The Specimen Bank provides materials to investigators with IRB-approved protocols. Staff are available to assist with selection of samples appropriate for downstream applications, development of processing protocols or preparation of derivatives from clinical materials.
IT Staff are also available to assist researchers with creation of queries for prospective sample collection or queries to select samples from specific cohorts.
Our goal is to drive quality research in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Each year we provide tens of thousands of samples to area researchers.
Getting started: Partners investigators and study staff may request a Crimson user account to help manage studies and collected materials.
Please note that we do not provide solid tissues.
The test menu of the BWH Clinical Laboratories is available to investigators. The Specimen bank and Clinical Trials Unit in the BWH Clinical Labs also perform specialized testing for novel biomarkers.
The central facility offers service for handling consented patient samples.
Dedicated staff and equipment can process materials to specific study or sponsor requirements.
Offshift and weekend processing available (coordinated with BWH Lab Control).
The following protocols are performed in the Specimen Bank.
Open repositories service
The Specimen Bank maintains a series of open repositories for use by Partners or HMS-affiliated investigators.
Fresh or fixed tissues, or paraffin-embedded sections are available.
Bank staff can assist with selection of samples for desired analyses, development of processing protocols, and preparation of derivatives.
Our group developed the Crimson Application. Partners investigators may request users accounts on this web-based application to manage their studies, samples and patients. IT Staff are also available to assist researchers with creation of queries for prospective sample collection or queries to select samples from specific cohorts.
Crimson application support serivice
The Crimson application was developed by the BWH Pathology department to facilitate support of research investigations at Partners-affiliated institutions.
Crimson fills a key gap in existing clinical and research systems by tapping into discarded sample streams within Pathology Departments to allow prospective collection of materials for designated research use or to develop retrospective repositories around specific diseases or organ systems.
Partners investigators and study staff may request a Crimson user account to help manage studies and collected materials.
Resources and expertise are available to help investigators evaluate markers with potential use as diagnostic tests.
Clinical isolates may be collected for investigators performing epidemiological studies, basic research into microbial pathogenesis and virulence, or studies of microbial resistance to antibiotics.
Requirements:
The following represent common types of isolates identified in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory:
** BL-3 materials including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and fungal isolates require review and approval of the request by the microbiology lab, and proof from investigators that they maintain appropriate facilities within the Longwood Medical Area for the storage and handling of such materials.
** Viral lysates from clinical cell cultures for CMV, HSV I and II, Adenovirus.
** Primary source materials (blood only) containing CMV, EBV, HIV or HCV. These materials are collected after completion of viral antigen or viral load studies.
*** Discarded blood from patients with malarial or babesial infection.
Prospective sample collection service.
Please note that we do not provide solid tissues.
Crimson queries against a rolling window of samples accessioned in the clinical laboratories (5000+/day at BWH). Investigators with IRB protocols approved to use Crimson for sample collection may define queries to locate materials of use. Request a quote for services.
Specimen Bank (BWH) has not received any reviews.
Specimen Bank (BWH) has not received any endorsements.