Getting a biobank “fit for blackout” – A required investment of resources?
In recent years, the topic of blackouts has increasingly captured public attention. An expert from BBMRI.at partner Biobank Graz provides insights in a BBMRI-ERIC seminar how to prepare the biobank to be “fit for blackout”.
Risk of a blackout
Blackouts in terms of widespread and long-lasting power outages has been a significant point of discussion in Europe. The idea of experiencing a multi-day power outage seems farfetched until this event occurs catching one unprepared.
BBMRI.at partner Biobank Graz initiated a project in 2022 to determine how to prepare for a blackout and evaluate its infrastructure. The aim was to identify possible requirements to get the biobank prepared for an up to 14-day power outage. The evaluation included the investigation of critical infrastructure and personnel as well as analysing the completeness and effectiveness of the emergency power supply to determine potential upgrades.
Assessing a biobank’s preparedness for a blackout
During the seminar, Petra Tauscher from Biobank Graz raised awareness on the importance of scrutinizing a biobank´s infrastructure. Tauscher said: “We can strongly recommend to critically evaluate the biobanks infrastructure from a ‘blackout point of view’.” Challenging the infrastructure might reveal weak points which can become problematic even in case of a short-term power outage. The evaluation consisted of several steps. These included defining the critical infrastructure needed to maintain sample storage and personnel safety (e.g. refrigerated storage systems and safety related systems like gas leak detectors) and evaluating the effectiveness of the available emergency power supply. Moreover, options to upgrade the biobanking infrastructure to ensure the functionality of essential devices in case of a multi-day power blackout were assessed.
BBMRI.at partner Biobank Graz
BBMRI.at partner Biobank Graz at Medical University of Graz is one of the largest hospital-based biobanks in Europe. Biobank Graz aims to ensure that the samples are held up to the highest standards, which can only be achieved if preventive measures are taken and – in the case of a multiday power outage – the efficiency of emergency power supply is secured. However, biobankers must recognize that preparing a biobank for a multi-day power outage is a resource-intensive project, depending on the complexity of the infrastructure.
