[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 227 (Monday, November 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 71003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27852]



[[Page 71003]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


 Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and 
Availability

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that 
the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability (ACBSA) will 
hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public on both Tuesday 
December 16 and Wednesday December 17, 2008.

DATES: The meeting will take place Tuesday December 16 and Wednesday 
December 17, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Hilton Rockville Hotel, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
MD 20852, Phone: (301) 468-1100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry A. Holmberg, PhD, Executive 
Secretary, Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability, Office 
of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, 
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453-8803, 
FAX (240) 453-8456, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Blood and plasma donations are critical to provide blood products 
necessary for maintaining health delivery. Over the years the safety of 
the blood and plasma supply has increased through vigilant review of 
processes and adherence to layers of safeguards. While safety and 
availability is paramount to the intended recipient of blood and plasma 
products, the pre and post donation care of the donor is also 
important. Commitment to donor health as well as to transfusion 
recipient is necessary to build a robust and healthy donor based 
nationally.
    The Nation's potential donor population is approximately 37% of 
those medically eligible to donate. Approximately 16 million units of 
blood were collected in 2006 which exceeded demand by 7.8%. First time 
whole blood donors represented approximately 28.5% of the donors, while 
the remaining 71.5% of the donors had given previously an equivalent of 
1.7 whole blood donations in the year. As the American population ages, 
dependence on the younger generation is more critical. In some states, 
donors may be 16-years-old to be eligible.
    Donor selection processes have the potential to detect health 
abnormalities or risks which could affect the donor and even public 
health. Adverse events to the donor either as a result of the process 
of donating blood (e.g. injury, syncope, or loss of iron) or discovery 
of abnormal screening results can impact the donor's health. For 
example, iron loss can be from 220 to 290 mg in whole blood donations 
and from 20 to 25 mg in plasmapheresis.
    Informed consent is required by FDA regulation or recommended in 
guidance for apheresis procedures (source plasma and platelet 
collections) prior to donations to include the donation procedure, the 
risk of the procedure, and laboratory screenings performed to reduce 
the risk of transmission of infectious diseases to the recipient. A 
written statement of understanding for whole blood donations is 
proposed in the Food and Drug Administration's Requirements for Human 
Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion or for Further 
Manufacturing Use, November 2007.
    During the December 2008 meeting of the ACBSA, the Committee will 
be asked to comment on the responsibility of blood and plasma centers 
to donor and public health. Public comment will be solicited on both 
December 16 and 17, 2008. Comments will be limited to five minutes per 
speaker and must be pertinent to the discussion. Anyone planning to 
comment is encouraged to contact the Executive Secretary at his/her 
earliest convenience. Those who wish to have printed material 
distributed to Advisory Committee members should submit thirty (30) 
copies to the Executive Secretary prior to close of business December 
12, 2008. Likewise, those who wish to utilize electronic data 
projection to the Committee must submit their materials to the 
Executive Secretary prior to close of business December 12, 2008.

    Dated: November 18, 2008.
Jerry A. Holmberg,
Executive Secretary, Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and 
Availability.
 [FR Doc. E8-27852 Filed 11-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-41-P