Registration

Registration is primarily for researchers who are planning or conducting research projects that involve creating or working with new collections of human research biospecimens.

Registration provides individual researchers with:

• education on biobanking
• access to national standards
• opportunity to be listed in the biospecimen collection

Registration is a relatively simple process to complete and is a requirement of several Canadian health research funders and organizations.

Registration Program Components

1. – Biobank submits registration form and completes the online introductory education module Basics of Biobanking.
2.  CTRNet provides a registration record and links to the best practice–based standards.

Estimated time: 2–3 hours

Certification

Certification is primarily for biobankers who are establishing or operating a biobank of human research biospecimens.

Certification provides biobanks with:

• education and training for all staff
• assurance for researchers that the biobank operates according to national standards

The CTRNet Biobank Certification Program is a national initiative designed by leading Canadian biobanks to address minimum standards in biobanking across Canada.
Its objective is to increase public confidence, minimize institutional risk, and improve biospecimen quality.

Video: Click here to see a video about our certification program

Certification Program Components

The Biobank Team Leader:

1. Invites their biobank team members to create accounts.
2. Assigns required education modules and completes their own modules.
3.  Completes a checklist of existing key biobank documentation.
4. Uploads documents for review by the Biobank Certification Officer.
5. Submits the biobank’s Declaration of Compliance.
6. Receives certification and education completion reports.

Estimated effort: ~12 hours over 1–3 months
Certification validity: 5 years