Such a biobank of biological material from patients with venous thromboembolism is essential for translational research aiming better characterizing venous thromboembolism at several levels ranging from diagnostic and prognostic classification to prediction of response to therapy.

Study nurses receive from the web-based data management system for each enrolled patient an automatically generated patient screening number. The patient screening number is linked to a biobank number. After blood collection, blood samples are processed and stored at -80° Celsius within one hour in each participating centers. Aliquots are shipped to the central SWITCO65+ biobank every 6 months. Upon arrival at the SWITCO65+ biobank, aliquots are separated in 2 groups: long-term storage and short-term storage (click on the figure).