Participating in the BBSA

The Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA) aims to ensure that South African biobanks operate at the highest levels of operational and ethical efficiency, with the aim of improving the safety, variety and accessibility of collections. Participation of biobanks in the BBSA is formalised through Collaboration Agreements between SANBI and the institutions, and through internal agreements between the BBSA and the relevant Division for biobanks within SANBI.

To that end, biobanks are required to meet certain general standards for participating in the BBSA – as seen in the Overview-of-the-general-standards-required-for-biodiversity-biobanks-participating-in-the-Biodiversity-Biobanks-South-Africa

This document serves to provide an overview of the main requirements for biobanks participating in the BBSA. – Download PDF here

Further detailed policies, standard specifications and workflows will be determined at a later stage, but there is some urgency in terms of initiating the upgrading of priority aspects, and given the variety of taxa and associated specific requirements, it is difficult to develop general standards and workflows. The intention for institutions participating in the BBSA is to work towards achieving all the requirements over time, with support from the BBSA and institutions. The checklist is also intended to illustrate the requirements if an institution wishes to establish a biobank so that there is some understanding of the investment and commitment needed.

(More info coming soon – for clarification, please contact info@bbsa.org.za)