NHLS Biobank has the vision to secure and manage collections and storage of biospecimen for research purposes, both now and in the future! Research plays an integral role in the quest to find cures for deceases, which in turn will help to improve the quality of life for our citizens. The NHLS Biobank, as a future knowledge-hub, is planning on growth to meet emerging bio-banking needs of the South African medical researchers.

NHLS Biobank is unique in that it encompasses components of multiple Biobank, such as cell culture, genetics, cancer and molecular biology, histology and cytology, infectious diseases, DNA\RNA bank on health subjects. This will recognise the emerging role of managing bio specimens and will also recognise the role of DNA barcoding in addressing components of biotechnology development for the benefit of society and collaborations with the global community.

The global community also recognises a response to managing scientific collections and the role of bio specimens within the biodiversity, biotechnology and biomedical themes. The recognition of the Biobank as a key component of the human tissue repository will contribute to making the NHLS Biobank a successful knowledge-hub.

The Biobank maintains membership of the International Society of Biobanking and Biorepositories (ISBER) and European, Middle Eastern and African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB) to remain in line with international standards. The Department also attends meetings organised by the Biobank society to keep abreast of the developments around the world, such as the ISBER Biobank Meeting in Berlin, Germany, from 4 to 8 April 2016. A paper was presented a paper on the implementation of the Biobank laboratory information management system (LIMS) system.

For more information regarding sample storage please contact:

Mr Bonginkosi Duma
QA and Biorepository Manager
National Health Laboratory Service:
National Human Tissue Biobank
Tel: +27(0)11 712 6593
Fax: +27(0)11 712 6530
Mobile +27(0)82 900 5221
bonginkosid@nioh.ac.za

Visit the website: http://www.nationalbiobank.nhls.ac.za/