Table 1.

Accountability mechanisms of biobanks located in Canada and Europe.

Domains	Mechanisms	Explanation
Communication	Communication platform	Physical and online public information contact points and platforms.
	Flow charts	Processes and structures within the biobank such as research processes, information technology infrastructure, accountability or departments that are publicly available.
	Information for participants	Information in simple language for the public and participants, including consent material.
	Protocol	The protocol of the biobank available to the public.
	Scientific output	Results are published as open access scientific journals as well as lay summaries.
Compliance	International and national laws and codes	The biobank complies (or shows proof of compliance) with international and national legislation and codes that apply to the work of the biobank.
Expert advice	Advisory committee	Committees composed of professionals and possibly lay representatives that provide advice on research strategy, future strategies, and other relevant action.
	Ethics committee	Committees that provide advice on different issues such as research ethics or review external data access applications.
	Management committee	Committees that comprise of professionals and possibly lay representatives that decide on management strategies for the biobank.
External review	Certification	Certification for quality management by an audit organization.
	Ethics approval	National ethics review boards need to provide ethical approval to set up a biobank facility.
Internal procedures	Consent process	Consent processes and consent forms that are signed by sample donors.
	Policies	Policies that regulate data access, privacy or storage, for example.
	Quality system and standards	A system that monitors quality and makes sure that the biobank adheres to national and international quality standards.
	Standard operating procedure	Instructions written for routine activities of committees or laboratory activities within the biobank.
Partnerships	Affiliation	Affiliation to a professional association or network.
	Cooperation	The biobank stipulates agreements with other biobanks or research entities to adopt harmonized data processing policies.
	Membership to umbrella organization	Membership to an umbrella organization that provides the governance structure for the biobank.