Protocols and data
- Swedish Environmental Specimen Bank: Manuals for collection, preparation and storage of biota
- U.S. Marine Environmental Specimen Bank (Marine ESB): Methods and Measurements for Emerging Contaminants
- U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Research Proposal Guidelines
- German Environmental Specimen Bank: Protocols for sampling, processing, archiving and analysing environmental samples as well as videos of standard operating procedures in practice
- Norwegian Environmental Specimen Bank (Miljøprøvebanken): Collection and sampling strategies
- National Institute of Environmental Science (NIES): Samples lists of the time capsule program
Accessibility of data
- The number and type of archived samples and results of chemical analysis are partly available on the website of ESBs (e.g. German ESB). Many websites also highlight relevant publications related to the archived samples.
- For ESBs, such as the Canadian National Aquatic Biological Specimen Bank (NABSB) all information is maintained within a secured relational database. All specimens received and/or collected are registered and assigned with successive and unique identification numbers. The database maintains all biological data (length, age, etc.) associated with each specimen number as well as data with regard to location, collection methods, storage and the results of all chemical analyses that have been performed on the specimen.
Accessibility of samples
- For many ESBs such as the NABSB, tissue samples are available for collaborative research projects. The release of specimens for research purposes adheres to the respective institute policies and generally depends on the scientific merit, availability of sufficient tissue quantities, and co-authorship on resulting publications.
