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Key Facts: QBRS Exam
50
Total Items
ASCP BOC
90 min
Exam Time
ASCP
$260
Exam Fee
ASCP
ISO 20387
Biobanking Standard
International
The ASCP QBRS (Qualification in Biorepository Science) is a 50-item, 90-minute, $260 qualification exam. Co-offered with ISBER. Eligibility: 1 year biorepository experience. Master ISBER Best Practices 5th edition, ISO 20387 biobanking standard, cryopreservation (DMSO 5-10%, controlled-rate 1°C/min freezing), HIPAA Safe Harbor 18 identifiers, and IRB/Common Rule (45 CFR 46) requirements.
Sample QBRS Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the QBRS exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A biorepository is collecting whole blood for downstream genomic DNA extraction from buffy coat. Which anticoagulant tube is the BEST choice?
2What is the maximum acceptable warm ischemia time generally recommended by ISBER Best Practices for solid tumor tissue intended for high-quality RNA analysis?
3A technician needs to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a fresh whole blood sample. Which method is the standard of practice?
4Which statement BEST distinguishes serum from plasma?
5A surgical tissue specimen is excised at 09:00 and arrives at the biorepository at 10:30 on wet ice. It is snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen at 10:35. What is the cold ischemia time?
6Which tube color and additive is correctly paired?
7For optimal preservation of high-quality intact RNA from a fresh tissue biopsy, what time-to-freeze target does ISBER recommend?
8A biospecimen kit for outpatient blood collection includes EDTA, SST, and PST tubes. The PST tube contains:
9Which order of draw minimizes additive cross-contamination during a multi-tube blood collection?
10Saliva is collected for genomic DNA banking using an Oragene-style kit. Which factor is MOST important in pre-analytical handling?
About the QBRS Exam
ASCP BOC Qualification credential for biorepository / biobank professionals. Co-offered with ISBER (International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories). Validates working knowledge of specimen collection and pre-analytical variables, storage temperatures and cryopreservation (DMSO 5-10%, 1°C/min controlled freezing), inventory management with LIMS and barcoding, regulatory and ethical requirements (IRB, HIPAA + Common Rule, ISBER Best Practices 5th edition, FDA 21 CFR 1271 HCT/P, ISO 20387), QA/QM, disaster recovery, and de-identification.
Exam sponsor: ASCP BOC. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
50 questions
Time Limit
90 minutes
Passing Score
Scaled
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Official sources
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Specimen Collection & Pre-Analytical
Tube types, serum/plasma, warm/cold ischemia, time-to-freeze, PBMC isolation Ficoll
Storage & Cryopreservation
Temps (4°C, -20°C, -80°C, -150°C, vapor/liquid LN2), DMSO 5-10%, 1°C/min, vitrification
Inventory Management & Tracking (LIMS)
LIMS, barcoding (1D/2D/RFID), chain of custody, freezer mapping, alarms
Regulatory & Ethical
IRB, HIPAA + Common Rule (45 CFR 46), ISBER Best Practices, FDA 21 CFR 1271, GDPR
Quality Management
ISO 20387 biobanking, SOPs, CAPAs, IQ/OQ/PQ, CAP BAP
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
Backup power, freezer redundancy, sample relocation, LN2 risk in power loss
Data Management & De-Identification
Coded vs anonymized, HIPAA Safe Harbor 18 identifiers, MTAs
Preparing for the QBRS Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled
- Exam length: 50 questions
- Time limit: 90 minutes
- Exam / certification fees: $260 Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
QBRS: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 20387?
ISO 20387 (Biotechnology — Biobanking — General requirements for biobanking) is the international standard for biobanks, published 2018. Defines requirements for biobank competence, impartiality, consistent operation, and ability to provide biological material with documented quality. Increasingly used as the basis for biobank accreditation worldwide. CAP BAP (Biorepository Accreditation Program) is a US-specific accreditation that aligns with ISO 20387.
What cryopreservation parameters should I master?
Cryoprotectants: DMSO 5-10% for cells (intracellular protection); glycerol 10-20% for sperm; methylcellulose for slow-freeze. Controlled-rate freezing: 1°C/min for most cell types (CRF freezer, e.g., Planer Kryo). Vitrification: ultra-rapid cooling (>10,000°C/min) used for embryos/oocytes. Storage temps: -80°C (ULT, dry-ice equivalent for short-term), -150°C (mechanical), vapor-phase LN2 (-150°C, safer in power loss), liquid-phase LN2 (-196°C, deepest freeze).
What are HIPAA Safe Harbor 18 identifiers?
HIPAA Privacy Rule Safe Harbor de-identification removes 18 categories: names, geographic subdivisions smaller than state, all dates except year (and ages over 89 collapsed), telephone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, SSN, medical record numbers, health plan beneficiary numbers, account numbers, certificate/license numbers, vehicle identifiers, device identifiers, URLs, IP addresses, biometric identifiers, full-face photographs, and any other unique identifying number/characteristic. Removed data is considered de-identified. Alternative: Expert Determination method.
How should I study for ASCP QBRS?
Plan 30-50 hours over 4-6 weeks. Focus on Storage/Cryopreservation (25%), Specimen Collection (20%), and Regulatory/Ethical (15%). Master ISBER Best Practices 5th edition, ISO 20387, HIPAA Safe Harbor, IRB and Common Rule basics, and cryopreservation parameters.