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Department of Defense Serum Repository

The Department of Defense Serum Repository 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 Division. 
  • Currently houses more than 74 million serial blood-derived serum specimens in large state-of-the-art walk-in freezers, and continues to grow by approximately 2.0 million specimens per year.

The Mission of the DODSR

  • To receive and store remaining serum specimens from HIV testing programs within the DOD.
  • Receive and store serum specimens related to operational deployments worldwide. 
  • Retain relevant personnel and other information on individuals serving within the military to include information on serum specimens in the repository. 

Added Value

The availability of serial serologic specimens as well as relevant demographic, occupational, and medical information within the databases at AFHSD 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. 

Questions? Email us if you have questions regarding use of the serum repository.

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Last Updated: July 22, 2024
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