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Assessing the Value of a Serum Repository

Harmonization and standardization of assays between clinical laboratories is often difficult and is now recognized around the globe as an issue of significant concern. Sometimes, even getting consistent results within our own research laboratories can be elusive.

In collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and MilliporeSigma, we are considering the development of a resource to help with both aims. We propose to pool virus-free normal human serum that has been collected under rigorously standardized procedures in a central facility (CLSI C37-A), to characterize the pools for important biomarkers using the most advanced methods available, to freeze back 10's of thousands of aliquots, and to make these aliquots available and affordable for purchase. Clinical and research laboratories would then submit the results of their own quantitative assays to a web-based portal which could be accessed by all purchasers of the serum pools. 

We would like to know your thoughts on the value and utility of such a concept. Ten questions are provided below with an estimated completion time of 2-3 minutes.

Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.

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* 1. Would this type of resource be of use to your laboratory?

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* 2. If No, what would make this resource useful to your laboratory?

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* 3. If Yes, then please answer the following 8 questions.

What characteristics of the pool or web-based portal would be most useful to your laboratory (select more than one if applicable)?

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* 4. What volumes would you prefer (select one)?

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* 5. What characteristics of a web-based portal would be most useful to your laboratory (select more than one if applicable)?

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* 6. From question 5 - If "Type of statistics reported" was selected, please specify.

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* 7. Would you be willing to share your data for additional analytes in support of broader standardization efforts?

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* 8. Would you be willing to disclose your laboratory identity?

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* 9. What types of QC or control are you currently using?

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* 10. Any final comments?

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