ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Biobanks are useful platforms to build bridges between basic, translational, and clinical research and clinical care. They are repositories of high-quality human biological samples ideal for evaluating their histological characteristics and also their genome, transcriptome, and proteome. The Spanish Renal Research Network Biobank contains more than 76,500 well-preserved frozen samples of a wide variety of kidney diseases, collected from 5450 patients seen by over 70 nephrology services throughout the Spanish territory. OBJECTIVE: To determine and to report the results of the quality control of samples and processes conducted in our biobank, implemented in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2008 international standard. STUDY DESIGN: Two types of quality controls were performed: (1) systematic, that is, measurement of viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained and purity of nucleic acids and (2) ad-hoc, that is, viability of thawed PBMC, DNA extraction process reproducibility, and the integrity and functionality of nucleic acids, implemented on a routine basis. METHODS AND RESULTS: PBMC isolation by Ficoll yielded reproducible results and its cryopreserved viability was >90%. Acceptable A260/A280 ratios were obtained for the vast majority of the DNA (n = 2328) and RNA (n = 78) samples analyzed. DNA integrity was demonstrated by agarose gels and by ß-globulin gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 1327 and 989 bp fragments. DNA of acceptable quality had at least three bands of ß-globulin amplified obtained (n = 26/30). RNA integrity number (RIN) determinations obtained RIN numbers ≥7 (n = 87/96). The amplifiability of nucleic acids was confirmed by qPCR and RT-qPCR of ß-actin and GAPDH genes. Long storage or delayed processing time did not affect the quality of the samples analyzed. The processes of DNA extraction also yielded reproducible results. CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly indicate that our PBMC, DNA, and RNA stored samples meet the required quality standards to be used for biomedical research, ensuring their long-term preservation.
