Domestic and International Shipping of Biospecimens.

The packaging and shipment of biospecimens is a multistep process for which a distinct set of regulations needs to be followed, depending on whether a biospecimen is shipped domestically or internationally and whether the shipment contains hazardous materials. Shipments may be delayed if these regulations are not followed. Once learned, the process is straightforward.

Biobanking of Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a physiologically essential fluid produced by the brain that is involved in protecting the brain and in the exchange of nutrients and waste products. CSF has long been utilized to confirm clinical suspicion of various infectious and inflammatory disorders, such as meningitis and multiple sclerosis. However, there has been increasing interest in collecting CSF in order to study the clinical significance of additional biomarkers.

Autopsy Biobanking: Biospecimen Procurement, Integrity, Storage, and Utilization.

An autopsy is a specialized surgical procedure consisting of external and internal examination of a deceased individual for the purposes of documenting abnormalities and determining or confirming medical diagnoses that may have contributed to their death. One of the benefits of an autopsy is the opportunity to collect and store biospecimens for the purposes of biobanking. This chapter outlines the procedures necessary to procure, store, and utilize biospecimens obtained during an autopsy.

Early experience with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) based commercial clinical genomic profiling of gliomas-robust and informative with caveats.

Background: Commercial targeted genomic profiling with next generation sequencing using formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue has recently entered into clinical use for diagnosis and for the guiding of therapy. However, there is limited independent data regarding the accuracy or robustness of commercial genomic profiling in gliomas.

Methods: As part of patient care, FFPE samples of gliomas from 71 patients were submitted for targeted genomic profiling to one commonly used commercial vendor, Foundation Medicine.