BBMRI-ERIC launches Self-Assessment Survey for biobanks and sample collections

BBMRI-ERIC’s Quality Management reached an important milestone earlier this year: a self-assessment survey for biobanks and sample collections located in BBMRI-ERIC Member/Observer States was launched. 106 quality experts from all over Europe joined BBMRI-ERIC in this tremendous effort and participated in numerous web conferences to develop a self-assessment tool based on the requirements of the European Committee for Standardization Technical Specifications (CEN/TS).

As a result, biobankers and researchers based in BBMRI-ERIC Member/Observer countries can now request the BBMRI-ERIC Self-Assessment Surveys online and submit them after completion, including a compliance statement signed by the biobank manager. BBMRI-ERIC then reviews the surveys and awards quality grades. If a biobank/sample collection meets the quality criteria according to CEN/TS, it will be flagged in the BBMRI-ERIC Directory – an online catalogue of biobanks allowing users to search samples and data.

Using the Self-Assessment Survey, biobankers and researchers are encouraged to meet certain quality standards on the one hand, while getting valuable feedback on their quality management procedures on the other hand. If they meet the CEN/TS requirements, their biobanks/collections will be labelled in the BBMRI-ERIC Directory, increasing their visibility.

• Would you like to find out more about our Quality Management?  Browse issue No. 6 of our Biobanks Europe Magazine.
• The BBMRI-ERIC Self-Assessment Survey was first presented at Global Biobank Week in Stockholm this year. Please click here to view the poster from the conference.
• Please click here to access the Self-Assessment Surveys.