Belfast, Northern Ireland: December 2011

Earlier this year, PathXL announced it had been commissioned to develop digital pathology software for the Northern Ireland Biobank.

Biobanks play a crucial role in diagnosis and the development of the new targeted treatments and stratefied therapies for cancer and other diseases, so PathXL has further developed it’s biobank solution and today is introducing PathXL Biobank™ to the global market.

PathXL Biobank™ is a fully web-enabled workflow management solution for biobanks. It provides a comprehensive platform for biosample management including the ability to create new sample records, manage patient consent, track sample preparation, store sample location, coordinate applications to the biobank and release of samples to researchers. Designed by pathologists, scientists, researchers, technicians and research nurses, PathXL Biobank™ provides an easily integrated web-based solution for new and well established biobanks.

Introducing Digital Pathology

PathXL Biobank™ allows the easy integration of digital slides and virtual microscopy for tissue section and tissue microarray storage. 

Web-based access and viewing of digital slides allows researchers to select the correct samples for their studies and provides tools for sample sharing and remote biomarker evaluation.   

PathXL has a longstanding reputation in digital pathology management and workflow – and they now bring this experience to biobanking.

The diagram illustrates the features of the PathXL Biobank™ workflow management solution. The secure, web-enabled platform provides an interface for key Biobank staff to manage the selection, collection, tracking, storage and distribution of samples.

The system integrates digital pathology and virtual microscopy allowing slides and TMAs to be shared online with researchers, and enabling data integration from other repositories. 

Dr Jackie James explains some of the benefits of working with PathXL;

“The PathXL Biobank system supports the developing biosample collection strategy for the NI Biobank.  In addition to managing sample collection, tracking and distribution, the system integrates digital pathology allowing web-based access to digital slides of the samples and tissue microarray management.  This is going to be important to our stratified medicine and biomarker discovery programmes at Queen's University, enabling researchers to view and assess samples before they make their applications.”

PathXL Biobank™ can be installed and configured to local needs in a matter of days, so no delays waiting for the IT project to complete. The software reduces errors in sample collection and retrieval and handles all the process and management aspects, allowing biobank staff to concentrate on sample preparation and high quality specimen collection. Researchers can remotely and securely identify correct samples for their studies allowing controlled sample sharing locally, nationally and internationally.

Professor Peter Hamilton, Chief Scientific Advisor with PathXL; 

“Biobanks may differ in their requirements according to their sample set and research needs, so PathXL Biobank™ has been designed flexibly to facilitate the creation of a tailored system for each specific customer.”

About PathXL
PathXL specialises in web-based software and workflows for Digital Pathology.  Its PathXL™ Manager product provides a robust, secure and open web-based platform to enable digital pathology users across all fields to manage, view and collaborate around virtual slides easily and efficiently.  In addition, PathXL provides a range of applications and workflows on top of PathXL™ Manager to deliver specific solutions to pathologists, scientists and students in Education, Research, Clinical and Biobanking settings. 

PathXL also provides a full range of supporting services, including scanning, hosting, image analysis and consultancy.  PathXL operates in the UK, Europe and North America.

PathXL is a privately owned company, headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland.