eSphere
All samples banked and/or stored in the Biospecimen Bank are entered into the sample management system eSphere. This database provides a mechanism to collect, query and distribute samples throughout the research community. The unique identifying bar code number will link to the pathology report, site of biopsy and other clinical information such as diagnosis, metastatic sites, gender, and race will be included in this database. Access to the database will be password protected and will be set up and monitored by the database administrator. All Biospecimen Bank personnel will be trained to maintain confidentiality of patient information in the same manner as the clinical surgical pathology personnel to meet HIPAA regulations.
The eSphere database allows investigators to query to system for all specimens and related information that the Biospecimen Bank and the GCRC has collected and stored. The reporting tool allows easy filtering of data based on the categories relevant to the search. The information displayed to the investigator is the sample bar code, patient information (study number, name for linked cases, age, race, sex), sample attributes (size, volume, processing type, procedure date, pathology report, diagnosis, etc), anatomic site of procedure, and any withdrawal information.
