Human Blood Serum Banks in the System of Seroepidemiological Monitoring of Population Immunity

Relevance. Seroepidemiological studies aimed at assessing population immunity are a powerful tool for epidemiological surveillance, necessary for analyzing and predicting the epidemic situation in a country, the actual protection of various age and social groups from a particular infection, and monitoring the effectiveness of specific prevention programs. Despite the relative simplicity of serological testing, there are numerous issues related to the design of studies, systematic sampling biases, sensitivity and specificity of tests, and validation of results. To effectively solve the problems of monitoring and predicting the development of infections, including the so-called new and returning ones, adequate information support is required, the level of which is determined by the availability of a certified collection of biological material. In this regard, biobanks, which have been actively developing in most countries in recent years, are becoming an essential element of modern biomedical infrastructure.
Aim. To characterize the importance of human blood serum banks in the system of global monitoring of population immunity, evaluation of the effectiveness of vaccine prevention and adaptation of its strategy (or justification for correcting its strategy) in response to changes in the epidemiological situation.
Results and discussion. The National Association of Biobanks and Biobanking Specialists (NASBIO) has been established in Russia, whose activities are aimed at supporting the development and implementation of scientific and applied projects and programs using the resources and infrastructure of biobanks. Depending on the type of biomaterial and the directions of its subsequent use, biobanks are divided into nosooriented (research, clinical) and population-based, which play an important role in the system of prevention of infectious diseases. Using the infrastructure of the blood serum bank makes it possible to obtain information on the seroprevalence, effectiveness of specific prevention programs and the level of susceptibility of various age and social groups of the population to vaccine-controlled infections.
Conclusion. In the context of expanding the range of real and potential biological threats, the effective functioning of human blood serum banks creates additional opportunities for studying population immunity, contributing to an increase in the effectiveness of the seroepidemiological monitoring system for current infections among the population.

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