====== Faecal samples ======

Lifelines has collected a surplus of faecal samples in order to facilitate future studies of the microbiome. These samples can be requested \\

===== Background =====

It is well known that the gut microbiome plays a very important role in our health. As part of the [[https://dutchmicrobiomeproject.molgeniscloud.org/menu/main/home|Dutch Microbiome Project]] (for further reading, consult the pages on [[DEEP|DAG1(DEEP)]], [[DAG2]], [[DAG3]], [[dag4|DAG4]] and [[dag5|DAG5]]) thousands of faecal samples of Lifelines participants were collected and sequenced.\\
These generated terabytes of data that can be used to unravel the role of the microbiome in the occurence of chronic disease.\\

==== Stool collection ====

Stool collection was performed at home by the participants, using materials (such as precoded tubes and pipets) provided by Lifelines. Participants were instructed to the store these biosamples in their home freezer immediately after collection.\\
During transportation to the laboratory the feaces samples are placed in cooled transport boxes along with a [[logtag|LogTag TRIX-8]] for quality purposes. 

==== Sample processing ====

At the Lifelines laboratory all faeces tubes are stored at -80 degrees Celsius as soon as possible.\\