Summary: On the cover this month: Inside a Vial Store. As new technologies are developed for using biological specimens to diagnose and treat disease, as well as to evaluate genetic risks, both researchers and patients are becoming more aware of the importance and benefits of biobanking. The last 2 decades have seen an increasing interest in the collection and storage of biological samples for further investigation. Although the number of biological specimens that have been collected and stored worldwide is not known, it is likely to be in the millions. This issue of Clinical Chemistry contains a Q and A feature in which 5 experts focus on quality management, biobank network design, the long-term sustainability of biobanks, public perceptions, and the controversial issue of returning of research results to biospecimen donors.
