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Types of biobanks
Biobanks are most commonly found in hospitals. For example, the seven University Medical Centers (UMCs) in the Netherlands each maintain numerous biobanks, which are usually managed under a central biobank. In addition, biobanks are operated by well-known institutions such as the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, the Princess Máxima Center, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the blood bank Sanquin, and organizations that collect blood samples at the request of a general practitioner.
There are various reasons for storing biological samples, which is why there are also different types of biobanks.
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The secondary use biobank
Blood, tissue, or urine samples are collected to determine what is causing your health condition. Any material that remains after the necessary diagnostic tests is stored. If you return to the hospital later with new symptoms, these stored biological samples may be used to help investigate your condition. Information in your medical record is also retained.
A collection of these leftover biological samples is known as a secondary use biobank. Secondary use is also referred to as reuse or secondary use of biological material.
The remaining biological samples and data from patients' medical records may also be used for medical scientific research, provided you have not objected to this use. For many decades, research based on secondary use biobanks has made major contributions to our understanding of diseases such as cancer.
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The Clinical Biobank
Sometimes, a hospital, researcher, or patient organization establishes a new biobank specifically to support medical scientific research into a particular disease. In these biobanks, biological samples and health data are collected from patients with the aim of enabling medical research and ultimately improving healthcare for future patients.
A biobank that stores biological samples and data from patients with a specific disease is called a ‘clinical biobank’.
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The Population Biobank
There are also medical scientific studies that monitor the health of a group of people over an extended period of time. As part of these studies, biological samples and health data are collected from participants at regular intervals to identify long-term risk factors for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
A biobank that stores biological samples and data from a specific population is called a population biobank.