Introduction: Tumour banking at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital encompasses four primary tumour and tissue banks – Breast, Gynaecological, Neuroendocrine and Upper Gastrointestinal. We are also a collection site for the Australian Breast Cancer Tissue Bank. Tumours collected include adrenal, bile duct, brain, breast, cervical, endometrial, gastric, liver, oesophageal, ovarian, pancreatic, parathyroid, pituitary, thyroid, uterine and vulval. Informed consent to collect and store tumours for future specified research is obtained by Tumour Bank staff either in preadmission clinics, or on the ward (pre- or post-operatively).

Aims: To determine the consent compliance rate for tumour banking at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital.

Methods: For the period between June to August 2013 the number of patients selected by the clinical care team as suitable to participate in tumour banking was recorded. The number of patients who consented to having their tumours banked and the site of informed consent was recorded.

Results: There were 96 participants highlighted as suitable for tumour banking, of whom 86 agreed to participate (89.6% compliance rate). The majority of consents were obtained in the preadmission clinic (46.5%) and the remainder were divided equally between the ward either pre- or post-operatively. The preadmission clinic had the highest compliance rate (95%) in comparison to compliance rates from the ward (pre – operatively 85% and post-operatively 88%).

Discussion: Our results suggest that the preadmission clinic is the optimal time to obtain informed consent from patients for tumour banking. Compliance rates were higher than those identified in the literature, and likely reflect a strong culture of tumour banking at this site, as well as resources in the form of staff dedicated to the process of informed consent.