Biorepositories in Action: Protecting the Integrity of Every Sample

In this episode, we’re joined by Rafael Miñana Prieto, Senior Manager of Operations for Laboratory Services at CTI, who oversees global biorepository operations across the U.S. and Europe. He walks through the full specimen lifecycle—from kit design and sample collection to storage, retrieval, and delivery—and explains why biological specimens are the foundation of clinical research. Rafael shares how consistent, end-to-end management, global standardization, and integrated laboratory services help protect data integrity, reduce risk, and improve outcomes across trials. He also highlights how small upstream decisions can impact downstream results, along with the operational challenges and evolving trends shaping modern biorepository services. 01:26 Rafael’s role and the end-to-end specimen lifecycle02:15 Why sample integrity underpins clinical evidence and patient impact03:26 Lifecycle complexity and global logistics challenges04:16 Standardization, monitoring, and risk reduction strategies05:32 Coordinating retrieval and global shipment06:31 Upstream decisions (kit design, instructions) shaping outcomes07:23 Integrated lab services and reduced fragmentation07:59 Scaling challenges and pre-analytical gaps09:24 Key trends: complexity, globalization, and data-driven operations10:07 CAP accreditation and delivering consistent global standards