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Contract Research Organizations, biorepositories, and researchers globally store billions of specimens such as tissues, plasma, urine and other fluids for future use. In order to preserve the integrity of these samples, they must be collected and stored under optimal conditions. While storing biospecimens at −20°C has been a common practice, samples for long-term storage are increasingly being kept in ultralow temperatures ranging from −70°C and −80°C to prevent sample degradation.

Your GLP study materials are irreplaceable, as they contain all the information about what procedures were done, how they were performed, when the work was completed, and who performed the task. Without data, nothing else really matters. That’s why it’s critical that you ensure your study materials are stored safely and in compliance with Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs). All study materials, data and specimens, must be retained and easily retrievable after study completion. GLPs state “There shall be archives for orderly storage and expedient retrieval of all raw data, documentation, protocols, specimens, and interim and final reports. Conditions of storage shall minimize deterioration of the documents or specimens in accordance with the requirements for the time period of their retention and the nature of the documents or specimens.”

You want to outsource the histology portion of your preclinical study, so you must ensure the project remains GLP compliant. Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) guide how “laboratories plan, perform, monitor, document and archive study activities in an effort to enhance the quality and validity of test data.” Preclinical research studies generating data for submission to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must adhere to these guidelines no matter where the study is conducted or who performs the work. This means that contract laboratories, like the one you may outsource your study to, are also subject to FDA surveillance audits.

The doorbell rings and waiting at the front door are FDA inspectors... What do you do? First, welcome them in. Second... DON’T PANIC! Unless directed “For Cause”, FDA visits are routine inspections used to assess your lab’s compliance with applicable regulations and to verify the quality and integrity of your study data.

After a highly successful expo last month at the Society of Toxicology, HSRL is pleased to be attending the 32nd SQA Annual Meeting and Quality College in Grapevine, Texas on April 3-8, 2016. HSRL’s Quality Assurance Unit is a key component to our success. HSRL’s QAU audits 100% of our histopathology data, performs facility inspections annually, and ensures all of our services adhere to HSRL SOPs as well as GLPs.

Histo-Scientific Research Laboratories (HSRL) is excited to join our colleagues, clients, and vendors at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology and ToxExpo. Taking place March 14-16 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this event brings together over 350 toxicology-related organizations and nearly 7,000 attendees from all around the world. According to event organizers, “The SOT Annual Meeting is the largest meeting of its kind. This annual event features a broad range of scientific sessions and a thematic program that provides participants with a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge in topical areas and interact with leaders in their respective disciplines.”

Biotech companies are under extreme pressure to improve their research and development productivity. The internal management of veterinary pathology services, in particular, can require a great deal of time and resources that can otherwise be used to focus on your core competencies. Many choose to respond to this challenge by working with research associates (RA) who can provide technical and administrative support to pathologists overseeing drug discovery and preclinical studies. Many pathologists do not have research associates supporting their efforts. RAs are valuable extensions of pathologists and have the ability to assist with various aspects of study management in a cost-effective manner. Thus, adding an RA to your team can exponentially increase your productivity and expand your study load capacity.

Managing histology services internally can require a great deal of time and capital expenditure. Outsourcing services such as these continues to increase as clinical and nonclinical laboratories strive to maximize their resources, increase their productivity and expand their capabilities without adding to their workforce. Here we cover 4 major benefits of outsourcing your histology services.

Preclinical research studies generating data for submission to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must adhere to Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs). These practices embody a set of principles that guide how laboratories plan, perform, monitor, document and archive study activities in an effort to enhance the quality and validity of test data. Below, you’ll find some practical tips on finding the right archiving facility for the long term storage of your study materials:

We all know histology services do not come cheap. But, did you know you could be wasting thousands of dollars due to poor histology services and not even recognize it? No matter which services you are outsourcing- necropsy, histology, pathology or immunohistochemistry- the best histology lab should be able to stay on-time and within budget. Let’s take a look at 4 signs that you may be wasting time and money on your preclinical research study.