The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) becomes the first biobank in Norway to achieve ISO 20387 accreditation

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The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has achieved accreditation under the ISO 20387 standard, becoming the first biobank in Norway to be accredited under this international standard. According to Haben Tesfu, Quality Manager at NIPH, achieving this accreditation marks a major milestone:

“Working with an ISO standard like 20387 requires a comprehensive assessment of every requirement, demanding a highly intensive preparation process to ensure full compliance”.

One of the key challenges was interpreting the standard, as adapting its broad framework to the specific operations of an active biobank required careful analysis and discussion. A thorough gap analysis revealed areas in need of development, while aligning existing practices with the standard involved revising documentation and strengthening internal quality systems.Tesfu explains:

“Interpreting and implementing the standard required strong collaboration from the very beginning. We invested significant time in ensuring everyone understood the requirements and took ownership of the process. That shared commitment across the department was essential to our success.”

This standard sets strict requirements for quality and competence in the management of biological materials for research, ensuring high reliability and traceability in biobank operations. Maria Aamelfot, Department Director at NIPH states:

“This is a significant milestone for us and for the biobanking field in Norway. The accreditation confirms that we adhere to international best practices for quality assurance of biological materials, strengthening both research and trust in the biobank.”

Andrea Wutte, MSc, Head of BBMRI-ERIC Quality Management adds:

“NIPH’s ISO 20387 accreditation marks a major achievement for both the institute and our BBMRI biobanking community at large. It highlights their commitment to maintaining stringent quality standards, which is essential for shaping the future of biobanking.”

About the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)

The biobank at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) was established in 1999 as a research biobank and has since developed into a modern, efficient facility. It provides secure, effective, and customised solutions for the handling and storage of human biological samples. The biobank supports numerous health surveys and research projects, currently housing approximately 5–6 million biosamples, accompanied by data from these initiatives.

BBMRI.QM extends its warmest congratulations to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health on this important achievement. Additionally, NIPH will receive the BBMRI audited Quality Label in the BBMRI Directory. Read more.

How to apply

If you wish to apply with your ISO 20387 accredited biobank for the BBMRI-ERIC Quality Label, please send your informal application to qm@bbmri-eric.eu