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The Importance of Control Tissue in Medical and Scientific Research
Control groups are a necessary component of medical research. Control tissue samples are commonly used as a reference in biomedical research; these tissue samples can be collected from patients who are either entirely unaffected by the condition being studied or by using a healthy area from the patient’s body. Similar to control groups, control tissue samples are crucial to verifying results (and proving they are not the outcome of coincidence).
Control samples are used as benchmarks to diagnose or observe biopsy samples and are vital to establishing a treatment’s accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability. Researchers have launched biomedical research years into the future through hypothesis testing with control samples. In this article, we explore the importance of control tissue and FFPE samples in medical research.
What are FFPE Control Tissue Samples?
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples are preserved using formalin and then embedded in paraffin wax and are commonly used as control samples in medical diagnostics. FFPE control tissue samples are great for experimental tests. The wax allows researchers to examine multiple extremely thin and fragile sections from a single biopsy.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “Pathology departments routinely archive vast numbers of FFPE blocks as compared to frozen tissues. This largely untapped resource represents an extensive repository of tissue material with a long-term clinical follow-up, providing a valuable resource for translational clinical research.”
FFPE control tissue creates standardization and quality control. These tissues provide a stable reference point for experimental procedures, ensuring that tests are performed consistently across different laboratories over time.
Validation Tissue & Benign Tissue Samples
Validation tissues are often used to compare experimental findings/diagnostic attempts. These samples are chosen because they show distinct characteristics that accurately represent the illnesses studied. Validation tissues are control measures to guarantee the quality and repeatability of findings. Researchers can detect and correct an experiment’s inconsistencies or errors using the tissues’ known characteristics.
Benign tissue samples are other types of control tissue collected from areas of the body that exhibit non-malignant, non-cancerous, or otherwise healthy characteristics. These samples serve as comparisons in diagnostic research. Oncologists have advanced biomarker studies by examining benign samples to create personalized cancer treatments. This customized treatment allows doctors to target the illness efficiently. Benign samples create a baseline for comparison with diseased tissue. Researchers can gain insights into illness progression, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic targets by analyzing the differences between benign and diseased tissues at the molecular, cellular, or microscopic levels.
Did you know that 75%–85% of biopsies lead to a benign result diagnosis? These frequently studied samples are in high demand for biomedical research. As your trusted biobank, Superior BioDiagnostics provides high-demand samples to keep your research moving.
The Future of Biodiagnostics
Control tissue samples are used as independent variables in clinical research and diagnostics. They serve as uncorrupted benchmarks that researchers can compare with test samples to diagnose and monitor conditions. With formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, validation samples, and benign samples, researchers have been able to better understand and treat various conditions.
FFPE samples create standardized, quality-controlled results, whereas validation studies help researchers confirm experimental findings. Finally, benign tissue samples are crucial comparators in biomedical research, particularly in studying diseases such as cancer. These samples have helped treat, diagnose, and prevent diseases advancing the medical industry.
Today, clinical research is advancing rapidly, and the need for control tissue samples is growing daily. With Superior BioDiagnostics, you will have access to high-quality control tissue samples from various sites such as lung, brain, melanoma, breast, cervical, ovarian, and more to advance your research. If you’re looking for reliable control tissue samples, we’ve got you covered. Contact Superior BioDiagnostics today to order the tools for your next scientific breakthrough.