BioSEND can receive many types of biological specimens. Current sample types banked at BioSEND are listed below. If the sample type needed for your project is not listed, please contact us to see if we can add it. We are always eager to expand our collections.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
- Source
- Cerebrospinal Fluid
- Standard Collection Tubes
- CSF
- Conical tubes are utilized as the collection receptacle for the CSF upon extraction. 50.0 ml conical tubes are commonly used by BioSEND for this purpose. LP Trays may also be provided for the collection of CSF. These trays may include: introducer needles, plastic leur lock syringes, and lidocaine.
- Standard Processing Procedures
- CSF
- After CSF collection, the entire specimen is inverted to mix sample and centrifuged within 15 minutes.
- CSF is aliquoted into pre-chilled polypropylene 2.0 ml tubes according to the study protocol.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Frozen
- CSF aliquots are frozen at -80°C and shipped back to BioSEND with dry ice pellets.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
- Source
- Whole Blood, Brain Tissue, Buffy Coat, Saliva, Transferred DNA aliquots, and Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines (LCL)
- Standard Collection Tubes
- Whole Blood and Buffy Coat
- The EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid) tube is utilized in clinical settings to collect whole blood for the purpose of extracting plasma and buffy coat. The EDTA tube in the kit may be plastic or glass.
- Brain Tissue
- Brain tissue specimens transferred to BioSEND are sent in self-standing polypropylene 30 ml tubes.
- Examples of preferred tubes are: DOT Scientific Part number 642; 30 ml self-standing centrifuge tube or Fisher part number 22-044-320; Evergreen Scientific 30mL freestanding centrifuge tube.
- Saliva
- The Oragene-Discover Saliva Kit is the only kit currently used by BioSEND for the purpose of collecting human saliva for nucleic acid extraction.
- Transferred DNA
- DNA transferred to BioSEND arrives in the required 2.0 ml screw top polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes: DOT Scientific 819-S 2.0 ml screw cap microcentrifuge tubes with O-rings
- LCL
- The ACD (acid citrate dextrose additives), Solution A Tube is utilized in clinical settings to collect whole blood for the purpose of cell line immortalization. Cell line DNA can then be extracted from the LCLs. Tubes drawn for cell line immortalization may be either plastic or glass.
- Standard Processing Procedures
- Whole Blood
- EDTA tube is inverted 8-10 times to thoroughly mix additive and sample prior to centrifugation.
- Brain Tissue
- Brain tissue specimens are collected per standard procedures of the local institution.
- Approximately 2-5g of tissue is requested to complete DNA extraction.
- Maximize the amount of gray matter; frontal cortex is preferred but any region will suffice.
- Saliva
- Saliva kits are only processed in house at BioSEND. Sample collection is per industry released instructions.
- LCL
- Whole blood collected within the ACD, Solution A tube is processed in house at BioSEND. The ACD tube is inverted 8-10 times to thoroughly mix additive and sample after collection and prior to shipment.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Frozen
- Buffy Coat, brain tissue, and transferred DNA aliquots may be shipped back to BioSEND at -80°C on dry ice pellets.
- Ambient
- Due to the stability of the sample, the saliva kit may be collected and delivered back to the BioSEND biorepository through regular USPS mail or ground transportation.
- Those EDTA and ACD collection tubes that do not undergo processing at the location of collection may be sent ambient via next day delivery for processing at BioSEND.
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC)
- Source
- Whole Blood
- Standard Collection Tubes
- Whole Blood
- The sodium heparin tube is utilized in clinical settings to collect whole blood for the purpose of extracting PBMCs.
- Standard Processing Procedures
- Whole Blood
- The sodium heparin tube is never processed at the collection site.
- The tube is inverted 8-10 times to thoroughly mix additive and sample immediately after blood collection.
- Friday or Saturday sample collection are prohibited for sodium heparin tubes.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Ambient
- The unprocessed sodium heparin collection tube is shipped the day of collection to BioSEND via next day shipping methods once collected.
Plasma
- Source
- Whole Blood
- Standard Collection Tubes
- Whole Blood
- The EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid) tube is utilized in clinical settings to collect whole blood for the purpose of extracting plasma and buffy coat. The EDTA tubes may be plastic or glass.
- Standard Processing Procedures
- Whole Blood
- The EDTA tube is inverted 8-10 times to thoroughly mix additive and sample prior to centrifugation.
- Samples will be centrifuged within 30 minutes of sample collection for the speed and duration dictated by the study protocol. Upon completion of centrifugation, plasma samples are aliquoted for storage and shipment in polypropylene cryovials.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Frozen
- Plasma aliquots may be shipped to BioSEND at -80°C packed on dry ice pellets.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
- Source
- Whole Blood
- Standard Collection Tubes
- Whole Blood
- The PAXgene™ tube is utilized in clinical settings to collect whole blood for the purpose of extracting RNA.
- Standard Processing Procedures
- Whole Blood
- The PAXgene™ tube is never processed at the collection site
- The tube is inverted 8-10 times to thoroughly mix additive and sample immediately after blood collection.
- If freezing prior to shipment, styrofoam rack use is prohibited. Tube racks made of plastic or wire are approved.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Frozen
- PAXgene™ collection tube may be frozen at -80°C and shipped frozen back to BioSEND with dry ice pellets.
- Ambient
- PAXgene™ collection tube may also be sent ambient via next day delivery.
Serum
- Source
- Whole Blood
- Standard Collection Tubes
- Whole Blood
- The Serum or Serum Separator (SST) tubes are utilized in clinical settings to collect whole blood for the purpose of extracting serum.
- Standard Processing Procedures
- Whole Blood
- After blood collection, BioSEND standard procedures dictate whole blood processing begin within 60 minutes of specimen collection.
- Immediately after blood collection, the serum tube is inverted 8-10 times to thoroughly mix additive and sample.
- Blood is then clotted by placing the tube within a tube rack at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Samples will be centrifuged for the speed and duration dictated by the study protocol.
- Upon completion of centrifugation, serum samples are aliquoted for storage and shipment in polypropylene cryovials.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Frozen
- Serum aliquots are frozen at -80°C and shipped back to BioSEND with dry ice pellets.
Urine
- Source
- Urine
- Standard Collection Tubes
- Urine
- The urine may be collected in any polypropylene specimen collection container. BioSEND recommends a wide-mouth leak-resistant container for easier use by research participants.
- An example of the preferred container is the Samco™ 90mL 53mm Specimen Container (part number 021090).
- Standard Processing Procedures
- Urine
- The urine is transferred to a 15 ml conical tube prior to centrifugation.
- Samples should be centrifuged within 30 minutes of collection at the speed and duration dictated by the study protocol. Upon completion of centrifugation, urine samples are transferred to a clean 15 ml conical tube for storage and shipment.
- Shipment of Samples to BioSEND
- Frozen
- Urine should be frozen at -80°C and shipped frozen to BioSEND with dry ice pellets.
Sample Type Not Listed?
- Please contact the BioSEND Project Manager, Claire Wegel, at:
- biosend@iu.edu
- Local Phone
- 317-278-0594