Sample Quality Analysis

Many studies today include samples from different collection sites, different collection protocols, different storage times from both internal and external (biorepository) sources. These samples can be collections of plasma (or other biofluids) from healthy individuals or from patients with specific disease (Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancers etc.). Access to these repositories allows for large data sets for biomarker studies and for controls in studying drug response. However, when samples are collected and stored and different sites and times, questions arise to the quality of each source of sample, healthy control or disease.  Using our OMEGA Scan with Q353 panel, HMT has a reference library of metabolites associated with long term storage, temperature stability, hemolysis, platelet contamination and skin cells. For any plasma analysis data set, this reference list is matched to look for any individual samples or sample sets that may have one or more of these issues. Typically, these issues may not eliminate specific samples or sets from the analysis, however, would present specific metabolites that may be compromised by sample quality. Such samples and metabolite are flagged such they do not influence the outcome of data analysis. This service is provided at no extra cost when using our OMEGA Scan or CSCOPE platforms in biofluids and tissues, for any sample type.