BioSample

A biosample is a unit of biological material collected from a living or recently deceased organism for laboratory analysis, clinical testing, or reference. It can include human or animal blood, tissue biopsies, urine, saliva, various cell types, DNA, RNA, proteins, microbiological cultures, and environmental samples such as soil or water containing organisms. Biosamples may be stored as primary material or as derivatives and are used in research, diagnostics, and biobanking.

Provenance and documentation: Each biosample is associated with metadata that records its origin, donor or source, collection date, type of material, anatomical origin, processing steps, preservatives, and storage conditions. A unique identifier and chain of custody log are maintained to ensure traceability and to minimize mix-ups or contamination.

Handling, safety, and storage: Biosamples are classified by biosafety risk and handled under appropriate containment and aseptic procedures. They are labeled with secure barcodes, transported according to regulations, and stored under specified conditions (for example, low temperatures or cryogenic storage) to preserve integrity and prevent degradation.

Data and standards: Associated metadata may include age, sex, clinical information (where permissible), and processing steps. Repositories and biobanks curate biosample collections and assign accession numbers. Standards such as MIABIS and the NCBI BioSample framework support interoperability and data sharing while protecting privacy.

Ethics and governance: Use of human-derived biosamples requires informed consent, ethical approvals, and, as required by law, withdrawal rights and data protection measures.