The Sample Service utilises surplus blood

What is the purpose of the Sample Service?

The Blood Service collects blood from voluntary blood donors according to the hospitals’ needs. However, a small proportion of the blood collected may not be used, in which case the blood remaining in the sample bag, blood components, or expired blood products can be used anonymously for non-patient use through the Sample Service.

By completing a health questionnaire before donating blood, the blood donor gives permission for the surplus blood to be used for non-patient use. In principle, no separate consent for the use of the surplus blood is requested.

For what kind of use is a Sample Service Licence suitable?

The Sample Service provides a means of supplying surplus blood samples, or blood products, after the needs of the blood supply chain have been met, for purposes related to the Blood Service’s field of activity that promote patient care and have a significant impact. Such purposes may include education, method development, use of blood as a component of diagnostic procedures, as raw material for medical devices or as reference material for clinical laboratory studies. Unused red blood cells can also be used for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. The Blood Service supplies surplus red blood cells as raw material for a medicine to treat porphyria.

The Sample Service has both internal and external customers, such as research projects or companies.

When to apply for a biobank permit?

The Blood Service also provides material for scientific research on blood donation and on health or disease. The main way to release material for research purposes is through the Blood Service Biobank.

A research project is carried out as a biobank research project if the subject of the research is donor-derived biological material or donor-related information. The customer will be directed to apply for a biobank permit if the project involves, for example, the use of genomic techniques or other large-scale molecular profiling techniques.

How to apply for a Sample Service License

Material supplied through the Sample Service always requires a supply license. Each customer of the Sample Service submits an application for a supply license, which is assessed by the experts from the Biobank and Sample Service. The application must indicate the study design, the role of the material supplied in the study and the research methods used. The processing time for the application is approximately 2-4 weeks.

To apply for a supply license, please use the attached form. Please submit the completed application form to the research nurse of the Sample Service via email to tutkijaluvat@veripalvelu.fi.

Sample Service License Application form

The licence is valid for one year at a time and can be renewed thereafter if necessary. When renewing your licence, you should allow 2-4 weeks for processing. In addition to the supply licence, companies are also required to sign a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA).

Ordering and delivery of material

Once a supply licence is valid, the customer can order material through the Blood Service Order Centre using the attached order form by submitting the completed form to veritilaukset@veripalvelu.fi.

Order Form for Blood Components for Non-Clinical Use

If any special tubes or packaging materials are required for the delivery of the ordered material, the customer will deliver them in advance as agreed. It is usually agreed with the customer that the ordered material will be collected directly from the Blood Service. The blood products and their components are delivered from the Blood Service’s headquarters in Vehkala, Vantaa.

The material delivered through the Sample Service is untraceable and all personal data is removed before it is released to the customer. Some information such as donor’s age, gender, blood group or donation site may be provided with the material if necessary for the purpose. The material released must never contain a personal identification number or other directly identifiable information, nor can the material be linked to the donor.