The Blood Processing Core monitors viral load in patients with HIV and performs sequential studies using samples obtained from patients with cancer, AIDS, chronic granulomatous disease, or other diseases associated with immunologic dysfunction.
Supporting pharmacokinetic analysis of clinical trials
The Blood Processing Core is part of the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Pharmacology Program in the Center for Cancer Research. The Clinical Pharmacology Program is responsible for the pharmacokinetic analysis of numerous Phase I and II clinical trials conducted within the National Cancer Institute.
Clinical specimen handling
The core collects clinical specimens from inpatient units and clinics within the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. We oversee the processing and cryopreservation of human serum, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and other specimens. Our technicians are trained and qualified to execute preclinical animal protocols and routinely collect and process samples from animals.
Our capabilities and specializations
Sample collection
We collect and process various biological specimens, isolating or extracting high-quality DNA, and back catalog those specimens in Labmatrix®, an online sample database management system.
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Process samples according to clinical protocol, barcode them, and enter them into a database for sample handling, temperature monitoring, and storage
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Handle sample shipment to intramural or extramural laboratories
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Provide bioanalytical support (LC-MS) and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling and simulation of investigational agents or combination therapies to predict exposure response in future trials
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Arrange sample transfer between sites including maintenance of correspondence, chain of custody, and shipment integrity of samples
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Accept and sign chain of custody documents for clinical samples to and from the NIH Clinics and extramural collaborators following regulatory and protocol requirements