New CDC Resource: Improving the Collection and Management Of Human Samples Used for Measuring Environmental Chemicals and Nutrition Indicators

CDC’s Division of Laboratory Sciences recently released a new document: Improving the Collection and Management of Human Samples Used for Measuring Environmental Chemicals and Nutrition Indicators. This document describes important factors for obtaining and using high-quality samples in biomonitoring studies that assess environmental exposures and nutrition status.

Biomonitoring is widely recognized as an important tool for assessing people’s nutrition status and exposure to natural or man-made chemicals in the environment. For accurate performance of the methods used for biomonitoring, biological specimens must be collected and managed in a manner that preserves their quality and minimizes external contamination. Recognizing important considerations for collecting, storing, managing, and transporting human samples can minimize external pre-analytical contamination risks, ensure analyte integrity, and promote accurate exposure and nutrition assessments.

This document is intended for use by epidemiologists, laboratorians, and other health scientists in state or local public health programs that are involved in the design and implementation of human biomonitoring studies.