The objective for developing this EPHect tool was to harmonise standard operating procedures (SOPs) and standardise the recording of associated data for the collection, processing, and storage of fluid biospecimens relevant to endometriosis, with an aim is to collect sufficient data to truly understand the behaviour of endometriosis and its comorbidities.
To achieve this, all data and biospecimens must be collected in the same way, and the SOP for collecting fluids in endometriosis is available for all to use:
Nilufer Rahmioglu, Amelie Fassbender, Allison F Vitonis, Shelley S Tworoger, Lone Hummelshoj, Thomas M D'Hooghe, G David Adamson, Linda C Giudice, Christian M Becker, Krina T Zondervan, Stacey A Missmer; WERF EPHect Working Group. WERF Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonization Project (EPHect): III. Fluid biospecimen collection, processing, and storage in endometriosis research. Fertil Steril 2014;102(5):1233-1243.
Investigators using the EPHect tools are asked, please, to include the following acknowledgment in all publications and presentations that utilise data collected using the EPHect questionnaires, forms, or standard operation procedures:
"Data collection was facilitated by and conducted in compliance with the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project (EPHect)."
Please also cite the above paper whenever data collected utilising these protocols are published.
In addition, investigators whose data collection tools or methods include alterations to the EPHect protocols are asked, please, to describe those changes in the Methods section of manuscripts and when presenting their study results.
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