Biobanks provide an important repository of samples for research purposes. However, for
those samples to reflect the in vivo state, and for experimental reliability and reproducibility,
careful attention to collection, processing and storage is essential. This is particularly true for
the placenta, which is potentially subjected to stressful conditions during delivery, and
sample collection may be delayed owing to routine postpartum inspection by clinical staff. In
addition, standardisation of the collection procedure enables samples to be shared among …