Qatar Biobank receives the BBMRI-ERIC Quality Label

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The Qatar Biobank, part of the Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), has achieved the BBMRI-ERIC Quality Label, recognising its high standards in quality management and biobanking. The biobank is committed to providing high-quality biospecimens and associated data, supporting world-class biomedical and precision medicine research. 

Qatar Biobank’s commitment to quality led it to achieve ISO 20387 accreditation in 2022, demonstrating that its operations meet internationally recognised standards for biobanking. Since then, it has continued to strengthen its quality management system through regular surveillance audits and a culture of continuous improvement. Building on this foundation, obtaining the BBMRI-ERIC audited Quality Label was a natural next step, reinforcing its commitment to harmonisation, transparency, and excellence within the international biobanking community. 

This achievement reflects the dedication of its multidisciplinary team and reinforces Qatar Biobank’s role as Qatar’s national biobank and a trusted research infrastructure supporting precision medicine. It also strengthens confidence among researchers and collaborators that its biospecimens, data, and services meet internationally recognised quality standards, enabling high-quality research and fostering global scientific collaboration. 

Reflecting on the importance of quality in biobanking and research, Dr. Fatima M. Kafood, Director, Precision Health Cohort & Sample Platform at Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), shares:  

“Every sample donated to Qatar Biobank represents the trust of a participant and the potential to advance future healthcare. Quality is how we honor that trust, by ensuring every biospecimen and dataset is reliable, fit for research, and capable of generating robust, reproducible evidence that benefits patients and society.

Andrea Wutte, Head of Quality Management at BBMRI-ERIC, says:     

“By receiving the BBMRI-ERIC Quality Label, Qatar Biobank, accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and part of our observer community in the Middle East, further strengthens BBMRI-ERIC’s international network of biobanks committed to excellence in biobanking and quality management. A2LA’s participation in the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) international recognition framework underlines the global comparability and mutual recognition of accreditation based on harmonised international standards. This demonstrates that quality and competence transcend geographical borders and reflects our shared commitment to harmonisation, mutual trust, and the provision of high-quality biological material and associated data for research worldwide.”