CaBRIOH – BBMRI-ERIC Academy webinar series provides insights into CEN/TS 17626:2021 on pre-analytics of human specimens for microbiome DNA analysis

The new webinar series provides practical insights into the European Technical Specification CEN/TS 17626:2021 “Human specimens for microbiome DNA analysis”. The series is co-organized by CaBRIOH project partner Medical University of Graz and BBMRI-ERIC Academy, with expertise from BBMRI.at contributing to the webinars. In addition to the content of the standard, the scientific background and rationale behind its recommendations will also be explained.

CEN/TS 17626:2021 in focus

The webinar series is held in the context of the EU project CaBRIOH and is organised by the Medical University of Graz, as a CaBRIOH project partner, represented by Cornelia Stumptner, Executive Manager at BBMRI.at, together with the BBMRI-ERIC Academy.

The focus is on the European Technical Specification CEN/TS 17626:2021, which provides specifications for pre-examination processes for human specimens intended for microbiome DNA analysis. The webinar provides a step-by-step overview of the individual sections of the document, complemented by scientific background and rationale as well as practical guidance for applying the specification.

Cornelia Stumptner, Executive Manager at BBMRI.at and expert at the Medical University of Graz, co-led the development of CEN/TS 17626:2021 at CEN level in the context of the EU-project SPIDIA4P. The document is currently being transferred to ISO as ISO/TS 18701, also under her leadership. The respective CEN and ISO Technical Committees are convened by Dr. Uwe Oelmueller – one of the presenters in the webinar series.

Webinar 1: 14 September 2026 | 11:30–12:45 CEST

Registration: here >>
Open until 9 September 2026, end of business day.
Important note: For licensing purposes, participants must have a copy of CEN/TS 17626:2021 to attend the live webinar.

Part 1: Clause 1 “Scope” and Clause 4 “General considerations”

Speaker: Dr Uwe Oelmueller | Convenor ISO/TC212 WG4 and CEN/TC 140 WG3, QIAGEN GmbH, PreAnalytiX GmbH

Host: Dr Maike Tauchert | BBMRI.QM

What to Expect
After the webinar, participants will have gained the following knowledge:

Understand why a dedicated pre-analytical standard for microbiome DNA analysis is needed, and what it can and cannot deliver
How scientific evidence drives the development of standards
Navigate the structure, scope, and normative language of CEN/TS 17626:2021
General requirements for examination (analytical test) workflow developments, and how to use pre-examination workflow components (e.g. collection devices, nucleic acid isolation) for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) examination and for laboratories’ own developments
“Specification”, “verification” and “validation”- how they build the backbone for IVD product and laboratories’ own developments
Understand the role of risk management for IVD products and for laboratories’ own developments
Different responsibilities for IVD developers & manufacturers, and for medical laboratories developing own procedures