|
AABB-Accredited Cord Blood Banks Prepare for Implementation of New Standards and Regulations
PR Newswire (U.S.)
31 March 2005
BETHESDA, Md., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Cord blood therapy presents an option for approximately 30 percent of adult and pediatric patients who need an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant but do not have a matched related donor. Additionally, cord blood is readily available as it is pre- banked and reduces the time from donor search to transplant significantly. Patients rely heavily upon the availability of cellular therapy products that are safe and prepared under rigorous quality standards.
AABB has been setting standards and accrediting facilities involved in the collection, processing and distribution of blood and blood components for more than 50 years. For over a decade, AABB has drawn from this vast experience in blood banking and transfusion medicine areas to establish quality standards in emerging cellular therapy arenas.
In keeping with AABB's commitment to promote quality and enhance patient safety, AABB has significantly revised its standards for AABB-accredited cord blood banks. The new requirements were published in late 2004 in the AABB Standards for Cellular Therapy Product Services, 1st edition and are scheduled to become effective on May 1, 2005. These Standards serve as the foundation for AABB accreditation. Due to the significance of these changes for the patient, AABB, in consultation with representatives of the cord blood community, made the decision to perform on-site assessments of cord blood services against the Standards for Cellular Therapy Product Services, 1st edition during the months of May and June of this year. The 17 domestic cord blood banks currently accredited by AABB for collection, processing and distribution were notified in a letter sent by AABB on Feb. 28, 2005.
"All cord blood banks, whether public or private, are expected to fulfill AABB Standards to obtain AABB accreditation," said Zbigniew M. Szczepiorkowski MD, PhD, director of the Cellular Therapy Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and chair of AABB's Cellular Therapies Standards Program Unit. "While these standards advocate donor and patient safety, they are also designed to allow for the ongoing scientific innovations that are a critical part of this rapidly-evolving field."
AABB
Established in 1947, AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) is an international, not-for-profit association dedicated to the advancement of science and the practice of transfusion medicine and related biological therapies. The association is committed to improving health by developing and delivering standards, accreditation and educational programs and services that optimize patient and donor care and safety. AABB membership consists of approximately 1,800 institutions and 8,000 individuals, including physicians, scientists, administrators, medical technologists, nurses, researchers, blood donor recruiters and public relations personnel. Members are located in all 50 states and 80 countries.
Web site: http://www.aabb.org/
|
