[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56802-56803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22527]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and 
Availability

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

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 and Tissue Safety and Availability 
(ACBTSA) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: The meeting will take place Thursday, November 13, 2014, from 
8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., and Friday, November 14, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. 
to 3:45 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Veteran Health Administration National Conference Center, 
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 150, Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Berger, Designated Federal 
Officer, ACBTSA, and Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Safety Policy, 
Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human 
Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone: 
(240) 453-8803; Fax (240) 453-8456; Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACBTSA shall provide advice to the 
Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for Health. The Committee 
advises on a range of policy issues to include: (1) Identification of 
public health issues through surveillance of blood and tissue safety 
issues with national biovigilance data tools; (2) identification of 
public health issues that affect availability of blood, blood products, 
and tissues; (3) broad public health, ethical, and legal issues related 
to the safety of blood, blood products, and tissues; (4) the impact of 
various economic factors (e.g., product cost and supply) on safety and 
availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; (5) risk 
communications related to blood transfusion and tissue transplantation; 
and (6) identification of infectious disease transmission issues for 
blood, organs, blood stem cells and tissues. The Advisory Committee has 
met regularly since its establishment in 1997.
    At the November 2014 meeting the ACBTSA will hear updates on recent 
activities of the Department and its agencies in support of previous 
Committee recommendations. Past recommendations made by the ACBTSA may 
be viewed at www.hhs.gov/bloodsafety.
    The focus of the meeting will be to address the implications of 
hemoglobin S testing in blood donors. In particular, the Committee will 
focus on the ethics of hemoglobin S testing as well as the perspective 
of affected members of the blood collecting and using community. The 
Committee will also continue its discussion of the current blood donor 
policy for men who have sex with men. A portion of the meeting will 
also be devoted to an emerging infectious disease, babesia, which could 
potentially impact the blood supply.
    The public will have opportunities to present their views to the 
Committee during public comment sessions scheduled for November 13, 
2014, and November 14, 2014. Comments regarding the men who have sex 
with men blood donation policy should be presented on November 13, 
2014. Comments regarding hemoglobin S testing and emerging infectious 
disease testing should be presented on November 14, 2014. 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 sessions. Any member of the public who would like to 
participate in these sessions is encouraged to contact the Designated 
Federal Officer at his/her earliest convenience to register for time 
(limited to 5 minutes) and registration must be prior to close of 
business on November 10, 2014. 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 the close of business on November 10, 2014. It is 
also requested that any member of the public

[[Page 56803]]

who wishes to provide comments to the Committee utilizing electronic 
data projection submit the necessary material to the Designated Federal 
Officer prior to the close of business on November 10, 2014.

    Dated: September 17, 2014.
James J. Berger,
Designated Federal Officer and Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue 
Safety Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-22527 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-41-P