IBBL’s PT scheme has become increasingly popular over the last 10 years. In 2020, 131 participants from 30 different countries registered for a total of 452 PT schemes.

Registration will remain open until August 31st 2021.

For more information, please visit the dedicated PT page on the IBBL website.