CLIENT CASE STUDY

CHALLENGE

ABS Bio was working with a client that provides molecular profiling services to diagnostic groups and drug developers. ABS Bio’s client was asked by a pharmaceutical partner to optimize a diagnostic test, which would require 400 FFPE blocks of a specific cancer type. The samples were needed within 6 weeks so the client could meet their pharmaceutical partner’s timeline.  The project request came with a multitude of detailed requirements, which added to the challenge of sourcing the tissues in time.

DETAILS

The client required 400 samples from 4 different geographical regions, each meeting exact criteria, such as:

• percent of tumor content
• sample size
• age
• and other detailed specifications

The client also required clinical and pathological data and stringent quality control to ensure sample quality and specifications.

SOLUTION

The ABS Bio Procurement team leveraged its extensive sourcing network to acquire this large volume of highly specific samples.  Our team collaborated with the client to validate that the samples would meet their stringent requirements. In addition, we proactively developed a detailed delivery schedule that would provide a digestible flow of specimens that aligned with the client’s project workflow. ABS Bio shipped the samples in batches, providing time for the client to perform the necessary quality control and ensure samples met all requirements. By pivoting from a single delivery to just-in-time releases, ABS Bio enabled the client to avoid having to receive, store and track a volume of samples that its team was not prepared to process.  This allowed the team to focus on their core work, as their samples arrived at a pre-set cadence.

ABS Bio shipped the first batch just one week after receiving the Purchase Order, with four additional deliveries made within 21 days.

ABS Bio’s sales and laboratory personnel communicated with the client throughout the project to ensure the pace was consistent with their timeline, adjusting as needed to fit the client’s needs. Taking this collaborative and consultative approach to understand the client’s workflow enabled ABS Bio’s logistics and lab personnel to coordinate and plan timely deliveries at the client’s laboratory.

BENEFITS

• Uniformity of the samples were consistent and as specified, which was vital to the success of the client’s project
• All data was inclusive and thorough as requested by client
• All blocks were quality tested and verified as meeting the high standards required for the project
• The phased shipment timeline helped the client avoid unnecessary receiving and storage hassles and provided just-in-time delivery of specimens to feed their project workflow