The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the risks associated with the collection and processing of human biospecimens with an unknown status for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, whether for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. Biosamples from patients with cancer, which continue to be collected and stored in biobanks during the pandemic, are likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2.
For this reason, and because SARS-CoV-2 is highly infective, it is essential to prepare, store, handle and ship human samples to ensure that the people exposed to the biospecimens not only are familiar with the appropriate safety procedures for handling potentially infectious fluids or tissue samples but also are able and willing to implement them.
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