Relevant Material

Relevant material is material, other than gametes which consists of, or includes, human cells. Embryos outside the human body, or hair and nail from the body of a living person are not classed as relevant material.

The majority of University researchers will be working with tissue that falls under one of the following categories:

  1. Specifically Identified Relevant Material
    This includes material such as organs and tissues, consisting largely or entirely of cells. Bodies, internal organs, tissues, skin and bone fall into this category.

  2. Processed Material
    Under this category plastinated tissue and plastinated body parts (where the cellular structure is retained by the plastination process) are regarded as relevant material; while plasma or serum, for example, will be regarded as not.  However, this depends on how the plasma or serum has been prepared.

  3. Bodily Waste Products (including excretions and secretions)
    Bodily waste is a less well characterised group, but is none the less regarded as relevant material.

  4. Cell Deposits and Tissue Sections on Microscope Slides
    In general, cell deposits or tissue sections on microscope slides are considered to constitute relevant material. This is because such deposits or sections are likely to contain whole cells or are intended to be a representation of whole cells.

It is important to note that if you store relevant material for less than a week or process it into an acellular form in this period it is no longer considered relevant under the Act.

Please contact the Research Regulation and Compliance Office for further advice and guidance on relevant material.