Donating blood and tissue samples for research

This page gives information about donating blood and tissue samples for research. There is information about

 
 

Blood and tissue samples in cancer research

Blood and body tissue samples are vital for cancer research. Many developments in cancer treatment come from doctors and researchers looking at blood and tumour samples in the laboratory. Researchers call these biosamples and they use them to

  • Find out how cancers develop in order to try and prevent them
  • Find new ways to diagnose cancer
  • Find new ways to treat cancer
  • Develop and test new drugs
  • Try and work out which treatments work for particular groups of patients
  • Find better ways of controlling side effects and symptoms
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When samples are collected

Doctors or nurses collect many blood and tissue samples as part of routine diagnosis and treatment. When doctors find and remove a cancer, they can store some of the tumour for research.

People who do not have cancer, or any other illness, may also be asked to donate blood or tissue samples. Researchers can use these to find differences between healthy cells and cancer cells.

Before your doctor or nurse takes a blood or tissue sample for research, they will always ask your permission and ask you to sign a form. Before you do this, they should give you written information about what will happen to your sample. They should also answer any questions you have.

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Types of body tissue sample

Many types of tissue sample are used in research. These include

  • Small samples of tumours from biopsies or surgery
  • Blood samples
  • Fluids removed using a needle and syringe from body cavities, joints, abscesses or cysts
  • Body fluids, such as urine, spit (sputum), saliva and tears
  • Cells from skin, hair, nails, the inside of the mouth, the eye, or the neck of the womb (cervix)
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What happens to your sample

Researchers store samples in laboratories called biobanks. These are like libraries. They keep the samples with some details of your medical history, but no personal details. A computer stores this information, so that researchers can find the samples they need.

There are many biobanks in the UK. Cancer Research UK is one of the funders of onCore UK, a national biobank. onCore UK has a patient donor forum. On the forum, people who have donated samples can be kept up to date with onCore UK's work.

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