What is an IGSN?¶

The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a globally unique and persistent identifier used to reference physical samples in research. It is governed by the IGSN e.V. organisation and issued through the DataCite DOI infrastructure. Within that infrastructure, the current form of the identifier is formally referred to as an IGSN ID, reflecting its implementation as a DOI through the IGSN and DataCite partnership. Throughout this site we use the term IGSN for clarity and brevity, but the two terms refer to the same thing in the context of the Heritage Samples Registry.

An IGSN provides a stable, resolvable reference for a specific sample, allowing it to be unambiguously cited, discovered, and linked to related research outputs across the web.

Visit the IGSN Website IGSN Metadata Guidance

A persistent identifier for physical samples¶

IGSNs belong to the broader family of Persistent Identifiers (PIDs), which are widely used in research to ensure that key entities can be reliably referenced over time. Just as DOIs are used to identify publications and datasets, IGSNs are designed specifically to identify physical samples.

Each IGSN is globally unique and remains stable even if the sample moves between institutions, is re-analysed, or is referenced in new research outputs. This persistence supports long-term traceability and reproducibility in scientific research.

IGSNs as resolvable URLs¶

A key property of an IGSN is that it is not simply a label or code, it is a resolvable URL. This means that anyone who follows the identifier as a web link will be taken directly to a landing record for that sample. No specialist software or database access is required; the identifier works like any other web address.

For IGSNs assigned through the Heritage Samples Registry, resolving the identifier will bring the user to the Registry's landing record for that sample, which provides the core descriptive metadata and, where available, a link to a fuller presentation of the sample held by the institution or an external platform.

This resolvability is what distinguishes a persistent identifier from a local accession number or informal sample code. A local label may be meaningful within a single institution, but it cannot be followed as a link, cannot be discovered by external systems, and may become ambiguous over time. An IGSN remains stable, globally unique, and directly actionable as a web address, regardless of where the sample is held or how it is documented locally.

What an IGSN can identify¶

An IGSN can be assigned to different kinds of research material, including:

An individual physical sample
A collection or aggregation of samples
A defined feature of interest from which samples are taken

The identifier refers to the conceptual identity of the sample rather than to a specific container or storage location. This allows the same IGSN to remain valid even as the physical handling or preparation of a sample changes over time.

Global infrastructure and governance¶

The IGSN system is governed by IGSN e.V., an international non-profit organisation that oversees policies, community engagement, and technical development. Identifiers are registered through the DataCite infrastructure, ensuring compatibility with established DOI-based citation and discovery systems used across scholarly research.

This governance model ensures that IGSNs are:

Globally unique and centrally registered
Resolvable via standard web infrastructure
Integrated with existing scholarly PID ecosystems

Why persistent identifiers matter¶

Persistent identifiers provide the foundation for reliable scholarly communication. By giving each research entity a stable reference, they enable clear citation, support data discovery, and help connect related research outputs across institutions and over time.

In this way, IGSNs play a similar role for physical samples as DOIs do for publications and datasets, forming part of the wider ecosystem of persistent identifiers that underpin modern research infrastructure.