ISBER 2013 Annual Meeting & Exhibits
May 5-9, 2013
Sydney, Australia

More Information

Registration

 

FAQ

 

Why Proficiency Testing?

 

Participant Manual

 

Brochure

 

2011 Data on Participation and Results

 

---

 

Timeline

 

Registration Open	August 30, 2012
Registration Close	October 29, 2012
Sample Shipment	Week of Nov. 5th
Results Submission	December 14, 2012
Reporting	February 28, 2013

Note: Samples will be sent to all participants at the same time.

Please ensure that you meet the requirements set by your national authorities to receive biological samples (for example, importation permits).

ISBER Proficiency Testing (PT) Program

ISBER's Biorepository Proficiency Testing Program was developed in collaboration with the Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL).  The PT program is designed to:

• allow biorepositories to assess the accuracy of their quality control assays and their characterization of biospecimens
• compare results with those obtained in other laboratories around the world
• allow biorepositories to identify testing problems that may be related to individual staff performance or calibration of instrumentation used in biospecimen quality control

• provide an External Quality Assessment (EQA) tool and guidance to biorepositories and laboratories testing biospecimens with the ultimate goal to support their quality control activities and to offer organizations who are seeking compliance with ISO 17025, CLIA, or equivalent the possibility to fulfill the respective normative requirements.[To learn more about requirements, click here.]

Program Details

The ISBER PT Program includes five inter-laboratory testing Schemes:

• DNA Quantification and Purity
• RNA Integrity
• Cell Viability
• Tissue Histology
• Tissue Antigenicity

In each scheme, test items will be shipped to the biorepository facility, which will then use its routine testing methods to characterize the samples. Results can be submitted online on a dedicated website.  ISBER will assess test results and include them in a statistical analysis process. Each participant will receive a personalized report that will show how their biorepository’s results compare to all participants’ results, including an overall summary statistical analysis.

The current PT Program supports result submission using the following methods:

 

---

 

DNA Quantification and Purity

Spectrophotometry (ng/µl and 260/280 ratio)

Spectrofluorometry (ng/µl)

Microfluidics LabOnchip (ng/µl)

Trinean Spectrophotometry (with cDROP Software)

Other (ng/µl)

 

Review the 2012 DNA Test Item Information Sheet

Review the 2012 DNA Online Result Submission Guidelines

---

 

RNA Integrity

Agilent Bioanalyzer (RIN)

Biorad Experion (RQI)

Screen Tape R6K (SDV)

QIAxcel System (28S:18S rRNA ratio)

Other (RIN, RQI, or SDV)

 

Review the 2012 RNA Test Item Information Sheet 

Review the 2012 RNA Online Result Submission Guidelines

---

 

Cell Viability

Trypan Blue Staining

Flow Cytometry

 

Review the 2012 Cell Viability Test Item Information Sheet

Review the 2012 Cell Viability Online Result Submission Guidelines

---

 

Tissue Histology

Tissue characterization/mapping and assessment of tumor cellularity, inflammation, and inflammaroty cells

 

Review the 2012 Tissue Histology Test Item Information Sheet

Review the 2012 Tissue Histology Online Result Submission Guidelines

---

 

Tissue Antigenicity

Immunohistochemistry characterization of unstained slides through assessment of the percentage of cells with nuclear staining as well as the intensity of nuclear staining

Review the 2012 Tissue Antigenicity Test Item Information Sheet

Review the 2012 Tissue Antigenicity Online Result Submission Guidelines

---

 

If you register for multiple methods, you will only be able to submit one result per method listed (including Other).  Please contact the ISBER office (PTisber@asip.org) if you would like to have additional methods included in future rounds.

For more information, please download the Participant Manual and/or the FAQs.