Biobank Awareness Changes Opinions of Adolescents and Parents on Participation and Practices.

To evaluate barriers and facilitators of pediatric biobank participation, we studied whether increased awareness of participants about pediatric biobanking changes their opinions on biobanking practices and their willingness to participate in biobanks. Adolescents (14-18 years) in public schools and their parents were invited to participate in a survey either with or without viewing educational material about biobanking before completing the survey. Questions included willingness to donate, consenting practices and use of specimens.

Opinions of Adolescents and Parents About Pediatric Biobanking.

Purpose: A biobank is defined as "a facility for the collection, preservation, storage and supply of biological samples and associated data, which follows standardized operating procedures and provides material for scientific and clinical use." The practice of biobanking must consider the best interests of participants, which is especially complicated in the pediatric setting, where parents or guardians are responsible for consent of their children. Age of participant assent, consent, and reconsent at the age of majority are some of the issues which need to be addressed.