Choosing the Right Sample Management Software for Your Biobank

Biobanks play a critical role in medical research and drug development by providing scientists access to an inventory of biological samples and their associated data. Most biobanks use sample management software to help streamline and organize their operations. This software is essential for ensuring the integrity of the sample inventory being managed, tracking usage and capturing required data. However, with so many options available, choosing the right software for your biobank can be a daunting task. Below we share a few considerations you should keep in mind when choosing software for your biobank.

Tips for choosing biobank software:

1. Ease of Use: One of the most important considerations when choosing sample management software is how easy the software will be for your staff to perform their daily work. This enables your staff to quickly and easily perform the routine tasks associated with managing sample inventory within the biobank. Aside from gaining efficiencies in your operation, easy-to-use software is much more likely to be adopted fully by your staff.
2. Sample Tracking: Look for software that provides strong sample tracking features to monitor the location, movement, usage and storage of samples within your biobank and the larger research organization. This will help you to keep track of your lab sample inventory and ensure that samples are being stored and managed according to best practices. Sample management software should also keep track of the availability/status of samples, including storage conditions and expiration dates to ensure that the value and longevity of samples are being maximized.
3. Data Management: The software should provide a centralized system for storing, organizing, and managing sample-related data.  This may include demographic information, assay results and other associated clinical data. This helps ensure the accuracy and integrity of sample data, and enables the biobank to provide researchers with the information they need to make informed decisions.
4. Compliance: The software should help you to ensure that your sample management and data storage practices comply with relevant regulations and standards, such as those related to data privacy and security. Safeguarding the security and privacy of sensitive sample information is essential for a biobank.
5. Reporting: The software should provide reporting functions, enabling you to generate reports on sample data, sample and lab inventory, and sample utilization. This will help you to better understand the status of your collections and make informed decisions about your operations.

Choosing the right sample management software for your biobank requires careful consideration of your specific needs and requirements. From a user-friendly interface to robust data management capabilities, it is important to choose software that will help you to manage your sample inventory efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive sample information.

About LabKey Sample Manager

Sample Manager is a cloud-based biobanking system that provides comprehensive software for sample tracking, freezer management, assay data capture and workflow management. The software is easy-to-use, requires minimal IT support and has the flexibility to adapt to the unique requirements of any biobank or scientific laboratory.

With Sample Manager you can:

• Manage sample receipt, storage and shipment of samples
• Define samples types and sources with unique metadata attached to each sample
• Configure virtual freezers and storage options that match those available in the biobank
• Use workflows to standardize biobank processes
• Unify samples with their related experiment data
• Capture an audit-ready log of actions performed on each sample
• Comply with HIPAA and CFR Part 11

Click here to learn more about Sample Manager