School of Population HealthCentre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology

Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory

Biospecimen Facility

The Biospecimen Facility maintains an extensive collection of blood products, LCL’s, DNA, RNA, pathology material and records. All information is held in a secure central database. It provides a valuable resource for use within our molecular laboratory and the laboratories of other external collaborators.

Systems are in place to address quality control and assurance within the Biospeciman Facility. It ensures sample traceability, quality, and identity as well as molecular analysis sensitivity, reproducibility and reliability. Cell lines are screened for mycoplasma contamination and assessed for revival capability

Biospecimen Laboratory

Bloods from study participants have been collected, processed and catalogued for more than a decade. Blood is stored in the form of whole blood, buffy coats, white blood cells, plasma and guthrie cards. Genomic DNA and RNA are extracted from these resources. The biospeciman laboratory contains automated robotic liquid handling systems along with an extensive liquid nitrogen and -70OC facility room for long-term sample storage.

Tissue Culture Laboratory

Epstein Barr Virus B lymphocytes are established, maintained and stored to provide a permanent source of genetic material.

Immunohistochemistry/Pathology Laboratory

Pathology material such as paraffin blocks, H&E slides and pathology reports are collected, catalogued and appropriately stored for research. Informed consent has been obtained from each participant, approving access to medical records and pathology material. Unstained sections of paraffin blocks are securely catalogued as a research resource.for histopathological assessment, immunohistochemistry, microdissection and molecular characterization.

top of page