Biobanks and sample donors

Biobanks are public or private non-profit establishments that guard collections of human biological samples and associated clinical information for use in research projects. The ultimate goal is to obtain a health benefit. All this complying with the due ethical and legal guarantees for the donor of the samples.

Donors can be both healthy people and patients, whether they are minors or adults. Biological samples that can be donated for research may come from both the biological material left over as part of the care process (blood, urine, tissues, etc.), as material obtained after death, or material obtained ex professed.

The donor must give his written consent voluntarily and altruistically for the donation of his samples and data, following an information process. You may refuse to participate or withdraw your consent at any time, without having to explain your reasons and without affecting your medical care.

It is very important for biomedical research to be able to have as much samples as possible, so donor collaboration is indispensable. Research with biological samples improves knowledge, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and/or treatment of diseases; in this sense, it is beneficial for society as a whole.