Consent and withdrawal of consent
The Finnish Biobank Act renewed at the beginning of 2024!
Read more in the news (in Finnish).
According to the Finnish Biobank Act, a written biobank consent and approval of the donor or his or her guardian/close relative is the primary basis for storing samples and data into biobank. All samples currently stored in THL Biobank have originally been collected during scientific research projects or in population cohort collections. These collections have been stored in THL Biobank on the basis of written and informed biobank consent (and approval), or transferred by using a notification procedure allowed by the Biobank Act. THL Biobank does not collect or store any diagnostic samples taken in the health care.
By giving a Biobank consent and approval you authorise THL Biobank:
- to collect and store samples and the related information in the biobank (Consent)
- to combine health data to your samples and use all collected material in biobank research (Approval)
In the biobank consent and approval form, your opinion is also asked if the biobank is allowed to recontact you later, if additional samples or data are collected for a new research project. Also, your consent is asked if the biobank can contact you in the case the sample analysis reveals any information about your health that could give cause for further medical examinations and/or treatment. Donating samples to a biobank is always voluntary. You can withdraw your consent and /or object the handling of your personal data by a written notice to the biobank.
Transfer of old research sample collections
Research collections, which were collected, or whose collection started before the Biobank Act became into force on 1 September 2013, can be transferred to a biobank by a specific notification procedure allowed by the Biobank Act. All biobank transfers of these legacy collections are first evaluated by the ethical committee. The sample donors are then informed of the planned biobank transfer either personally or with a public notification, which will be published in several newspapers and at project and/or THL Biobank webpages. Donors of legacy samples can prohibit the biobank transfer by the time of notification, or later withdraw or restrict the use of their samples and associated data in the biobank
Biobank prohibition
Sample donors can withdraw their biobank consent and/or object to the processing of their personal data in the biobank (Article 21 of the European General Data Protection Regulation) without any negative consequences. When the written prohibition is arrived to the biobank , the donor´s samples and related data will no longer be used in new research projects.
If you wish to withdraw your participation in THL Biobank , please fill in the prohibition form:
THL Biobank prohibition form
Fill in the form and send the signed form free of charge to: THL Biopankki, Tunnus 5022238, 00003 Vastauslähetys. Your signature will confirm your identity on the prohibition form.
On request, we may also send the form to your home address. You can request a form by e-mail (biopankki (at) thl.fi), by telephone (029 524 6073, weekdays 9-15) or by letter (THL Biopankki, P.O. Box 30, 00271 Helsinki).
When the prohibition form arrives to the biobank, its receipt is acknowledged and a copy is returned to the sender. THL Biobank checks the address details of the enquirer from the population register before sending a reply.
