Abstract
Background/Aims The Geisinger MyCode project is a system-wide biobanking project with DNA and serum samples from over 35,000 Geisinger patients. We summarize an automated process for ordering and collection of samples linkable to EMR data for research studies.
Methods Eligibility lists for enrolling patients of interest are automatically generated using inclusion criteria and daily clinic schedules. Research staff use eligibility lists to consent patients to participate in MyCode during a regularly scheduled clinic visit. An opt-in consent process is used. After consent, an automatic blood order is placed in the patient’s EMR. Electronic orders are executed by a clinical phlebotomist at the time of a clinical blood draw. Samples are stored using a unique study ID, but remain linkable to the patient’s EMR data through a data broker process. De-identified clinical data is obtained from Geisinger’s enterprise data warehouse to create phenotypes for genetic research.
Results The MyCode biobank includes over 35,000 participants and more than 104,000 samples. 85% of patients approached give consent to participate. 90% also agree to be recontacted to participate in future research studies. The standing research blood order allows for collection of serial samples. The retention rate for participation is 99%. More than 24,000 MyCode samples have been used in over 20 research projects. In the past 2 years, externally funded research projects that utilize the MyCode biobank total twelve million dollars, representing a several-fold return on investment.
Conclusions The seamless integration of the automated MyCode process with existing clinical infrastructure maximizes the efficiency of research sample collection and minimizes costs. The process allows resources to be focused on interaction with the patients during consent. The opt-in consent allows samples to be linked to EMR data. The persistent link allows repeat access to the patient’s EMR data for longitudinal studies. This approach is highly efficient and does not require patients to have an extra needle stick or research visit, which contributes to the high enrollment rate. The trade-off is a potential lag between consent and sample collection. Future goals include improvements in enrollment efficiency and developing approaches for returning results.
