Good Working Practice (Human Tissue)
In this section you will find help and guidance on the practicalities of the day to day use of human tissue.
Investigators using human tissue should as a minimum:
- Know what material they hold.
- Have adequate systems to track samples- linking consent to the sample (and back).
- Have agreements in place detailing the transfer of materials (in and out) and standard operating procedures for receiving and storing tissue.
- Where possible samples should be associated with broad and generic consent.
- Where applicable hold explicit consent for DNA analysis (Scotland).
- Have accurate disposal records.
Furthermore investigators are advised to:
- Identify a local person who is responsible for ensuring tissue is stored appropriately. This should be a person suitably trained and associated in the long term with the laboratory or research i.e. a head technician.
- Ensure all laboratory staff using human tissue have an exit meeting where details of the tissue he/she has used are recorded or disposed of where appropriate.
Useful links