Resources

ITB

Getting Started

The Institutional Tissue Bank (ITB) at MD Anderson performs biobanking activity based on recommendations of National Cancer Institute (NCI) Best Practice for Biospecimen Resources and in compliance with MD Anderson regulations.

Getting Started with the ITB

Step 1: Request for Registration

In order for services to begin, MD Anderson investigators will need to register with ITB by submitting a request for registration form.

Step 2: Consultation

An initial consultation is an essential step in quality management, to ensure ideal study design and to predict feasibility. Furthermore, feasibility consultation will also ensure that the resources of the facility are being used optimally to meet each investigator's needs, and that overall workload of the facility supports current staffing and facility resources. Tissue Bank employees are available to provide assistance via email or telephone from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday.

Step 3: BIMS

ITB accepts services requests via MD Anderson Biospecimen Information Management System (BIMS).

BIMS is a comprehensive data base that allows its users to create and store information related to multiple aspects of biospecimen collection, processing, storage, inventory and more. Access to BIMS is limited to MD Anderson employees directly affiliated with Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocols that are registered with the ITB. The primary investigator is responsible for identifying such personnel and assigning their roles and privileges within BIMS. All users of BIMS are required to have myID credentials and password to log on. If you do not have a valid myID credentials and password, please contact ITB for guidance.

Requesting Samples and BIMS Instructions

How to Request Prospective and Retrospective Samples
BIMS Access
BIMS Protocol Registration
BIMS Template
Blood Request Submission
Surgery Collection Request
IR Request Submission

External Resources

NCI Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources
ISBER BEST PRACTICES FOR REPOSITORIES
International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER)
Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
National Cancer Institute
College of American Pathologists
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Office for Human Research Protections

RHCL

How to use iLab

iLab is an electronic charge-back system used by the Research Histology Core Laboratory (RHCL). With this system, RHCL customers can place both research and archival block requests. The iLab system gives researchers unprecedented access to their orders. Through iLab, requesters can: place orders, communicate with the RHCL team, view the status of their orders and track their spending. To have access to iLab, the requester will need to know three main things:

How to get registered to use the system
The core facility or lab at which a service request will be made
The Chart Field String that will be used for payment

Access the user guide above to get a detailed summary of iLab and how to use it.

We also offer in lab training for our customers to further understand iLab and how to use it. To schedule training please contact the RHCL at 713-792-3119.

Instructions for iLab use

This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to submit requests via iLab

Archival Block Retrieval

The Research Histology Core Laboratory (RHCL) offers an in-house archival retrieval service. This service supports the clinical research protocols within the institution. In this service, requests are made to retrieve clinical blocks from the pathology department to be sectioned for various techniques by the sponsor.