The Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR) was established in 1989 as the Army/Navy Serum Repository for storing serum that remained following mandatory HIV testing within the active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, and Marines. Since that time, the mission of the DoDSR has expanded to include the collection and storage of operational deployment specimens as well as Air Force specimens.
The DoDSR:
- Is a secure facility maintained by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch (AFHSB) and U.S. Army Public Health Command.
- Currently houses more than 56 million specimens in large walk-in freezers, and continues to grow by approximately 2.3 million specimens per year.
The mission of the DoDSR is:
- To receive and store remaining serum specimens from HIV testing programs within the DoD
- To receive and store serum specimens related to operational deployments worldwide.
- Includes retaining relevant personnel and other information on individuals serving within the military to include information on serum specimens in the repository.
The availability of serial serologic specimens as well as relevant demographic, occupational, and medical information within the databases at AFHSB enables the DoDSR to make significant contributions to clinical and seroepidemiologic investigations. Specimens contained in the DoDSR are available to researchers and other investigators within the DoD for the purposes of conducting militarily relevant investigations. Access to the specimens is regulated by AFHSB as specified in Appendix 10 of AFHSB Policy Memorandum 2011-05.
Questions? Email us if you have questions regarding use of the serum repository.
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Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch, DoD Serum Repository
Policy
The purpose of this memorandum is to establish procedures and policies for health surveillance data requests and epidemiologic analysis, including access to the Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS) and the Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR) [1] and guidance in the conduct of investigations and studies that constitute surveillance, public health practice, or research.
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