A biobank is a biorepository that stores biological samples (usually of human origin) for use in research. Since the late 1990s, biobanks have become a key resource, supporting contemporary research in many fields, including genomics and personalized medicine. The ethical requirement for anonymity currently results in irreversible severing of the link between patients and their biobank samples. However, the maintenance of an anonymous link would increase patients' control over their samples and the efficacy of sample management. We propose a system for anonymous, real-time communication between the biobank and the patients providing samples based on the short message service (SMS) of mobile telephones. The patient and the biobank communicate via a cryptographic protocol, using a trusted third-party server. The biobank-SMS (BioK-SMS) communication system provides answers to certain persistent ethical questions relating to biobanking. BioK-SMS makes it easier to obtain renewed consent when required, gives patients more control over their samples, and protects their privacy.
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