How Samples Are Processed and Stored

The Sharing Repository is devoted to the collection and distribution of family data for the genetic analysis of Tourette Syndrome and related disorders. Anonymous data on family structure, age, sex, clinical status, and diagnosis (“clinical data”), DNA samples, blood plasma, and cell line cultures (“biomaterials”), and data derived from genotyping and other genetic analyses of these clinical data and biomaterials.

A small amount of blood is cryogenically stored from which DNA can be extracted. DNA comparisons are done using multiplex PCR of highly polymorphic microsatellite loci.

The facility is state-of-the-art, and capable of maintaining viable blood line and DNA samples for many years in cryotanks and freezers capable of holding more than 2.5 million samples.  The original study to establish the NJCTS Sharing Repository called for the collection of at least 1000 samples and we continue to add to our resources.

Real-time proprietary databases and advanced barcode technology are used for tracking samples, with advanced communication to mainframe computers and customers around the world.