Biobank Services for Citizens

Biobank services include, for example, the collection of consents, samples and related information, as well as the submission of samples to biobank research.  In the Tays specific catchment area, biobank services are provided by Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere.

The submission of samples to the biobank is entirely voluntary and based on consent. Typical biobank samples are the blood and tissue samples we collect during treatment. In the future, biobank samples can be used in many medical research projects. Our activities make it possible for us to participate in the development of new treatment methods.

What is the point of storing a sample in a biobank?

The aim of biobank research is to develop the diagnosis of diseases and the treatment of patients. This requires us to have comprehensive samples from different patient groups in the future.  High-quality samples and combined health data constitute valuable collections that can be handed over for several research purposes.  We provide samples and related information for research purposes and as a rule, the samples are coded so an individual is not directly identifiable.  The analyses and results produced by research projects return to Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere, so the value of the data will increase over time.

By giving a sample to the biobank, you have the opportunity to:

  • help develop more effective treatment methods
  •  support research related to your illness
  • benefit from individualised treatments in the future.
  • You can also deposit a gift for research and care.

How can I give a sample to the Biobank? 

Collecting and storing new samples in the Biobank requires the consent of the person providing the sample.  You can submit the consent electronically through the OmaTays service or with a paper consent form. Giving consents and samples to the Biobank is voluntary.

Electronic Biobank consent

  • OmaTays is only available in Finnish
  • Login to the OmaTays service with your online banking ID, mobile certificate or certificate card.
  • Once you have signed to OmaTays, select “Consents and Agreements” on the left side of the front page.
  • Select “Biobank consent”.
  • Read the information section carefully and then continue to fill in your consent.

Consent of a patient treated in Tays

  • We will enclose the consent document with the hospital invitation letter.
  • Please study the contents of the consent document.
  • You can return it, filled in and signed, when you come for an appointment at a clinic at Tays. You can also visit the OmaTays service to give the consent electronically in Finnish.

If you are not currently being treated in Tays, but you want to give your consent to the collection of samples in the future, you can visit the OmaTays service for electronic consent in Finnish.  If you do not wish to give your consent electronically, you can also print out the consent document and send the filled in consent form by mail to the address indicated in the document.

  • The consent is valid for an indefinite period.
  • For the time being, consent can only be given by a person aged 18 or over.
  • The consent is always biobank-specific.

How can I refuse biobank sampling?

If you do not want your samples to be used for biobank research at Biobank Tampere, you can submit a biobank refusal. Print out the refusal form, fill it in and send the form to the address listed on the form. If you wish, you can also get a biobank refusal form from the unit where you are being treated.

You can withdraw your prior consent at any time without giving a reason.  The withdrawal of consent is done in writing by filling out the biobank refusal either as a paper form or electronically in the OmaTays service (only in Finnish). After receiving the refusal, the Biobank will no longer hand over your samples for research purposes.

What are the rights of data subjects at Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere?

According to the Finnish Biobank Act and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679), which entered into force on 25 May 2018, a person whose data is processed in the register has the right to:

  • Give consent or refuse the use of their samples in the biobank.
  • To know whether samples taken of them are stored in the biobank, what data has been stored and the basis for conservation, where the information was obtained and for which studies it may have been submitted.
  • Request that the use of their samples or data be restricted or deleted from the biobank registers.
  • Demand the revision or supplementing of incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate data.
  • Object to the handling of their data in the biobank.

Contact or file a complaint with a supervisory authority if the person considers that the processing of their personal data is in breach of the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

In addition, the person shall have the right to obtain a specified piece of health information from their sample and an explanation of the meaning of that information. However, this information may still need to be verified separately in health care. Each case will be assessed separately.  Depending on the situation, the direct costs of the procedure may be charged to the person providing the sample.