Biobanks should strive to ensure that the process of designing a biobank research system includes development of explicit policy on whether IFs and IRRs will be returned. Some biobank research systems may be designed to irretrievably strip identifiers at the initial collection of data and samples and to take other steps to block re-identification. By blocking re-identification, this design will block return of individual findings as well. However, many biobank research systems will retain a capacity to re-identify individual contributors -- whether at the primary research or collection site, at the biobank itself, or by a trusted intermediary. When the capacity to re-identify individual contributors remains, the biobank should work to create a responsible approach to return of IFs and IRRs within the biobank research system, in keeping with the Recommendations below.
