Resilience of Biobanks in Latin America During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from Costa Rica

Abstract

Global measures and restrictions implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact and created challenges in regular business, commerce, and scientific activities, including biobank operations. The challenges were exacerbated by a dependence on imported supplies and reagents from countries such as the United States, China, and within Europe, as well as restrictions on exporting biological samples. The pandemic has highlighted the pressing need for regional autonomy in biobanking activities. This article aims to enhance the capacity of biobanks to respond effectively to future crises. Recognizing the importance of adaptability and resilience, our study highlights the specific strategies employed by a large biobank in Costa Rica to ensure the continuity of operations during unprecedented times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, biobanking operations encountered a number of critical challenges, which led to the identification, implementation, and integration of targeted mitigation strategies into our contingency framework. Five challenges were identified and subsequently addressed: disruptions and shortfalls in the supply of essential material, continuity of daily biobank operations, storage capacity constraints coupled with export limitations, difficulties associated with consent procedures, and complications surrounding personnel testing. These lessons underscore the critical importance of contingency planning, digitization of biobanking workflows, and increased regional collaboration to strengthen the autonomy and resilience of biobanks in the face of future crises.

Keywords: Biobanking; Challenges; Contingency plan; LATAM; Risk assessment; Risk mitigation; SARS-CoV-2; Solutions.