Sourcing of Bio-Samples

ETHICAL TISSUE builds on many years of experience and expertise in human tissue procurement and processing.  Bio-samples are sourced from a network of collaborators who understand the important need for use of human tissues in research and are committed to supporting the activities of ETHICAL TISSUE.  This network includes scientists and clinicians from local and regional hospitals.  Support is also secured from specific therapeutic tissue banks and transplant co-ordinators.

Human tissue is vital for research into a wide range of diseases including cancer, cardio-vascular, neurological (e.g. Alzheimers), diabetes, arthritis and pulmonary diseases.

Tissue for research is taken from healthy volunteers, from patients donating samples following diagnostic testing and surgery or from transplant and cadaveric donors. As appropriate, these samples are transported to ETHICAL TISSUE

• at room temperature,
• on ice or dry ice,
• in perfusing solution or tissue culture medium,
• snap frozen in liquid nitrogen.

All samples transported to ETHICAL TISSUE are handled in accordance with tissue bank Standard Operating Procedures as well as International Standards for the transport of hazardous clinical material. Samples are tracked to ensure that they arrive without significant deterioration in sample quality. Samples stored within ETHICAL TISSUE are reviewed for likely deterioration on a 5 yearly cycle.