[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 26300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11128]


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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, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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.

DATES: The meeting will take place Tuesday, June 7, and Wednesday June 
8, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: National Institute of Health, Building 31, Conference Room 
6, Bethesda, MD 20892.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Berger, Associate Public 
Health Advisor for Blood, Organ and Tissue Safety, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health, 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: The ACBSA shall provide advice to the 
Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for Health. The Committee 
shall advise on a range of policy issues to include: (1) Definition of 
public health parameters around safety and availability of the blood 
supply and blood products, (2) broad public health, ethical and legal 
issues related to transfusion, and transplantation safety, and (3) the 
implications for safety and availability of various economic factors 
affecting product cost and supply.
    In keeping with its established mission, the Committee will also be 
asked to review and provide comments to the Department on two World 
Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions related to transfusion, and 
transplantation safety. http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R22-en.pdf On June 7, 2011, the Committee will be asked to review 
the WHA 63.22 on human organ and tissue transplantation and if 
appropriate, make recommendations on areas of enhanced safety. 
Specifically areas of collecting data including adverse events and 
reactions on the practices, safety, quality, efficacy, epidemiology and 
ethics of donations and transplantation will be considered as it 
relates to safety. Concerns for a globally consistent coding system for 
human cells, tissues and organs to facilitate national and 
international traceability of materials of human origin for 
transplantation will be solicited. In addition, the Committee will be 
asked for comments or recommendations on developing and promoting 
international best practices.
    On June 8, 2011, the Committee will be asked to review and comment 
on WHA 63.12 regarding the availability, safety and quality of blood 
products. http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R12-en.pdf 
Specifically the Committee will be asked to review the current status 
of safe and rational use of blood products in patient blood management 
and assess the current status in the U.S.
    In addition, the Committee will be asked to comment on the areas of 
safety and sustainability of providing blood and blood products that 
should be addressed by the Committee in future meetings.
    The public will have the opportunity to present their views to the 
Committee during a public comment session scheduled for June 7, 2011. 
Comments will be limited to five minutes per speaker and must be 
pertinent to the discussion. Pre-registration is required for 
participation in the public comment session. Any member of the public 
who would like to participate in this session is encouraged to contact 
the Executive Secretary at his/her earliest convenience to register for 
time (limited to 5 minutes) and registration must be prior to close of 
business on June 3, 2011. If it is not possible to provide 30 copies of 
the material to be distributed, then individuals are requested to 
provide a minimum of one (1) copy of the document(s) to be distributed 
prior to 11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 6, 2011. It is also 
requested that any member of the public who wishes to provide comments 
to the Committee utilizing electronic data projection to submit the 
necessary material to the Executive Secretary prior to the close of 
business on June 6, 2011. Electronic comments must adhere to disability 
accessibility guidelines (Section 508 compliance).

    Dated: May 3, 2011.
James J. Berger,
Associate Public Health Advisor for Blood, Organ and Tissue Safety.
[FR Doc. 2011-11128 Filed 5-5-11; 8:45 am]
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