EATB Donor Case Workshop 2007

The European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) Donor Case Workshop is a forum held within the programme of the EATB annual Congress since 2003. This workshop has been used to discuss clinical donor cases with peer review of practice. It was agreed in advance that the experience of the 2007 workshop should be shared by publication as an example of participative learning which can be extended to other fields within tissue banking and which may be applicable in other disciplines. The EATB Congress in 2008 will extend the idea of participative open workshops with two additional workshops, one on Quality System cases and another on heart valve cases.     

European Association of Tissue Banks Standards for Cryopreserved Cardiovascular Tissue Banking

The Cardiovascular Tissue Banking Standards are designed as an addition to the General Standards of the European Association of Tissue Banks to provide a minimum acceptable level for the donation, processing, storage, testing, labelling and distribution of cardiac tissue throughout Europe. The aim is that all heart valve banks in Europe should work to these Standards so that heart valves can be exchanged between countries without having to check the individual protocols of the donor processing facility. The writing of the Standards has been performed by the Heart Valve Council of EATB with input from cardiac surgeons. It is proposed that once the Standards are accepted they will form the document on which EATB may accredit tissue banks in the future and may form the basis on which National Legislation for Tissue Banking is based.     

Report of the clinical donor case workshop of the European Association of Tissue Banks annual meeting 2012

The European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) donor case workshop is a forum held within the program of the EATB annual congress. The workshop offers an opportunity to discuss and evaluate approaches taken to challenging situations regarding donor selection, it promotes consensus development in deciding tissue donor acceptability when donor health issues are not addressed in standards and regulations, and serves to strengthen the professional tissue banking networks across Europe and beyond. This report reflects some of the discussion at the workshop during the annual congress in Vienna in 2012. The cases presented dealt with problems encountered by tissue bank facilities concerning idiopathic thrombocytopenia and auto-immune disorders, hemodilution and blood sample identification, premalignant and malignant lesions, and Huntington’s disease. The discussions during the workshop demonstrate that the implications on the safety of tissue transplantation of various tissue donor illnesses, physical findings and behaviours, and the preventive measures taken by tissue facilities, may not always be agreed by tissue facility medical directors and other professionals. Moreover, they reveal that operating procedures, regulations and standards cannot comprehensively cover all tissue donor findings, medical histories and circumstances surrounding the cause of death. For many of the issues raised, there is a need for scientific research to provide a better evidence base for future deliberations about the suitability and eligibility of tissue allograft donors.     

Meeting report and abstracts from the American Association of Tissue Banks annual meeting; 6–9 September 2008, Chicago,Illinois USA

The 32nd annual meeting of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) was highly praised by its participants and was the largest attended meeting in the AATB’s history. Highlights included a record number of candidates taking the examination to become a certified tissue banking specialist (CTBS) and the acceptance of over thirty abstract submissions using, for the first time, an on-line submission, review, and grading system. This meeting’s success was made possible by the exceptional participation of tissue bank professionals such as Medical Directors, managers, consultants, and technical experts; valuable input from international colleagues; and the involvement of federal regulators for cell and tissue banking. Both scientific and non-scientific abstracts that were accepted and displayed at the meeting are reproduced in this report.     

Results of the clinical donor case and quality system case workshops of the European Association of Tissue Banks annual meeting 2009

The European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) Donor Case Workshop and Quality System Case workshop are forums held within the program of the EATB Annual Congress. These workshops offer an opportunity to discuss and evaluate approaches taken to challenging situations, regarding donor selection and quality issues, and strengthen the professional tissue banking and regulatory networks across Europe. This report reflects some of the discussion at the congress workshops and also subsequent correspondence between the various individuals who submitted cases for discussion. The cases presented to the workshops demonstrate that the findings, their interpretation, deducted actions and preventive measures in tissue banks are not predictable. The varied responses and lack of consensus corroborate this and clearly indicate that operating procedures cannot comprehensively cover or prepare for all eventualities. For many of the issues raised there is a lack of information in the published literature. The workshops actively engage participants, representing a wide array of international expertise, in an informal, secure and enjoyable setting, which facilitates learning from peers and provides potential solutions to those submitting cases. By publishing a summary of the discussions, we hope to reach a wider audience and to stimulate individuals to undertake full literature reviews or research on some of the discussed subjects.     

American Association of Tissue Banks: A Historical Reflection Upon Entering the 21st Century

The American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) is a scientific, not-for-profit, peer-group organization founded in 1976 to facilitate the provision of transplantable tissues of uniform high quality in quantities sufficient to meet national needs. The Association was created well before there was governmental oversight of tissue banking. The organization consists of individuals involved in tissue banking, medical users, and scientists in the field. Current structure consists of a 13-member Board of Governors with specific subgroups including Musculoskeletal, Reproductive, Skin, Tissue Bank Councils and Council of Accredited Tissue Banks. A historical review shows the evolution from development of guidelines to publication of standards, and from an inspection conducted by peers to one conducted by an independent, trained professional inspector. Association growth and historical accomplishments are highlighted.     

Report of the clinical donor case workshop of the European Association of Tissue Banks annual meeting 2014

The European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) donor case workshop is a forum held within the program of the EATB annual congress. The workshop offers an opportunity to discuss and evaluate possible approaches taken to challenging situations regarding donor selection. Donor case workshops actively engage participants with diverging background and experience in an informal, secure and enjoyable setting. The resulting discussion with peers promotes consensus development in deciding tissue donor acceptability, especially when donor health issues are not conclusively addressed in standards and regulations. Finally the workshop serves to strengthen the professional tissue banking networks across Europe and beyond. This report reflects some of the discussion at the workshop during the annual congress in Lund, Sweden, in 2014. The cases presented demonstrate that the implications of various donor illnesses, physical findings and behaviours on the safety of tissue transplantation, may be interpreted in a different way by medical directors and other professionals of different tissue facilities. This will also result in diverging preventive measures and decisions taken by the tissue facilities. Some of the donor cases illustrate varied responses from participants and demonstrate that operating procedures, regulations and standards cannot comprehensively cover all tissue donor illnesses, medical histories and circumstances surrounding the cause of death. For many of the issues raised, there is a lack of published scientific evidence. In those cases, tissue bank medical director judgement is critical to guarantee transplantation safety. This judgement should be based on a proper and documented risk assessment case by case. Conditions or parameters taken into account for risk assessment are amongst others, the type of tissue, the type of processing, the characteristics of the final product, and the availability of an adequate sterilisation methodology. By publishing these difficult donor suitability cases, and the resulting discussions, we provide information for future similar cases and we identify needs for future literature review and scientific research. In this way the donor case workshops play a role in optimizing the quality and security of tissue donation.     

Meeting report: Human fetal tissue transplantation research panel

Summary On September 14 through 16, 1988, a meeting on the use of human fetal tissue in transplantation was held at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland, USA. The meeting sponsored by NIH for the Human Fetal Tissue Transplantation Research Panel, a consultant group to the Advisory Committee to the Director. The consultant group was convened to deal with the scientific, judicial and moral questions associated with research involving transplantation of human fetal tissue obtained after induced abortions. The first day of the meeting was devoted to presentations addressing scientific issues. Included among the speakers was Dr. Lars Olson, Professor of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, who described the use of transplanted human fetal tissue in the treatment of patients with Parkinkson's disease and Dr. Eugene Redmond, Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, who showed results of work with transplantation of tissue to correct induced Parkinson-like disease in monkeys. Other speakers addressed the present, past or potential use of fetal tissue in the treatment of diabetes, immune disorders, and other diseases, as well as the use of fetal cells in the production of biologicals. At the conclusion of the meeting the panel did not recommend that research be halted on fetal tissue within the context discussed, although the recommendation of the committee is not binding, and an additional assembly of the panel will probably occur before the final recommendation to an NIH advisory committee is made in November. Other meetings on this subject include a meeting on the use of fetal tissue sponsored by the American Association of Tissue Banks, March 6–7, 1989, in Washington D. C. (Crystal City) and a meeting June 10, 1989, the day before the annual meeting of the Tissue Culture Association, USA, in Orlando, Florida, on fetal cells and ownership of cultured cells and products derived from clinical specimens. Following are statements to the Human Fetal Tissue Transplantation Research Panel presented September 14, 1988, by Dr. David Barnes, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, USA, who was asked to address for the panel recent advances in cell culture related to fetal tissue, and Dr. Robert E. Stevenson, Director of the American Type Culture Collection, President of the Tissue Culture Association, USA, and Chairman of the Committee on Cells and Tumors of the American Association of Tissue Banks.     

The US Navy Tissue Bank: 50 Years on the Cutting Edge

The US Navy Tissue Bank was established in 1949 by Dr. George Hyatt, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The Navy program was the first of its kind in the world and established many of the standards that are followed today. During the 1950s, the identification of appropriate donor criteria for tissue donation, the development of procurement and processing methods, the establishment of a graph registry and documentation and the clinical evaluation of a variety of tissues were pioneered at this facility. Cryopreservation, freeze-drying, irradiation sterilization of tissue, as well as immunological principles of tissue transplantation, were developed during the 50 years of research and development by Navy scientists. Organ preservation, cadaveric bone marrow recovery and immunosuppressive protocols were also developed at the Navy Tissue Bank. The Navy was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Marrow Donor Program and the American Association of Tissue Banks in the US.Although the Navy Tissue Bank has ceased activity after 50 years of excellence, it should be recognized as the first standard setter for the world community of tissue banks.     

A Review of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Standards for Tissue Banks

The IAEA International Standards for Tissue Banks published in 2003 were based on the Standards then currently in use in the USA and the European Union, among others, and reflect the best practices associated with the operation of a tissue bank. They cover legal, ethical and regulatory controls as well as requirements and procedures from donor selection and tissue retrieval to processing and distribution of finished tissue for clinical use. The application of these standards allows tissue banks to operate with the current good tissue practice, thereby providing grafts of high quality that satisfy the national and international demand for safe and biologically useful grafts. The objective of this article is to review the IAEA Standards and recommend new topics that could improve the current version.     

Supply and use of human tissue for research purposes: survey of BATB affiliated tissue banks

This paper describes a survey undertaken to identify the extent of supply and use of human tissue in research by BATB affiliated tissue banks. Approximately one third of tissue banks registered with the BATB are currently supplying samples that are found to be unsuitable for clinical use, for research. These banks all obtain consent for research and all supply tissue for in-house research. Some tissue is transferred to other public and commercial institutions. A harmonised network approach is proposed as the way forward to meet the increasing demand for human tissue in research.     

Seroprevalence of human T lymphtropic virus (HTLV) among tissue donors in Iranian tissue bank

Iranian Tissue Bank prepares a wide range of human tissue homografts such as; heart valve, bone, skin, amniotic membrane and other tissues for different clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV in tissue donors. About 1,548 tissue donors were studied during a 5-years period by ELISA assays. HTLV_1,2—antibodies were tested for all of donors with other tests upon American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) standards. About 25 (1.61%) out of 1,548 tissue donors were HTLV positive that 17 donors were male and 8 were female (female/male ratio was approximately 47%). Regarding to the prevalence of HTLV among tissue donors and importance of cell and tissue safety and quality assurance, we recommend that all blood, cell and tissue banks should be involved both routine serological methods and other complementary tests such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosis of HTLV.     

Cadaveric tissue retrieval service for research: one-year review and options for the future

The Tissue Acquisition Unit at Peterborough has an established service for collecting cadaveric human tissue for research. A one-year, on-going, in-house review was undertaken to evaluate the cost- and time-effectiveness of the service. The review identified referrals that failed to result in post mortem tissue retrieval. Only 28.6% of potential donors referred to the Unit led to successful tissue retrieval and the main reason for failure was post mortem time delay in some cases related to distance of location of the body from the Unit. The evolving novel role of the Pathology Liaison Nurses in the Unit is expected to increase the proportion of tissue acquisition from the local population and provide a more efficient service for donors and their families and researchers who use human tissue. This work was presented at the BATB Annual Scientific meeting in Edinburgh, April 2004.     

Tissue banking,biovigilance and the notify library

This issue is dedicated to the contributions of Professor Glyn O. Phillips to the field of tissue banking and the advancement of science in general. The use of ionizing radiation to sterilize medical products drew the interest of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). A meeting in 1976 in Athens Greece to present work on the effects of sterilizing radiation doses upon the antigenic properties of proteins and biologic tissues was my first introduction of Professor Phillips and the role that he was to play in Tissue Banking (Friedlaender, in Phillips GO, Tallentine AN (eds) Radiation sterilization. Irradiated tissues and their potential clinical use. The North E. Wales Institute, Clwyd, p 128, 1978). The IAEA sponsored subsequent meetings in the Republic of Korea, Czechoslovakia and Rangoon, the later including a visit to the tissue bank by Professor Phillips. His advocacy resulted in multiple workshops and teaching opportunities in a variety of countries, one of which led to the establishment of the Asia Pacific Surgical Tissue Banking Association in 1989 (Phillips and Strong, in Phillips GO, Strong DM, von Versen R, Nather A (eds) Advances in tissue banking, vol 3. World Scientific, Singapore, pp 403–417, 1999).     

Report of the 14th Genomic Standards Consortium Meeting,Oxford, UK,September 17-21, 2012.

This report summarizes the proceedings of the 14^th workshop of the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) held at the University of Oxford in September 2012. The primary goal of the workshop was to work towards the launch of the Genomic Observatories (GOs) Network under the GSC. For the first time, it brought together potential GOs sites, GSC members, and a range of interested partner organizations. It thus represented the first meeting of the GOs Network (GOs1). Key outcomes include the formation of a core group of “champions” ready to take the GOs Network forward, as well as the formation of working groups. The workshop also served as the first meeting of a wide range of participants in the Ocean Sampling Day (OSD) initiative, a first GOs action. Three projects with complementary interests – COST Action ES1103, MG4U and Micro B3 – organized joint sessions at the workshop. A two-day GSC Hackathon followed the main three days of meetings.     

The 6(th) East Midlands Proteomics Workshop supported by the BSPR and BMSS 14 November 2007, Nottingham, UK

Now in its 6(th) year, the East Midlands Proteomics workshop held in November 2007 brought together over 200 scientists with a common interest in proteomic techniques and their application to complex biological and biomedical problems. For the first time, this meeting was jointly supported by the British Society for Proteome Research (BSPR) and British Mass Spectrometry Society (BMSS).     

Tissue Banking in India: Gamma-Irradiated Allografts

In India, the procurement of tissues for transplantation is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994. Although this law exists, it is primarily applied to organ transplantation and rules and regulations that are specific to tissue banking which have yet to be developed. The Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) Tissue Bank was started in 1988 as part of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) programme to promote the use of ionising radiation for the sterilisation of biological tissues. It represents the Government of India within this project and was the first facility in the country to use radiation for the sterilisation of allografts. It is registered with the Health Services Maharashtra State and provides freeze-dried, gamma irradiated amnion, dura mater, skin and bone. The tissues are obtained either from cadavers or live donors. To date the TMH Tissue Bank has provided 6328 allografts which have found use as biological dressings and in various reconstructive procedures. The TMH Tissue Bank has helped initiate a Tissue Bank at the Defence Laboratory (DL), Jodhpur. At present these are the only two Banks in the country using radiation for the terminal sterilisation of preserved tissues. The availability of safe, clinically useful and cost effective grafts has stimulated innovative approaches to surgery. There is an increased demand for banked tissues and a heightened interest in the development of tissue banks. Inadequate infrastructure for donor referral programmes and the lack of support for tissue transplant co-ordinators however, continue to limit the availability of donor tissue.     

Clinical Efficacy and Compatibility of Allogeneic Avital Tissue Transplants Sterilized with a Peracetic Acid/Ethanol Mixture

In the course of the past 20 years a quantity of approximately 60,000 allogeneic avital tissue grafts sterilized with the peracetic acid–ethanol method (PES) were transplanted successfully. Based on a retrospective report of clinical experience of the years 1997–2001 on the overall scope of tissue grafts manufactured by the Tissue Banks of the University Hospital Charité and the German Institute for Cell and Tissue Replacement, the clinical efficacy and side effects of 18.3% (3.087/16.823) of all transplants were studied. Cancellous (1.601/3.087) and cortical (291/3.087) bone transplants as well as amnion (1.027/3.087) constituted the greatest part. In 91% of the examined patients (2.369/2.592) tissue integration ratios ranging from good up to very well could be observed. The transplant function of defect replacement or of a spacer respectively could be obtained for all types of tissue. The clinical effect caused by the transplant resulted in more than 99% of the transplants in primary integration or in the desired aim of the therapy (defect replacement, stabilization in case of palliative operations, etc.). In less than 1% (9/2.592) of cases a secondary healing occurred for cancellous bone transplantations or, revisional operations became necessary. In all cases severe side effects, in particular transmission of infectious diseases or transplant rejections, were not observed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rapid development of tissue bank achieved by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Tissue Banking Programme in China

Before 1986, the development of tissue banking in China has been slow and relatively uncoordinated. Under the support of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tissue Banking in China experienced rapid development. In this period, China Institute for Radiation Protection tissue bank mastered systematic and modern tissue banking technique by IAEA training course and gradually developed the first regional tissue bank (Shanxi Provincial Tissue Bank, SPTB) to provide tissue allograft. Benefit from training course, SPTB promoted the development of tissue transplantation by ways of training, brochure, advertisement and meeting. Tissue allograft transplantation acquired recognition from clinic and supervision and administration from government. Quality system gradually is developing and perfecting. Tissue allograft transplantation and tissue bank are developing rapidly and healthy.     

Tissue banking in Bangladesh: 12 years of experience (2003–2014)

Tissue Banking and Biomaterial Research Unit (TBBRU), the only tissue bank of Bangladesh, has been established to create an available supply of human tissue allografts for transplantation in Bangladesh. Since its establishment in 2003, TBBRU strictly follows the guidelines of tissue banking setup by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Association of Tissue Banks and the American Association of Tissue Banks. Though started serving from earlier, regular supply of tissue allografts from this bank were documented at the end of 2006. From January 2007 to December 2014, 3747 bones and 5772 amniotic sacs were collected from live tissue donors. During this period, 59,489 cc bone allografts and 23,472 pieces of amniotic membrane allografts were processed. In the same period, 58,483 cc bone allografts and 20,786 pieces membrane were supplied to different hospitals throughout the country on the basis of demand. The outcomes of the concerted efforts of tissue banking professionals and physicians were the restoration of health and hope of 3662 patients during the last 8 years.