Five Factors to Help Determine if a Cancer Tissue Bank is Right for You

Harvested cancer tissues are precious resources that allow scientists to do the research necessary to find cures for the various types of cancer in existence. Oftentimes, the best way to obtain and/or preserve these tissues is with the aid of a cancer tissue bank. Like all biobanks, cancer tissue banks should meet certain criteria before you decide to work with them. This article will take a look at the five most important factors to consider when choosing a cancer tissue bank.

1. The Types of Cancer Tissues Carried

This is by far the most important factor that must be taken into consideration during your cancer tissue bank search. If a cancer tissue bank does not have the cancer tissues that you need, then you will reap no benefits from attempting to work with them.

2. The Bank’s Cancer Tissue Storage and Processing Fees

Although it would be wonderful if your lab or medical facility had unlimited funding, this is simply not the case. Like any other organization, yours must adhere to a specific budget, and optimizing your expenses will lead to greater productivity and budget flexibility.

The cost of cancer tissue banks’ services varies greatly, so your team should take the time to audit the storage and processing cost of the cancer tissue banks in your area.

3. The Bank’s Processing Speed

Sometimes an urgent need for an immediate cancer tissue sample delivery arises; some labs find themselves in this situation often. If you expect your lab to be in immediate need of cancer tissue samples at any time, then you should search for cancer tissue banks reputed to have fast processing speeds.

Even if your lab or medical facility rarely has an urgent need for immediate cancer tissue sample delivery, you should still audit the reputed processing speeds of your cancer tissue bank candidates to make sure that they will deliver the cancer tissues that you need in a timely manner.

4. The Bank’s Storage Procedures and/or Equipment

The methods and equipment used their storage of cancer tissues is paramount to a cancer tissue bank’s ability to store cancer tissue samples with longevity and at an optimal quality. If the cancer tissue bank’s storage procedures and/or equipment are sub par, then you should avoid this bank; their cancer tissue samples are likely to be freezer damaged, expired or decayed.

5. The Bank’s Chain of Custody Control

Cancer tissues are most likely to be damaged or mixed up during delivery. If a cancer tissue bank’s chain of custody system is questionable, then you should think carefully about working with them, because this will increase the likelihood of damaged or incorrect deliveries at inopportune times.

Signs that should call a cancer tissue bank’s chain of custody system to question include:

Storage facilities separate from collection labs

Third party delivery companies

Poor documentation procedures