Human biomonitoring (HBM) depends on high-quality human samples to identify status and trends in exposure and ensure comparability of results. In this context, much effort has been put into the development of standardized processes and quality assurance for sampling and chemical analysis, while effects of sample storage and shipment on sample quality have been less thoroughly addressed. To characterize the currently applied storage and shipment procedures within the consortium of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), which aims at harmonization of HBM in Europe, a requirement analysis based on data from an online survey was conducted. In addition, the online survey was addressed to professionals in clinical biobanking represented by members of the European, Middle Eastern and African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB) to identify the current state-of-the-art in terms of sample storage and shipment. Results of this survey conducted in these two networks were compared to detect processes with potential for optimization and harmonization. In general, many similarities exist in sample storage and shipment procedures applied by ESBB members and HBM4EU partners and many requirements for ensuring sample quality are already met also by HBM4EU partners. Nevertheless, a need for improvement was identified for individual steps in sample storage, shipment, and related data management with potential impact on sample and data quality for HBM purposes. Based on these findings, recommendations for crucial first steps to further strengthen sample quality, and thus foster advancement in HBM on a pan-European level are given.

中文翻译：

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迈向生物监测的统一生物样本库：人类生物监测相关生物样本库和临床生物样本库的比较。


人体生物监测 (HBM) 依赖于高质量的人体样本来确定暴露状态和趋势并确保结果的可比性。在此背景下，人们在采样和化学分析的标准化流程和质量保证的开发方面投入了大量精力，而样品储存和运输对样品质量的影响却没有得到彻底解决。为了描述欧洲人类生物监测倡议 (HBM4EU) 联盟中当前应用的存储和运输程序的特点，该联盟旨在协调欧洲的 HBM，我们根据在线调查的数据进行了需求分析。此外，在线调查还针对以欧洲、中东和非洲生物保存和生物样本库 (ESBB) 成员为代表的临床生物样本库专业人士进行，以确定当前样本存储和运输方面的最新技术。对在这两个网络中进行的调查结果进行比较，以检测具有优化和协调潜力的流程。一般来说，ESBB 成员和 HBM4EU 合作伙伴应用的样品存储和运输程序存在许多相似之处，并且 HBM4EU 合作伙伴也已经满足了确保样品质量的许多要求。尽管如此，我们仍发现样品存储、运输和相关数据管理中的各个步骤需要改进，这些步骤可能会对 HBM 目的的样品和数据质量产生潜在影响。基于这些发现，提出了进一步加强样本质量的关键第一步的建议，从而促进泛欧洲水平上 HBM 的进步。