Tissue Bank

Projects involving human tissues at CUH | Removal and Issuing Tissue Bank samples | Release of fresh samples | Release of frozen samples | Release of paraffin samples

 

 

 

Projects involving human tissues at CUH

 

The use of human tissue and its transfer between agencies or between sites is regulated by the Human Tissues Act. Such projects will need approval by the department of Histopathology who have responsibility for maintaining the site's Tissue Bank

 

External transfer of human tissues to third parties will require a tissue transfer agreement.

 

 

 

For general enquiries regarding the tissue bank please email: tissuebank@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

 

 

 

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Removal and issuing Tissue Bank samples

 

Requests for material from the Tissue Bank must be made in writing to the Tissue Bank Manager Box 235 or via email to beverley.haynes@addenbrookes.nhs.uk.

 

The researcher must provide the following documentation before any tissue can be issued:

• A copy of the full relevant ethical application form, along with any amendments to the ethical approval.
• Ethical approval letter.
• Local Research and Development approval letter.
• Tissue Transfer Agreement signed by the Principle investigator and an authorised representative of the Tissue Bank.
• Tissue Request form. This should be completed per request and can be either emailed to the researcher directly or downloaded from the Tissue Bank section on the pathology website.

 

Once these documents have been received the Tissue Bank manager should ensure that:

• The LREC (Local Research Ethics Committee) approval is valid.
•  The tissues requested are listed in the LREC
• The Local Research and Development letter is valid.
• The Tissue Transfer Agreement has been completed and relevant to the tissues requested.
• Patient consent has been given for the use of the tissue.
• The tissues and quantities listed on the request form fall within the guidelines set out in “Access to Tissue Samples for Research”, a copy of which can be found in the Tissue Bank section of the pathology website. Any queries should be referred to the monthly Tissue Bank Committee meetings. Unresolved issues can be escalated to the Human Tissues Committee.

 

The Human Tissue Committee members consist of:

Professor D Neal (Chairman)
Prof A Bradley
Dr J Bradley
Prof VP Collins
Mr S John
Dr B Lloyd
Mr G Pascoe
Prof MPM Richards
Dr M Scott
Ms MacFarlane
Professor A Wyllie
Ms D Leggoe (Secretary)

 

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Release of fresh samples

 

NB. Fresh tissue may only be issued where the consent status is known.

 

1. Liaise with the researcher in advance when there is a possibility of appropriate fresh tissue, in order that they can collect the tissue A.S.A.P.
2. When the specimen arrives check the consent status. If full consent has been given, call the relevant pathologist, and use the appropriate Tissue Bank protocol sheet to collect the tissue.
3. Indicate in the Tissue Bank daybook, and subsequently the Tissue Bank Database (See Recording Reservation or Removal of Tissue Samples) LREC and researcher the tissue was issued to, and ask the researcher to sign the Fresh Tissue Bank Removal Log.

 

 

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Release of frozen samples

 

1. Log onto the Tissue Bank Database and search for relevant tissue samples, by following the Performing Searches SOP. Check clinical and consent information on the entry screen for suitability of the samples.
   
   
2. Follow Recording Reservation or Removal of Tissue Samples SOP to record removal of tissue samples.
   
   
3. To ensure that the freezer temperatures are not compromised, frozen samples should be retrieved in batches of 20. Leaving several hours in between for the freezer to recover. See Removal of samples from -80˚C freezer.
   
   
4. When retrieval is complete inform the researcher that the samples are ready for them to collect. Ask them to arrange an appointment and to bring a suitably sized igloo containing dry ice.
   
   
5. Log the samples out in the Tissue Removal log and ask the researcher to print their name and sign for the samples.

 

 

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Release of paraffin samples

 

1. Log onto the Tissue Bank Database and search for relevant tissue samples, by following the Performing Searches SOP. Check clinical and consent information on the entry screen for suitability of the samples.
   
   
2. Choose appropriate blocks and retrieve from the paraffin store.
   
   
3. Cut an H&E and where necessary ask the lead pathologist from the relevant speciality to assess the suitability of the paraffin block.
   
   
4. Once the suitability has been confirmed. Follow Recording Reservation or Removal of Tissue Samples SOP to record removal of tissue samples.
   
   
5. Inform the researcher that the samples are ready for collection.
   
   
6. Log the samples out in the Tissue Removal log and ask the researcher to print their name and sign for the samples

 

 

 

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