Design and establishment of a biobank in a multicenter prospective cohort study of elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (SWITCO65+)

Abstract

In the field of thrombosis and haemostasis, many preanalytical variables influence the results of coagulation assays and measures to limit potential results variations should be taken. To our knowledge, no paper describing the development and maintenance of a haemostasis biobank has been previously published. Our description of the biobank of the Swiss cohort of elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (SWITCO65+) is intended to facilitate the set-up of other biobanks in the field of thrombosis and haemostasis. SWITCO65+ is a multicentre cohort that prospectively enrolled consecutive patients aged ≥65 years with venous thromboembolism at nine Swiss hospitals from 09/2009 to 03/2012. Patients will be followed up until December 2013. The cohort includes a biobank with biological material from each participant taken at baseline and after 12 months of follow-up. Whole blood from all participants is assayed with a standard haematology panel, for which fresh samples are required. Two buffy coat vials, one PAXgene Blood RNA System tube and one EDTA-whole blood sample are also collected at baseline for RNA/DNA extraction. Blood samples are processed and vialed within 1 h of collection and transported in batches to a central laboratory where they are stored in ultra-low temperature archives. All analyses of the same type are performed in the same laboratory in batches. Using multiple core laboratories increased the speed of sample analyses and reduced storage time. After recruiting, processing and analyzing the blood of more than 1,000 patients, we determined that the adopted methods and technologies were fit-for-purpose and robust.

Circulating extracellular DNA is an independent predictor of mortality in elderly patients with venous thromboembolism

“…The Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Cohort 65+ (SWITCO65+) is a prospective multicenter cohort study enrolling patients aged ≥ 65 years with acute, symptomatic VTE at nine Swiss university and non-university hospitals from 2009 to 2013 [ 15 , 16 ]. Patients with acute VTE were identified in the inpatient and outpatient services of the study sites.…”

Comparison of Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Biomarkers for Risk Stratification in Elderly Patients with Non-Massive Pulmonary Embolism

“…Samples were immediately centrifuged, frozen and stored at– 80°C until analyses. Details regarding blood sampling/processing were described elsewhere [ 18 ].…”

Polypharmacy is Associated with an Increased Risk of Bleeding in Elderly Patients with Venous Thromboembolism

“…A full description of the cohort methods, including eligibility criteria, definition of VTE, and follow-up procedures, has been published elsewhere. 17,18 Anticoagulant treatment (i.e., parenteral anticoagulant followed by vitamin K antagonists or parenteral anticoagulation alone) was left to the discretion of the managing hospital and primary care physicians. For this project, we excluded all patients who did not receive oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists within 14 days of the index VTE event.…”