Biological sample collection and processing in an on site laboratory in Estonian shale oil mine - BIOMODEM study

Full text: The BIOMED-concerted action 'BIOMarkers for Occupational Diesel exhaust Exposure Monitoring (BIOMODEM)' project implied biological sampling from 100 workers of an Estonian shale oil mine. Experiences from pilot studies in Ostrava in Czech Republic and Kotla-Jaerve in Estonia stressed the need of fast processing and storage of biological samples Therefore, in the main study a field laboratory was set up in a building at the mine. Urine samples were collected pre-shift and post-shift after one workday and after 3-4 workdays. Urine samples were separated into 6 aliquots and stored at -200C. Blood samples were collected in CPT-tubes and processed with isolation of lymphocytes, erythrocytes and plasma. The detailed steps in the processing will be presented together with yields of cell populations compared with amount of blood processed. The samples were stored in liquid nitrogen on site and transported on dry ice to laboratories in the United Kingdom, Denmark and Tallinn. The transport of processed samples was taken care of by the project participants to avoid delay with consequent thawing. (author)