We began packing: collapsible insect nets, hundreds of 2-by-3-inch onion-skin-like envelopes and sturdy cardboard boxes in which to store specimens.
Little is known about the characteristics of biobanks that store specimens from clinical sources, or their policies and practices.
Forty-four percent of biobanks store specimens from children under the age of 18, though only 2% house exclusively pediatric specimens.
Polymerase chain reaction testing was done with DNA prepared from the stored specimen collected at each visit.
DENV RNA was detected in two samples from 2 patients with acute symptoms; one of them was a stored specimen.
There were also some sporadic associations with the type or volume of the stored specimen or lot number of test kit.
Optimal methods for collecting and storing specimens for this testing have not been determined.
These dilemmas are missing from current public representations of biobanks, which instead focus on the intrinsic value in storing specimens as essential to the advancement of translational research.
The MERIT study, including written informed consent for stored specimens, was approved by the Institutional Review Boards (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committees (IEC) of all participating sites.
JYB stored specimens and extracted genomic DNA.
The local Medical Ethics Committee IRBB) approved this laboratory study on stored specimens.
