Standard PREanalytical Code Version 3.0

Abstract

Quality Assurance in biospecimen collection, processing, and storage is the focus of International Best Practices¹ and accreditation standards.² Traceability and documentation of the preanalytical phase is part of recently recommended lists of essential biobank datasets.^3,4 The Standard PREanalytical Code (SPREC) was first developed and published by the ISBER Biospecimen Science Working Group in 2009⁵ and was updated in 2012.⁶ The SPREC is a seven-element code corresponding to the most critical preanalytical variables of fluid and solid biospecimens. In this short communication, the SPREC version 3.0 is published. It includes more options, based on recent technological developments and on recently acquired knowledge about the critical ranges of preanalytical times, such as tissue ischemia times (Table 1, Table 2).

Table 1.

Preanalytical Variables, with New Elements in Bold Italic, Included in SPREC (7-Element Long SPREC), Version SPREC 3.0, Applied to Fluid Samples

Type of sample
Ascites fluid	ASC
Amniotic fluid	AMN
Bronchoalveolar lavage	BAL
Blood (whole)	BLD
Bone marrow aspirate	BMA
Breast milk	BMK
Buccal cells	BUC
Nondensity-gradient-centrifugation-separated buffy coat, viable	BUF
Nondensity-gradient-centrifugation-separated buffy coat, nonviable	BFF
Density-gradient-centrifugation-separated mononuclear cells, viable	CEL
Fresh cells from nonblood specimen type	CEN
Cells from nonblood specimen type (e.g., ascites, amniotic), viable	CLN
Cord blood	CRD
Cerebrospinal fluid	CSF
Enriched (physicochemically) circulating tumor cells	CTC
Dried whole blood (e.g., Guthrie cards)	DWB
Nasal washing	NAS
Density-gradient-centrifugation-separated mononuclear cells, nonviable	PEL
Cells from nonblood specimen type (e.g., ascites, amniotic), nonviable	PEN
Pleural fluid	PFL
Dental pulp	PLP
Plasma, single spun	PL1
Plasma, double spun	PL2
Red blood cells	RBC
Saliva	SAL
Semen	SEM
Serum	SER
Sputum	SPT
Stool	STL
Synovial fluid	SYN
Tears	TER
24 h urine	U24
Urine, random (“spot”)	URN
Urine, first morning	URM
Urine, timed	URT
Other	ZZZ

Type of primary container
Acid citrate dextrose	ACD
Chemical additives/ stabilizers	ADD
Serum tube without clot activator	CAT
Citrate phosphate dextrose	CPD
Cell Preparation Tube^® citrate	CPT
Cell Preparation Tube heparin	CPH
Aldehyde-based stabilizer for CTCs	CSV
EDTA and gel	EDG
Physical filtration system	FIL
Glass	GLS
Lithium heparin	HEP
Hirudin	HIR
Lithium heparin and rubber plug	LHB
Lithium heparin and gel	LHG
Oragene collection container or equivalent	ORG
Stool collection container with DNA stabilizer	OMN
PAXgene^® blood RNA⁺	PAX
Potassium EDTA	PED
Polyethylene tube sterile	PET
S8820 protease inhibitor tablets or equivalent	PI1
Protease inhibitors	PIX
Polypropylene tube sterile	PPS
PAXgene blood DNA	PXD
PAXgene bone marrow RNA	PXR
RNA Later^®	RNL
Sodium citrate	SCI
Nonaldehyde-based stabilizer for cell-free nucleic acids	SCK
Sodium EDTA	SED
Sodium heparin	SHP
Sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate	SPO
Serum separator tube with clot activator	SST
Tempus^® tube	TEM
Trace elements tube	TRC
Unknown	XXX
Other	ZZZ

Precentrifugation (delay between collection and processing)
RT	<30 min	A1
2°C–10°C	<30 min	B1
RT	<2 h	A
2°C–10°C	<2 h	B
RT	2–4 h	C
2°C–10°C	2–4 h	D
RT	4–8 h	E
2°C–10°C	4–8 h	F
RT	8–12 h	G
2°C–10°C	8–12 h	H
RT	12–24 h	I
2°C–10°C	12–24 h	J
RT	24–48 h	K
2°C–10°C	24–48 h	L
RT	>48 h	M
2°C–10°C	>48 h	N
> 35°C	<2 h	O
Unknown		X
Other		Z

Centrifugation
RT 10–15 min	<3000 g no braking	A
RT 10–15 min	<3000 g with braking	B
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	<3000 g no braking	C
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	<3000 g with braking	D
RT 10–15 min	3000–6000 g with braking	E
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	3000–6000 g with braking	F
RT 10–15 min	6000–10000 g with braking	G
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	6000–10000 g with braking	H
RT 10–15 min	>10000 g with braking	I
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	>10000 g with braking	J
RT 30 min	<1000 g no braking	M
No centrifugation		N
Unknown		X
Other		Z

Second centrifugation
RT 10–15 min	<3000 g no braking	A
RT 10–15 min	<3000 g with braking	B
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	<3000 g no braking	C
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	<3000 g with braking	D
RT 10–15 min	3000–6000 g with braking	E
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	3000–6000 g with braking	F
RT 10–15 min	6000–10000 g with braking	G
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	6000–10000 g with braking	H
RT 10–15 min	>10000 g with braking	I
2°C–10°C 10–15 min	>10000 g with braking	J
No centrifugation		N
Unknown		X
Other		Z

Postcentrifugation delay
<1 h 2°C–10°C	A
<1 h RT	B
1–2 h 2°C–10°C	C
1–2 h RT	D
2–8 h 2°C–10°C	E
2–8 h RT	F
8–24 h 2°C–10°C	G
8–24 h RT	H
24–48 h 2°C–10°C	I
24–48 h RT	J
>48 h RT	M
Not applicable	N
Unknown	X
Other	Z

Long-term storage
PP tube 0.5–2 mL	(−85) to (−60)°C	A
PP tube 0.5–2 mL	(−35) to (−18)°C	B
PP tube 0.5–2 mL	<−135°C^a	V
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	LN	C
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	(−85) to (−60)°C	D
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	Programmable freezing to <−135°C	E
Plastic cryo straw	LN	F
Straw	(−85) to (−60)°C	G
Straw	(−35) to (−18)°C	H
Straw	Programmable freezing to <−135°C	I
PP tube ≥5 mL	(−85) to (−60)°C	J
PP tube ≥5 mL	(−35) to (−18)°C	K
Microplate well	(−85) to (−60)°C	L
Microplate well	(−35) to (−18)°C	M
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	LN after temporary (−85) to (−60)°C	N
Plastic cryo straw	LN after temporary (−85) to (−60)°C	O
Paraffin block	RT or 2–10°C	P
Paraffin block	(−35) to (−18)°C	U
Bag	LN	Q
Dry technology medium	RT	R
PP tube 40–500 μL	(−85) to (−60)°C	S
PP tube 40–500 μL	(−35) to (−18)°C	T
PP tube 40–500 μL	<−135°C^a	W
Original primary container	(−35) to (−18)°C or (−85) to (−60)°C	Y
Unknown		X
Other		Z

Codes in bold come from the LDMS. Volumes refer to container size.

Temperature <−135°C may correspond to LN vapor phase or to −150°C electrical freezer.

Cryotube is defined as a tube that can be stored in LN either vapor or liquid phase.

LDMS, Laboratory Data Management System; h, hour; LN, liquid nitrogen, referring to either vapor or liquid phase (this specific information should be documented in the biobank's SOPs); min, minute; PP, polypropylene; RT, room temperature: 18°C–28°C; SOPs, standard operating procedures.

Table 2.

Preanalytical Variables, with New Elements in Bold Italic, Included in the SPREC (7-Element Long SPREC), Version SPREC 3.0, Applied to Solid Samples

Type of sample
Bone	BON
Fresh cells from nonblood specimen type (e.g., biopsy)	CEN
Cells from nonblood specimen type (e.g., dissociated tissue), viable	CLN
Cells from fine needle aspirate	FNA
Hair	HAR
Cells from laser capture microdissected tissue	LCM
Nails	NAL
Cells from nonblood specimen type (e.g., dissociated tissue), nonviable	PEN
Placenta	PLC
Solid tissue	TIS
Disrupted tissue, nonviable	TCM
Teeth	TTH
Other	ZZZ

Type of collection
Autopsy <6 h postmortem	A06
Autopsy 6–12 h postmortem	A12
Autopsy 12–24 h postmortem	A24
Autopsy 24–48 h postmortem	A48
Autopsy 48–72 h postmortem	A72
Biopsy in culture media	BCM
Biopsy	BPS
Biopsy in normal saline or phosphate buffered saline	BSL
Biopsy in tissue low-temperature transport media	BTM
Fine needle aspirate	FNA
Punction	PUN
Surgical excision in culture media	SCM
Surgical excision	SRG
Surgical excision in normal saline or phosphate buffered saline	SSL
Surgical excision in tissue low-temperature transport media	STM
Surgical excision in vacuum container	VAC
Swab	SWB
Other	ZZZ

Warm ischemia time
<2 min	A
2–10 min	B
10–20 min	C
20–30 min	D
30–60 min	E
>60 min	F
Unknown	X
Not applicable (e.g., biopsy)	N
Other	Z

Cold ischemia time
RT <2 min	A
RT 2–10 min	B
RT 10–20 min	C
RT 20–30 min	D
RT 30–60 min	E
RT 60 min– 3 h	F
RT 3 h–6 h	G
RT 6 h–12 h	H
RT >12 h	I
2°C–10°C <60 min	E4
2°C–10°C 60 min–3 h	F4
2°C–10°C 3–6 h	G4
2°C–10°C 6–12 h	H4
2°C–10°C >12 h	I4
Unknown	X
Not applicable (e.g., autopsy)	N
Other	Z

Fixation/stabilization type
Nonaldehyde with acetic acid	ACA
Aldehyde based	ALD
Allprotect^® tissue reagent	ALL
Alcohol based	ETH
Nonbuffered formalin	FOR
Heat stabilization	HST
Snap freezing	SNP
Nonaldehyde based without acetic acid	NAA
Neutral buffered formalin	NBF
Optimum cutting temperature medium	OCT
PAXgene tissue	PXT
RNA Later	RNL
Vacuum technology stabilization	VAC
Unknown	XXX
Other	ZZZ

Fixation time
<15 min	A
15 min–1 h	B
1–4 h	C
4–8 h	D
8–24 h	E
24–48 h	F
48–72 h	G
>72 h	H
Not applicable	N
Unknown	X
Other	Z

Long-term storage
PP tube 0.5–2 mL	(−85) to (−60)°C	A
PP tube 0.5–2 mL	(−35) to (−18)°C	B
PP tube 0.5–2 mL	<−135°C^a	V
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	LN	C
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	(−85) to (−60)°C	D
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	Programmable freezing to <−135°C	E
Plastic cryo straw	LN	F
Straw	(−85) to (−60)°C	G
Straw	(−35) to (−18)°C	H
Straw	Programmable freezing to <−135°C	I
PP tube ≥5 mL	(−85) to (−60)°C	J
PP tube ≥5 mL	(−35) to (−18)°C	K
Microplate well	(−85) to (−60)°C	L
Microplate well	(−35) to (−18)°C	M
Cryotube^b 1–2 mL	LN after temporary (−85) to (−60)°C	N
Straw	LN after temporary (−85) to (−60)°C	O
Paraffin block	RT or 2 to 10°C	P
Paraffin block	(−35) to (−18)°C	U
Bag	LN	Q
Dry technology medium	RT	R
PP tube 40–500 μL	(−85) to (−60)°C	S
PP tube 40–500 μL	(−35) to (−18)°C	T
PP tube 40–500 μL	<−135°C^a	W
Original primary container	(−35) to (−18)°C or (−85) to (−60)°C	Y
Unknown		X
Other		Z

Codes in bold come from the LDMS. Volumes refer to container size.

Temperature <−135°C may correspond to LN vapor phase or to −150°C electrical freezer.

Cryotube is defined as a tube that can be stored in LN, either vapor or liquid phase.

LN, Liquid nitrogen refers to either vapor or liquid phase (this specific information should be documented in the biobank's SOPs); PP, polypropylene; RT, room temperature: 18°C–28°C.

Footnotes

Author Disclosure Statement

No competing financial interests exist.

References

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