Creation of an archive of samples collected as part of the Hepatitis C Elimination Program in Georgia - Bio-Bank


A) Purpose: The purpose of the project is to preserve samples taken under the hepatitis C program for future scientific work.
 B) Ways to implement the project. The project will archive samples from individuals infected with chronic viral hepatitis C included in the Hepatitis C Eradication Program in Georgia, as well as samples taken from ongoing research projects on chronic viral hepatitis C in a Biobank created for this purpose.
The project will archive already identified samples taken as part of an elimination program or ongoing hepatitis C research. In addition to samples, epidemiological, clinical, and care-related data will be stored to the maximum extent possible. All the data that will be associated with the sample stored in the biobank will be identified.
C) Expected results: The project will lay the foundation for an archive of samples taken from patients infected with hepatitis C, which can be used for future research.
The following number of identified samples can be collected as part of the project:
• 15,000 plasma/serum samples will be archived at clinics participating in the elimination program
• 5,000 plasma/serum samples from online harm reduction centers
• 6,000 serum samples from the 2015 National Hepatitis C and B Seroprevalence Study
• 1000 blood samples from blood banks
• Up to 500 blood samples from patients with terminal liver disease



Project implementation dates: 01/07/17-30/06/18


Budget: $12,000


The person responsible for the implementation of the project: Nazibrola Chitadze