This diagram maps best practices across the full biospecimen-to-data pipeline, helping teams reduce friction, standardize processes, and generate high-quality, reliable data through early planning, quality control, and clear communication.
As biomarker collection becomes increasingly central to population health and aging research, the success of studies depends on strong, well-coordinated collaborations between study teams and laboratories. This SOP provides standardized guidance for population study teams planning and executing biospecimen collection and managing lab partnerships.
Who this is for: Study PIs, data managers, field coordinators, and program staff working on population-based longitudinal studies, cohort surveys, and multi-site research that involves biospecimen collection and laboratory analysis.
Cortisol and other stress-related steroids can be measured in hair, providing a long-term indicator of hormone levels over weeks to months. This method differs from traditional blood and saliva tests, which capture short-term fluctuations. While hair analysis offers unique insights into chronic stress, research is still ongoing to fully understand how these measurements compare to those from blood and saliva, as factors like hair growth and external influences may affect results.
Dried blood spot (DBS) collection is a minimally invasive, cost-effective method for obtaining blood samples for biomarker testing. It enables large-scale, population-based research by allowing easy collection, storage, and transport of biological samples, even in remote or resource-limited settings.
Saliva collection using Salivettes offers a standardized, non-invasive method for biomarker assessment in population-based studies. This approach enables reliable measurement of key analytes—such as cortisol, DHEA, and inflammatory markers—while facilitating easy collection, storage, and transport across diverse research settings. Salivettes are particularly valuable for studies requiring repeated measures or field-based biospecimen collection.
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) are essential for immunological research, including studies of immune function, inflammation, and disease pathogenesis. Cell Preparation Tubes (CPTs) offer an efficient, standardized method for PBMC isolation directly from whole blood. These tubes contain both an anticoagulant and a density gradient medium, allowing for simultaneous blood collection and separation of PBMCs in a single centrifugation step—streamlining sample processing and improving consistency across studies.
A comprehensive, up-to-date listing of population studies with biomarker data is maintained by the NIA-funded Biomarker Network.
We encourage users to explore their searchable database and the study-specific information provided (includes biomarker type, study design, and population).