Nordic Reference Interval Project Bio-bank and Database (NOBIDA): a source for future estimation and retrospective evaluation of reference intervals

In the Nordic Reference Interval Project 2000 (NORIP) serum, Li-heparin plasma and EDTA buffy coat were collected at 102 laboratories in 5 Nordic countries from healthy individuals aged 18 years or more and evenly distributed for laboratory, gender and age. Multiple aliquots of these samples from each of about 3000 persons are now stored at the Nordic Reference Interval Project Bio-bank and Database (NOBIDA) at a temperature of below -80degreesC. The commutable NFKK Reference Serum X with certified values traceable to reference methods and measured in NORIP in the same series as the samples is also available from NOBIDA. Data describing the person and the sample conditions are stored together with analytical results and data describing the measurement systems. The bio-bank along with material and data is administered by the NOBIDA committee on behalf of the NFKK (Scandinavian Society of Clinical Chemistry) to be used by Nordic laboratories for any purpose beneficial to the development of clinical biochemistry in general and particularly for creating reference intervals for other biochemical properties than those established by NORIP. Furthermore, research on the already stored information alone is encouraged. Thus colleagues are now welcome to use this extensive material for research and development in clinical biochemistry.