The SHARE Biobank collects and stores consented blood samples from individuals listed on the Register, via an interception method with NHS blood sciences laboratories that have been taken for NHS diagnostic purposes but are surplus to these requirements. These samples are collected prior to disposal as clinical waste.

Once collected, these samples are anonymized and may also undergo laboratory processing and the products, including plasma and serum, are stored within the Biobank.  

Blood products, such as DNA, RNA and protein may also be extracted from the blood samples and stored for future use.  

There is currently a biobank of surplus bloods, blood components & extracted genetic material from around 125,000 consented surplus bloods representing 74,000 individuals (as of April 2021) that covers a broad range of disease areas across NHS Fife, NHS Grampian & NHS Tayside. Genotyping is ongoing using the IIIumina Global Screening Array on a project specific basis. Applications to provide large scale genotyping are encouraged. In addition, these samples may be analysed in conjunction with the GoDARTS cohort of diabetes and controls.   

Most samples are EDTA whole blood and (4-12 ml) are stored for each individual. Longitudinal samples of blood and plasma are stored for individuals with diabetes and serial samples may be stored for individuals with specific conditions upon application and appropriate funding. This is useful for analysis of dynamic biomarkers such a proteomics and metabonomics. 

SHARE Biobank provide delegated ethical approval for access to data and/or samples held within the SHARE Biobank to researchers who satisfy the SHARE Access Committee (and SHARE Biobank subcommittee) that their application is both ethically and scientifically appropriate.  

Health care researchers can apply to the SHARE Biobank to access the stored surplus blood samples, blood components, extracted genetic material and/or data. Application forms are available on our website