LIH receives ISO 20387 accreditation for biobanking

• Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL)
• Quality & Safety Management office (QSMO)
• Translational Medicine Operations Hub (TMOH)

Following a 3.5-day audit in January, the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) has been recognised with ISO 20387 accreditation for its biobanking activities by the UK accreditation body (UKAS).

This recognition covers key processes provided through the Clinical Project Management Office (CPMO), the Clinical and Epidemiological Investigation Center (CIEC), and the Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg (IBBL), with the Quality Management Office (QMO) overseeing the overall Quality Management System, the Department of Medical Informatics (DMI) and general management contributing to management and support processes.

The accreditation scope includes the collection, processing, testing, and storage of a range of biological materials such as whole blood, plasma, buffy coat, DNA, RNA, and PBMCs, using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. This accreditation comes in addition to the ISO 17025 accreditation for testing and calibration laboratories, already granted to the LIH for several years. The scope of these two accreditations covers a large part of the services offered by the IBBL.

Auditors particularly praised the robust and mature quality management system of the LIH, noting that biobanking is performed to exceptionally high scientific and quality standards by engaged and competent staff across all units.

This endorsement is clear proof of the commitment we have to excellence in biobanking. It would not have been possible without the incredible team effort from the whole institute, guided by a clear strategic vision,

said Dr Sabine Lehmann, Head of Quality Management.

This achievement highlights the commitment of the LIH to delivering high-quality samples and data, an essential foundation for effective translational and clinical research, which lies at the core of its mission, particularly at the new Luxembourg Research Clinic (LRC).

The technical scope of the ISO 20387 accreditation is as follows: