[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29842-29906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12228]



[[Page 29841]]

Vol. 80

Friday,

No. 99

May 22, 2015

Part III





Department of Health and Human Services





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Food and Drug Administration





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21 CFR Parts 606, 610, 630, et al.





Requirements for Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion or 
for Further Manufacturing Use; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 2015 / Rules and 
Regulations  

[[Page 29842]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Parts 606, 610, 630, 640, 660, and 820

[Docket No. FDA-2006-N-0040 (formerly Docket No. 2006N-0221)]
RIN 0910-AG87


Requirements for Blood and Blood Components Intended for 
Transfusion or for Further Manufacturing Use

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the 
regulations applicable to blood and blood components, including Source 
Plasma, to make the donor eligibility and testing requirements more 
consistent with current practices in the blood industry, to more 
closely align the regulations with current FDA recommendations, and to 
provide flexibility to accommodate advancing technology. In order to 
better assure the safety of the nation's blood supply and to help 
protect donor health, FDA is revising the requirements for blood 
establishments to test donors for infectious disease, and to determine 
that donors are eligible to donate and that donations are suitable for 
transfusion or further manufacture. FDA is also requiring 
establishments to evaluate donors for factors that may adversely affect 
the safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood components or the 
health of a donor during the donation process. Accordingly, these 
regulations establish requirements for donor education, donor history, 
and donor testing. These regulations also implement a flexible 
framework to help both FDA and industry to more effectively respond to 
new or emerging infectious agents that may affect blood product safety.

DATES: This rule is effective May 23, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie A. Butler, Center for 
Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 
New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. 7301, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 
240-402-7911; or Jonathan R. McKnight, Center for Biologics Evaluation 
and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., 
Bldg. 71, Rm. 7301, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240-402-7911.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Summary

Purpose of the Final Rule

    The final rule helps to protect donors of blood and blood 
components by requiring establishments to evaluate donors for factors 
that may cause donation to adversely affect their health. In addition, 
the final rule is being issued to assure the safety, purity, and 
potency of the blood and blood component products used for transfusion 
and for further manufacture.
    The final rule applies to establishments that collect and/or 
process blood and blood components, including transfusion services. 
This rule requires establishments to assess a donor's medical history 
to determine that the donor is in good health and to screen the donor 
for factors that can adversely affect the safety, purity, or potency of 
blood and blood components. In addition, the rule provides requirements 
for testing donations for relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. 
This rule revises and updates existing regulations.
    FDA is issuing this rule under the authority of sections 351 and 
361 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 262 and 264), 
and certain provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the 
FD&C Act) that apply to drugs and devices (21 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
Summary of the Major Provisions of the Final Rule
    Consistent with the proposed rule, in Sec.  630.3(l)), we define 
transfusion-transmitted infection as a disease or disease agent that: 
(1) Could be fatal or life-threatening, could result in permanent 
impairment of a body function or permanent damage to body structure, or 
could necessitate medical or surgical intervention to preclude 
permanent impairment of body function or permanent damage to a body 
structure and (2) for which there may be a risk of transmission by 
blood or blood components, or by a blood derivative product 
manufactured from blood or blood components, because the disease or 
disease agent is potentially transmissible by that blood, blood 
component or blood derivative product.
    Sometimes, a transfusion-transmitted infection will also meet the 
definition of a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. We define 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection in Sec.  630.3(h) to include 
two groups of transfusion-transmitted infections. The first group, in 
Sec.  630.3(h)(1) is a list of 10 named transfusion-transmitted 
infections: Human immunodeficiency virus, types 1 and 2 (referred to, 
collectively as HIV); Hepatitis B virus (referred to as HBV); Hepatitis 
C virus (referred to as HCV); Human T-lymphotropic virus, types I and 
II (referred to, collectively, as HTLV); Treponema pallidum (referred 
to as syphilis); West Nile virus; Trypanosoma cruzi (referred to as 
Chagas disease); Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (referred to as CJD); 
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (referred to as vCJD); and Plasmodium 
species (referred to as malaria). In recognition of current industry 
practices and in response to comments to the proposed rule, we included 
West Nile virus and Chagas disease in the definition of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection at Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(vi) and (vii), 
respectively. Establishments currently perform donor screening for 
these relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. Blood establishments 
other than Source Plasma establishments already perform testing for the 
first seven listed transfusion-transmitted infections, and Source 
Plasma establishments already perform testing for HIV, HBV, HCV, and 
more limited testing for syphilis. Testing requirements for Source 
Plasma establishments are more limited because Source Plasma undergoes 
further processing into blood derivative products, and those additional 
manufacturing steps have been shown to inactivate or remove certain 
infectious agents. We consider these donor testing and screening 
practices to meet current standards, and would address any changes in 
our recommendations for complying with the final rule in guidances 
issued in accordance with good guidance practice (21 CFR 10.115). The 
second part of the definition of relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections, Sec.  630.3(h)(2), establishes the criteria which will be 
used to identify other transfusion-transmitted infections that may 
present risks to the safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood 
components in the future. A transfusion-transmitted infection will meet 
the additional criteria for a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection when the following conditions are met: (1) Appropriate 
screening measures for the transfusion-transmitted infection have been 
developed and/or an appropriate screening test has been licensed, 
approved, or cleared for such use by FDA and is available and (2) the 
disease or disease agent may have sufficient incidence and/or 
prevalence to affect the potential donor population, or may have been 
released accidentally or intentionally in a manner that could place 
potential donors at risk of

[[Page 29843]]

infection. Under the first prong of these criteria, a transfusion-
transmitted infection would become relevant only when an appropriate 
intervention is available to prevent contamination of the blood supply. 
Under the second prong, the disease or disease agent must also meet one 
of the following two criteria: (1) It may have sufficient incidence 
and/or prevalence to affect the potential donor population or (2) it 
may have been released accidentally or intentionally in a manner that 
could place potential donors at risk of infection.
    In the event that circumstances have changed, and that a 
transfusion-transmitted infection meets the definition of a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection, FDA intends to issue guidance in 
accordance with good guidance practices to advise stakeholders of FDA's 
assessment of how the transfusion-transmitted infection now meets the 
definition of relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. In the same 
guidance, we would also address appropriate donor screening measures, 
including medical history assessments, in accordance with Sec.  
630.10(e), and any appropriate donor testing in accordance with Sec.  
610.40(a)(3) (21 CFR 610.40(a)(3)). We may also address educational 
materials in accordance with Sec.  630.10(b).
    We are finalizing minor changes to the requirements in Sec.  
606.100(b) (21 CFR 606.100(b)) to maintain standard operating 
procedures largely as proposed. In addition, final Sec.  606.100(b)(22) 
more explicitly requires establishments to have procedures to control 
the risks of bacterial contamination of platelets, including all steps 
required under Sec.  606.145.
    We address requirements for establishments to take steps to control 
bacterial contamination of platelets in Sec.  606.145, which is located 
in the part entitled ``Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Blood 
and Blood Components'' instead of in Sec.  630.30(a)(5), as proposed. 
This placement more clearly reflects the importance of these steps to 
current good manufacturing practice. Section 606.145 requires 
establishments to assure that the risks of bacterial contamination of 
platelets are adequately controlled using FDA approved or cleared 
devices or other adequate and appropriate methods found acceptable for 
this purpose by FDA, and explicitly addresses the responsibility of 
transfusion services to comply with this current good manufacturing 
practice. Establishments must take appropriate steps to identify the 
contaminating organism, and in the event that the organism is 
identified, the responsible physician for the collection establishment 
must determine whether that organism is likely to be associated with a 
bacterial infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor. 
Such a determination would lead to donor deferral and notification.
    In response to comments, we have significantly narrowed the 
recordkeeping requirement that we proposed in Sec.  606.160(e) (21 CFR 
606.160(e)). Instead of requiring collection establishments to share a 
record of all ineligible donors with appropriate personnel at all 
locations operating under the same license or under common management, 
final Sec.  606.160(e) requires establishments to maintain two records: 
(1) A record of all donors found to be ineligible or deferred at the 
collection location and (2) a cumulative record of donors deferred from 
donation at all locations operating under the same license or under 
common management because their tests were reactive for evidence of 
infection due to HIV, HBV, or HCV. Establishments other than Source 
Plasma establishments must include donors deferred for evidence of 
infection due to HTLV and Chagas disease. A related provision, Sec.  
630.10(d), sets out requirements for establishments to consult these 
records before collection. If a pre-collection review of the cumulative 
record is not feasible, establishments must review it before releasing 
blood or blood components.
    We maintain current testing requirements in Sec.  610.40, and 
include additional provisions. In Sec.  610.40(a), we address testing 
for Chagas disease, West Nile virus, and syphilis. This section would 
also require testing for additional relevant transfusion-transmitted-
infections in the event that donor screening tests are licensed, 
approved, or cleared, and are available, and that such testing is 
necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection by blood 
or blood components. In addition, this section provides that, under 
appropriate conditions and for certain relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections, it may become appropriate to test at a frequency other than 
at each donation, or, when the conditions in the regulations are met, 
even to stop testing for that relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection. Section 610.40(a)(4) describes types of evidence that may 
support such a determination.
    In Sec.  610.40(e), we are maintaining the existing requirement for 
further testing when a donation tests reactive for a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection. When a licensed, approved, or 
cleared supplemental test is not available, the rule provides greater 
flexibility for the use of licensed, approved, or cleared tests to 
provide additional information concerning the reactive donor's 
infection. This section also requires establishments to perform 
additional testing of a donation found reactive by a non-treponemal 
donor screening test for syphilis.
    Final Sec.  630.5 provides requirements for medical supervision of 
collection activities, such as determining the eligibility of a donor 
of blood or blood components, including Source Plasma, collecting blood 
or blood components, and for performing other donor procedures such as 
returning red blood cells during apheresis, or immunizing Source Plasma 
donors as part of an approved immunization program. This section 
requires establishments to establish, maintain, and follow standard 
operating procedures for obtaining rapid emergency medical services for 
donors when medically necessary, and must assure that a person who is 
currently certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation is located on the 
premises whenever collections are performed.
    Section 630.10 establishes general donor eligibility requirements 
and consolidates most donor eligibility requirements for Whole Blood 
and Source Plasma into a single section. A donor is not eligible and 
must be deferred if the donor is not in good health or if the 
establishment identifies any factor that may cause the donation to 
adversely affect the health of the donor or the safety, purity, or 
potency of the blood or blood component. This section requires the 
establishment to provide the donor with educational material related to 
a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection when donor education about 
that infection is necessary to assure the safety, purity, and potency 
of blood and blood components, to consult records of deferred donors, 
to assess the donor for risk factors for relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections and other factors that might adversely affect 
the donation or the donor's health, and to obtain proof of the donor's 
identity and a postal address where the donor may be contacted for 8 
weeks after donation.
    Section 630.10(f) requires establishments to perform a limited 
physical assessment of the donor. This assessment must include donor 
temperature, blood pressure, pulse, minimum weight, condition of the 
skin at phlebotomy site and on arms, and hemoglobin or hematocrit 
levels. The rule maintains current requirements for hemoglobin and 
hematocrit levels for

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female donors, but since lower levels are also within the normal range 
for women, the rule would authorize collection from female donors with 
levels no lower than 12.0 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood, 
or a hematocrit value no lower than 36 percent, provided that the 
establishment has taken additional steps to assure that the alternative 
standard is adequate to assure donor safety, in accordance with a 
procedure that has been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA. The 
rule raises the minimum standard for male donors from 12.5 grams of 
hemoglobin per deciliter of blood, or a hematocrit value that is equal 
to or greater than 38 percent, to 13 grams and 39 percent, 
respectively.
    Under Sec.  630.10(g)(2) establishments must obtain the donor's 
acknowledgement that the donor has reviewed educational material 
required to be provided under this section as well as information about 
the risks and hazards of the specific donation procedure. In the 
proposed rule, this was called the ``Donor's written statement of 
understanding.''
    Section 630.15 establishes additional donor eligibility 
requirements for the collection of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cells 
collected by apheresis and Source Plasma and Plasma collected by 
plasmapheresis. For donors of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cells collected 
by apheresis, Sec.  630.15(a) requires that donation frequency be 
consistent with protecting the donor's health, describes minimum 
intervals between donations (typically 8 weeks, and 16 weeks for a 
double Red Blood Cell donation), and addresses donations by donors 
undergoing therapeutic phlebotomy.
    The requirements in Sec.  630.15(b) applicable to donors of Source 
Plasma and Plasma collected by plasmapheresis are largely consistent 
with current regulations and practices. The responsible physician, 
subject to delegation in accordance with Sec.  630.5(c), must conduct 
an appropriate medical history and physical examination of the donor at 
least annually, and must defer a donor found to have a medical 
condition that would place the donor at risk from plasmapheresis, and 
for red blood cell loss, as described in the rule. This section also 
addresses informed consent requirements for donors of Source Plasma and 
Plasma collected by plasmapheresis. These requirements complement other 
requirements for the collection of plasma by plasmapheresis in parts 
630 and 640 (21 CFR parts 630 and 640), including restrictions on 
frequency of collection specified in Sec. Sec.  640.32 and 640.65).
    Section 630.20 permits, under certain circumstances, the collection 
of blood and blood components from individuals who are ineligible under 
one or more of the eligibility requirements under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 
630.15. This section provides exceptions for autologous donors and 
donors who are participants in an approved plasmapheresis program for 
products for which there are no alternative sources, and for dedicated 
donations where there is documented exceptional medical need. For all 
collections authorized under this section, we have clarified the 
responsible physician's role and responsibilities in these collections.
    We are finalizing Sec.  630.25 largely as proposed. This section 
modifies certain requirements in Sec. Sec.  630.15(b) and 640.65(b) as 
they are applicable to the collection of plasma from infrequent plasma 
donors. For greater clarity, we have included a definition of 
``infrequent plasma donor'' in new Sec.  630.3(e) and we use that 
defined term in this section.
    We have finalized requirements in Sec.  630.30(a) to define when a 
donation is suitable. Section 630.30(b) expressly prohibits an 
establishment from releasing an unsuitable donation for transfusion or 
further manufacturing use unless it is an autologous donation, or an 
exception is provided. It further requires a blood establishment to 
defer the donor of an unsuitable donation, although final Sec.  
630.30(b)(2) requires deferral of donors of platelets found to be 
bacterially contaminated only when the establishment determines in 
accordance with Sec.  606.145 that the bacterial contamination shows 
evidence of bacteria endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor. This 
is because we recognize that a frequent cause of bacterial 
contamination in platelets is due to the passage of the collection 
needle through the donor's skin, which is not sterile. For this reason, 
the presence of bacteria that are common skin flora does not warrant 
deferral of the donor.
    We have finalized the donor notification provisions in Sec.  
630.40. Consistent with the proposed rule, Sec.  630.40(a) requires 
establishments to notify donors whose platelet component has tested 
positive for a bacterial contamination that is likely due to an 
infection endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor, such as 
Streptococcus bovis. Identification of this bacterium indicates that 
the donor may have a serious health condition such as colon cancer.
    Section 640.21 addresses eligibility of donors of platelets. 
Consistent with the proposed rule, Sec.  640.21(b) provides that a 
plateletpheresis donor must not serve as the source of Platelets for 
transfusion if the donor has recently ingested a drug that adversely 
affects platelet function. We have modified this requirement for donors 
of Whole Blood that is the source of Platelets for transfusion. Section 
640.21(c) requires that a Whole Blood donor must not serve as the 
source of Platelets for transfusion if the donor has recently ingested 
a drug that adversely affects platelet function unless the unit is 
labeled to identify the ingested drug that adversely affects platelet 
function. Section 640.21(g) incorporates existing informed consent 
requirements.
    Based on comments to the proposed rule, we have finalized the 
requirements for collection of Platelets by plateletpheresis to be 
consistent with ``Guidance for Industry and FDA Review Staff: 
Collection of Platelets by Automated Methods,'' dated December 2007. 
These provisions address donor platelet counts, frequency and size of 
plateletpheresis collection, and deferral for red blood cell loss.
    We are finalizing the limits on distribution of Source Plasma in 
Sec.  640.69(e) with minor changes. The final rule now provides that 
establishments must establish a paid Source Plasma donor's 
qualification by determining on at least two occasions in the past 6 
months that the donor is eligible under Sec.  630.10(e) and that the 
donor's results are negative on all tests required under Sec.  
610.40(a). Consistent with current industry standards, we have also 
finalized the inventory hold provision proposed in Sec.  640.69(f) to 
require establishments to hold Source Plasma donated by paid donors in 
quarantine for a minimum of 60 days. In addition, we clarify the 
conditions that would prevent an establishment from distributing Source 
Plasma from quarantine.
    We are not finalizing proposed Sec.  640.73, ``Reporting of donor 
reactions'', in this rule. Instead, FDA intends to finalize this 
section when FDA finalizes the proposed Safety Reporting Requirements 
for Human Drug and Biologicals (68 FR 12406, March 14, 2003). We will 
address in that final rule the comments on proposed Sec.  640.73.
    We are finalizing Sec.  640.120 largely as proposed. Final Sec.  
640.120(b) authorizes the Director of the Center for Biologics 
Evaluation and Research (CBER) ``to respond to a public health need'' 
by issuing an exception or alternative to any requirement in subchapter 
F of chapter I of title 21 of the CFR if necessary to provide for 
appropriate donor screening and testing or to assure

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that blood, blood components, or blood products will be available in a 
specified location or locations to address an urgent and immediate need 
for blood, blood components, or blood products. Under these provisions, 
this authority will be available to FDA to assure the availability of 
blood and blood components that are safe, pure, and potent.

Analysis of Impacts

    FDA has examined the impacts of the final rule under Executive 
Order 12866, Executive Order 13563, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612) and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-4). This final rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
the Executive orders, and it will not have an economic impact, or 
require expenditures, at magnitudes warranting review under those 
statutory provisions.

Costs and Benefits

    This rule sets forth requirements for donor eligibility and 
donation suitability to ensure the safety, purity, and potency of the 
blood and blood components used for transfusion or for further 
manufacture. Costs estimated in this analysis include costs related to 
the standard operating procedures and bacterial testing requirements 
for blood collection establishments and transfusion services. The total 
upfront costs are $16,042,628, and include costs related to the review, 
modification, and creation of standard operation procedures. The mean 
annual costs of $892,233 include costs related to the bacterial testing 
of single units of Whole Blood-derived platelets and speciation of 
bacterially contaminated platelets. We anticipate that this final rule 
will preserve the safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood 
components by preventing unsafe units of blood or blood components from 
entering the blood supply, and by providing recipients with increased 
protection against communicable disease transmission. The requirements 
set forth in this rule will also help to decrease the number of blood 
transfusion related fatalities that are associated with the bacterial 
contamination of platelets. The annual value of additional fatalities 
averted related by testing of Whole Blood-derived platelets is 
estimated to be approximately $27 million to $90 million and the annual 
value of averted nonfatal sepsis infections is estimated to be $3.19 
million to $4.91 million.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Comments on the Proposed Rule and FDA's Responses
    A. General
    B. Definitions (Sec. Sec.  606.3, 610.39, 630.3, 640.125)
    C. Standard Operating Procedures (Sec.  606.100)
    D. Control of Bacterial Contamination of Platelets (Sec.  
606.145)
    E. Records (Sec.  606.160)
    F. Test Requirements (Sec. Sec.  610.40, 640.5, 640.71(a))
    G. Donor Deferral (Sec.  610.41)
    H. Purpose and Scope (Sec.  630.1)
    I. Medical Supervision (Sec. Sec.  630.5, 640.130)
    J. General Donor Eligibility Requirements (Sec.  630.10)
    K. Donor Eligibility Requirements Specific to Whole Blood, Red 
Blood Cells and Plasma Collected by Apheresis (Sec.  630.15)
    L. Exceptions for Certain Ineligible Donors (Sec.  630.20)
    M. Exceptions from Certain Donor Eligibility Requirements for 
Infrequent Plasma Donors (Sec.  630.25)
    N. Donation Suitability Requirements (Sec.  630.30)
    O. Requalification of Previously Deferred Donors (Sec.  630.35)
    P. Requirements for Notifying Deferred Donors (Sec.  630.40)
    Q. Platelets: Eligibility of Donors (Sec.  640.21)
    R. Source Plasma: Plasmapheresis (Sec.  640.65(b))
    S. Source Plasma: General Requirements (Sec.  640.69)
    T. Source Plasma: Records (Sec.  640.72)
    U. Source Plasma: Reporting of Donor Reactions (Sec.  640.73)
    V. Alternative Procedures (Sec.  640.120)
    W. Reagent Red Blood Cells (Sec. Sec.  660.31, 660.32)
    X. Quality System Regulation: Scope (Sec.  820.1)
    Y. Technical Amendments
III. Legal Authority
IV. Analysis of Impacts
V. Environmental Impact
VI. Federalism
VII. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
VIII. References

I. Introduction

    In the Federal Register of November 8, 2007 (72 FR 63416), FDA 
published the proposed rule ``Requirements for Human Blood and Blood 
Components Intended for Transfusion or for Further Manufacturing Use'' 
to amend the regulations for blood and blood components, including 
Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes, by adding donor eligibility and 
donation suitability requirements that are consistent with current 
practices in the blood industry, and to more closely align the 
regulations with current FDA recommendations. We proposed this rule to 
help ensure the safety of the nation's blood supply and to help protect 
the health of donors by requiring establishments to evaluate donors for 
factors that may adversely affect the safety, purity, and potency of 
blood and blood components or the health of a donor.
    This effort was undertaken as part of the Department of Health and 
Human Services Blood Action Plan (Ref. 1). The Blood Action Plan was 
developed in response to recommendations from Congress and other groups 
including the Government Accountability Office (previously the General 
Accounting Office) and the Institute of Medicine (Refs. 2, 3). This 
rulemaking is one of the final remaining action items under the Blood 
Action Plan.
    In response to numerous requests, we extended the comment period 
for the proposed rule, initially scheduled to close on February 8, 
2008, for an additional 180 days to August 4, 2008 (73 FR 1983, January 
11, 2008). FDA received 29 letters of comment on the proposed rule, 
most of which raised multiple issues. Some comments responded to 
questions that we solicited in the preamble to the proposed rule in 
order to obtain additional information and data for this rulemaking. 
For example, we solicited comments on testing for bacterial 
contamination in platelets (72 FR 63416 at 63421) and requested data 
addressing the continued need for syphilis testing to address the risks 
of transfusion-related syphilis infection, and its value as a surrogate 
marker for other communicable diseases (72 FR 63416 at 63422).

II. Comments on the Proposed Rule and FDA's Responses

    We received 29 letters containing multiple comments from blood 
establishments, biologics manufacturers, industry trade associations, 
and other interested persons. In this section, we respond first to 
general comments and then, in the corresponding section of this 
preamble, to those on specific provisions of the proposed rule. To make 
it easier to identify the comments and our responses, the word 
``Comment,'' in parentheses, will appear before the comment's 
description, and the word ``Response,'' in parentheses, will appear 
before our response. We have also numbered each comment in the order in 
which we discuss it. The number assigned to each comment is purely for 
organizational purposes and does not signify the comment's value or 
importance or the order in which it was received. Certain comments were 
grouped together because the subject matter of the comments was 
similar.

A. General

    (Comment 1) One comment commended FDA's efforts to update the 
regulations for blood and blood components to accommodate scientific 
and industry advances. These advances are vital to assuring the safety, 
purity

[[Page 29846]]

and potency of the blood supply. Another comment stated that they fully 
support the intent of the proposed rule to help assure the safety of 
the blood supply and to help protect donor health.
    (Response) We acknowledge and appreciate these supportive comments.
    (Comment 2) One comment applauded and supported FDA efforts to 
streamline the regulations and bring them up-to-date with current 
recommendations and current FDA guidance documents. The comment stated 
that appropriate standards will afford the medical community the 
ability to alleviate blood shortages, contribute to the success of 
public health initiatives, and contribute to quality medical care.
    (Response) We appreciate the comment. We revised and updated the 
regulations applicable to blood and blood components, including Source 
Plasma and Source Leukocytes, with the goal of ensuring optimal donor 
safety measures as well as assuring that the public will continue to 
have access to safe, pure and potent blood and blood components.

B. Definitions (Sec. Sec.  606.3, 610.39, 630.3, 640.125)

    We have combined our discussion of the definitions contained in 
Sec. Sec.  606.3, 610.39, 630.3, and 640.125 in this section of the 
preamble. An understanding of the terms we define is important to an 
understanding of other sections of this rule that use those terms. We 
hope to help the reader by discussing these foundational definitions 
early in this preamble, before we discuss the substantive provisions 
using those terms.
    We are finalizing the definition of blood in Sec. Sec.  606.3(a) 
and 630.3(a) as a product that is a fluid containing dissolved and 
suspended elements which was collected from the vascular system of a 
human. We received no comments on the proposed definition. The 
definition in the final rule differs from the proposal only in the 
reference to ``a fluid'' instead of ``the fluid,'' and the substitution 
of the phrase ``was collected from'' for ``circulates in.'' We made 
these minor changes for accuracy, and to reflect the practical fact 
that when blood becomes a ``product'' it is no longer circulating in a 
human vascular system, but has been collected from the human vascular 
system. We are finalizing without change the proposed definition of 
blood component in Sec. Sec.  606.3(b) and 630.3(b) as ``a product 
containing a part of human blood separated by physical or mechanical 
means.'' We had proposed to modify the definition of blood component in 
proposed Sec.  1270.3(b) (21 CFR 1270.3(b)). We are not finalizing that 
provision because, due to the Agency's issuance of new regulations 
applicable to human cellular and tissue based products (21 CFR part 
1271), the regulations in part 1270 (21 CFR part 1270), including the 
definition we proposed to amend, now apply only to human tissue 
recovered before May 25, 2005. (See Sec.  1270.3(j)). For this reason, 
it is unnecessary to finalize proposed Sec.  1270.3(b).
    We are also finalizing as proposed the definitions of donor (Sec.  
630.3(c)), eligibility of a donor (Sec.  630.3(d)), and suitability of 
the donation (Sec.  630.3(j)).
    In Sec.  630.3(e), we have added a definition of infrequent plasma 
donor, which means a donor who has not donated plasma by plasmapheresis 
or a co-collection of plasma with another blood component in the 
preceding 4 weeks, and has not donated more than 12.0 liters of plasma 
(14.4 liters of plasma for donors weighing more than 175 pounds) in the 
past year. We provided a similar definition in the preamble to the 
proposed rule, and are adding it to the codified section in order to 
make the definition more accessible and clear. The preamble described 
an infrequent plasma donor as a donor: (1) Who has not donated Whole 
Blood in the preceding 8 weeks or plasma by apheresis in the preceding 
4 weeks, or participated in a double Red Blood Cells unit collection 
program within the preceding 16 weeks; (2) who has not donated more 
than 12.0 liters of plasma in the past year (14.4 liters of plasma for 
donors weighing more than 175 pounds); (3) who is determined by the 
responsible physician to be in good health; and (4) who is not 
participating in an immunization program for the production of high-
titer plasma. Under proposed Sec.  630.25(a), exceptions from certain 
donor eligibility requirements could apply to such donors who have not 
donated within the preceding 4 weeks. The definition of infrequent 
plasma donor in the final rule focuses on the donor's prior donations 
of plasma and co-collections of plasma because deferral for Whole Blood 
and Red Blood Cell donation and requirements for donor health are 
addressed in other sections of this rule (Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 
630.15), and final Sec.  630.25 states that the exceptions in Sec.  
630.25 are applicable only for infrequent plasma donors who are not 
participating in an immunization program. The final rule defines an 
infrequent plasma donor as a donor who has not donated plasma by 
plasmapheresis or a co-collection of plasma with another blood 
component in the preceding 4 weeks, and has not donated more than 12.0 
liters of plasma (14.4 liters of plasma for donors weighing more than 
175 pounds) in the past year. This definition makes clear that for 
purpose of this exception, co-collection of plasma with another blood 
component is considered in the same way as collection of plasma. We 
decided to make this reference to co-collection by apheresis of plasma 
more explicit in response to comments discussed in comment 115, which 
asked FDA to harmonize deferral periods after red blood cell loss for 
apheresis donors of plasma and of apheresis donors of plasma co-
collected with platelets.
    Due to the addition of this new definition in Sec.  630.3(e), we 
have redesignated the remaining definitions alphabetically, beginning 
with intimate contact with risk for a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection (now final Sec.  630.3(f)), through transfusion-transmitted 
infection (now final Sec.  630.3(l)). Several of these definitions use 
the term transfusion-transmitted infection, which is alphabetically 
last. To help the reader understand the definitions that incorporate 
the term transfusion-transmitted infection, we will first explain the 
term transfusion-transmitted infection.
    Consistent with the proposed rule, we define transfusion-
transmitted infection, final Sec.  630.3(l), as a disease or disease 
agent: (1) That could be fatal or life-threatening, could result in 
permanent impairment of a body function or permanent damage to body 
structure, or could necessitate medical or surgical intervention to 
preclude permanent impairment of body function or permanent damage to a 
body structure and (2) for which there may be a risk of transmission by 
blood or blood components or by a blood derivative product manufactured 
from blood or blood components, because the disease or disease agent is 
potentially transmissible by that blood, blood component or blood 
derivative product.
    Sometimes, a transfusion-transmitted infection will meet the 
additional criteria established in the definition of a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection. We define relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection in Sec.  630.3(h) to include two groups of 
transfusion-transmitted infections. The first group, in Sec.  
630.3(h)(1) is a list of 10 named transfusion-transmitted infections: 
HIV; HBV; HCV; HTLV; syphilis; West Nile virus; Chagas disease; 
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD); variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 
(vCJD); and Plasmodium species (malaria). In recognition of current 
industry practices and in response to comments received on the proposed 
rule, West Nile virus

[[Page 29847]]

and Chagas disease are included in the definition of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection at Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(vi) and (vii), 
respectively. Establishments currently perform donor screening for 
these relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. Blood establishments 
other than Source Plasma establishments already perform testing for the 
first seven listed transfusion-transmitted infections, and Source 
Plasma establishments already perform testing for HIV, HBV, HCV, and 
more limited testing for syphilis. Testing requirements for Source 
Plasma establishments are more limited because Source Plasma undergoes 
further processing into blood derivative products, and those additional 
manufacturing steps have been shown to inactivate or remove certain 
infectious agents. We consider these donor testing and screening 
practices to meet current standards, and would address any changes in 
our recommendations for complying with the final rule in guidances 
issued in accordance with good guidance practice.
    The second part of the definition of relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections, Sec.  630.3(h)(2), establishes the criteria 
which will be used to identify other transfusion-transmitted infections 
that present risks to the safety, purity, and potency of blood and 
blood components at some time in the future. Under these criteria, a 
transfusion-transmitted infection will be identified as a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection when the following conditions are 
met: (1) Appropriate screening measures for the transfusion-transmitted 
infection have been developed and/or an appropriate screening test has 
been licensed, approved, or cleared for such use by FDA and is 
available and (2) the disease or disease agent may have sufficient 
incidence and/or prevalence to affect the potential donor population, 
or may have been released accidentally or intentionally in a manner 
that could place potential donors at risk of infection. Under the first 
prong of these criteria, a transfusion-transmitted infection could be 
identified as a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection only when an 
intervention is available to prevent infection of the blood supply. 
This intervention could be a donor screening measure such as questions 
during the medical history interview about medical history, travel, or 
other behaviors, or a donor screening test to detect the disease or 
disease agent or evidence of the infection. Under the second prong, the 
transfusion-transmitted infection must be relevant to the donor 
population, either because it may have sufficient incidence and/or 
prevalence to affect the donor population, or because it may have been 
released in a manner that could place potential donors at risk of 
infection.
    In the event that FDA determines that, under current conditions, a 
transfusion-transmitted infection now meets the definition of a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, FDA intends to issue 
guidance in accordance with good guidance practices to advise 
stakeholders of FDA's assessment of how the transfusion-transmitted 
infection now meets the definition of relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection. In the same guidance, we would also address appropriate 
screening measures, including medical history assessments, in 
accordance with Sec.  630.10(e), and any appropriate donor testing for 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections in accordance with Sec.  
610.40(a)(3). We anticipate issuing such guidance initially as a draft 
for comment, unless, due to urgent circumstances, it is not feasible or 
appropriate to issue the document first in draft. Under those 
circumstances we would invite comment on the final guidance, and revise 
it as appropriate.
    We note that members of the Transfusion Transmitted Diseases 
Committee of AABB, formerly the American Association of Blood Banks, 
published an article in 2009 identifying 68 emerging infectious disease 
agents that are potentially transmitted by blood (Ref. 4) and recently 
updated this list of potential threats (Ref. 5). We recognize the value 
of such scientific assessments to the recognition and management of 
emerging infections among blood donors and blood recipients, and note 
that blood establishments already exercise medical judgment in 
implementing measures to respond to emerging infectious diseases. 
However, FDA intends to enforce requirements for screening and/or 
testing in this final rule with respect to an emerging infectious 
disease agent that is newly identified as meeting the definition of 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection only after FDA issues a 
final guidance identifying the disease or disease agent as a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection under the criteria in this final 
rule, and recommends appropriate screening and/or testing measures.
    Transfusion-transmitted infections that may, due to changed 
circumstances, meet the definition of relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections in the future include dengue viruses or babesia. These 
infections meet the definition of transfusion-transmitted infection 
because they are life-threatening and are known to be transmitted by 
blood or blood components. We are continuing to monitor the incidence 
and prevalence of these infections in the donor population, as well as 
the development and availability of screening measures and screening 
tests. As discussed in the previous paragraph, if we determine at a 
future time that one of these transfusion-transmitted infections meets 
the criteria for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, we would 
issue guidance to explain our assessment. We would also address in that 
guidance appropriate screening and/or testing measures under Sec. Sec.  
630.10(e) and 610.40(a)(3).
    We revised the defined term intimate contact in the proposed rule 
to intimate contact with risk for a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection (Sec.  630.3(f)). This term means having engaged in an 
activity that could result in the transfer of potentially infectious 
body fluids from one person to another. By including the phrase ``with 
risk for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection'' in the term, we 
have clarified that the term applies to only those body fluids 
potentially infectious for infections that are or have been determined 
to be relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. Also, in response to 
several comments, discussed in more detail in comment 7, we deleted the 
reference to the exchange of ``blood or saliva'' from the definition.
    We define physician substitute in Sec.  630.3(g), responsible 
physician in Sec.  630.3(i) and trained person in Sec.  630.3(k). These 
definitions describe the qualifications an individual must possess to 
perform certain donor eligibility assessments and blood and blood 
component collection procedures as described in Sec.  630.5. The 
physician substitute definition is unchanged from the proposed, except 
that instead of requiring, among other criteria, that the individual be 
``trained and authorized to perform specified functions under the 
direction of the responsible physician,'' the final rule specifies that 
the individual be ``trained and authorized under State law, and/or 
local law when applicable, to perform the specified functions under the 
direction of the responsible physician.'' We make this change to 
clarify that authorization under existing and applicable state and 
local law, such as compliance with state practice limitations, is 
required. The definition of responsible physician is unchanged from the 
proposed rule. For clarity we substituted the non-plural term trained 
person, for the term trained

[[Page 29848]]

personnel, which was used in the proposed rule. We have also specified 
that a trained person must be ``authorized under State law, and/or 
local law when applicable.''
    We did not receive any comments to the proposed definition of you 
as ``an establishment that collects blood and blood components'' 
(proposed Sec.  630.3(l)). However, we are not finalizing that proposed 
definition. We did not intend to limit the term you to establishments 
that collect blood and blood components. In fact, we intended the term 
also to apply to establishments that perform other manufacturing steps, 
such as testing laboratories and transfusion services. Accordingly, we 
concluded that including you as a defined term was confusing, and we 
are not finalizing the proposed definition.
    Finally, in new Sec.  610.39, we have added a cross-reference to 
the definitions in Sec.  630.3 to make clear that when these terms are 
used in part 610, subpart E (Sec. Sec.  610.40 through 610.48), the 
definitions in Sec.  630.3 apply. Although our practice in subpart E 
has been to cross-reference specific sections, express incorporation of 
these definitions into the subpart will support the clarity of these 
provisions. Similarly, we have added new Sec.  640.125 to new subpart M 
in part 640, entitled ``Definitions and Medical Supervision.'' Section 
640.125 provides a cross-reference to the definitions in Sec.  630.3, 
making those definitions applicable when those terms are used in part 
640. This provision is consistent with the proposed rule, which stated 
in the introductory paragraph to proposed Sec.  630.3 that the 
definitions were applicable in part 630 and in part 640.
    (Comment 3) One comment recommended that the definition of blood 
component in proposed Sec. Sec.  606.3(c) and 630.3(b) should include a 
cross-reference to the regulations in which specific blood components 
(such as Red Blood Cells and Platelets) are defined. The comment stated 
that the proposed definition fails to impart the complexity of 
different blood components and their intended uses, that there is 
little similarity between blood components intended for transfusion and 
Source Plasma, and that the requirements for donor eligibility and 
testing are unique for Source Plasma. Another comment proposed that a 
comprehensive definition be provided for Source Plasma.
    (Response) All blood components contain risks for transmission of 
infectious agents, and collection of donations presents risks for donor 
safety regardless of the intended use of the donation. There is 
significant consistency among donor eligibility requirements for all 
types of blood components; these are addressed in Sec.  630.10. In 
addition, different types of blood components may present different 
issues, both for the safety, purity, and potency of the collection, and 
for the safety of the donor. The regulations have long included 
requirements specific to Source Plasma, Platelets, Red Blood Cells, and 
other blood components, and we maintain many of those requirements in 
the final rule. However, we disagree that the definition of blood 
component, which includes all products derived from human blood 
separated by physical or mechanical means, will be improved by cross-
references to the sections that address requirements for specific types 
of blood components. Instead, we address requirements applicable to a 
specific type of blood component in the sections applicable to those 
blood components. For example, in part 640, subpart B (Sec. Sec.  
640.10 through 640.17) addresses Red Blood Cells and contains standards 
for those blood components, as subparts C (Sec. Sec.  640.20 through 
640.27), D (Sec. Sec.  640.30 through 640.34), and G (Sec. Sec.  640.60 
through 640.76) do for Platelets, Plasma, and Source Plasma, 
respectively. Finally, we reviewed the current definition of Source 
Plasma in Sec.  640.60, which states that ``the fluid portion of human 
blood collected by plasmapheresis and intended as source material for 
further manufacturing use. The definition excludes single donor plasma 
products intended for intravenous use.'' We conclude that it is 
sufficiently comprehensive.
    (Comment 4) One comment questioned FDA's inclusion of a person who 
``presents as a potential candidate for such donation'' in the 
definition of donor. The comment requested clarification on when a 
person ``presents'' to donate, and asked whether a donor ``presents'' 
simply by walking through the door, or whether a donor ``presents'' 
when the blood establishment starts the donor interview to assess the 
donor's eligibility under the regulations. The comment stated that 
certain blood establishments collect blood from donors who have 
specific characteristics unrelated to donor eligibility, such as a 
history of a specific disease. The comment stated that preliminary 
interviews to determine whether an individual has such a characteristic 
should not be considered to be interviews with a ``donor.'' The comment 
asserted that requirements to maintain donor records in Sec.  
606.160(b)(1) (21 CFR 606.160(b)(1)) should not apply to records of 
these preliminary interviews because the specialty centers determine 
specialty information before assessing the general eligibility of the 
potential candidate. The comment proposed the following definition, 
``Donor means a person who: (1) Donates blood or blood components for 
transfusion or for further manufacturing or (2) a potential candidate 
who has begun the interactive assessment of eligibility by center 
personnel.''
    (Response) Under the definition of donor in final Sec.  630.3(c), 
an individual would be a ``donor'' once the establishment begins any of 
the interactions that are required under this rule. Accordingly, an 
individual who has not yet donated, but has received educational 
material in accordance with Sec.  630.10(b), or started to provide 
donor information related to medical history under Sec.  630.10(e), 
would be a donor. For example, questioning of the ``donor'' regarding 
travel history or risk behaviors that could lead to deferral under 
Sec. Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(iii) and 630.10(e)(1)(i), respectively, would 
be considered part of determining donor eligibility. However, other 
interactions not required under this rule, such as taking a blood 
sample at a health fair to identify rare blood types or unique antigens 
or antibodies could be considered preliminary interactions, provided 
that an interaction required under this rule (such as testing for a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection) was not also initiated 
during the same encounter. If an establishment's interactions with an 
individual are only preliminary and are not otherwise required under 
these regulations, the individual would not yet be considered a 
``donor.''
    (Comment 5) One comment recommended that FDA adopt terminology that 
excludes paid donors from the definition of a donor. The comment stated 
that people being paid to have their plasma collected are not giving a 
donation.
    (Response) We decline to accept the recommendation. Consistent with 
the general use of the term in blood collection establishments, FDA 
uses the term donor to apply to all donors, whether or not they are 
paid. FDA regulations do not preclude paid donations for blood for 
transfusion or for further manufacture. We acknowledge that the 
existing regulations have specific provisions applicable to paid 
donors. For example, FDA requires the container label of blood and 
blood components intended for transfusion to include the statement 
``paid donor'' or ``volunteer donor.'' Section 606.121(c)(8)(v)(A) 
defines a

[[Page 29849]]

paid donor as a person who receives monetary payment for a blood 
donation. We do not require that Source Plasma be labeled in this way 
because it is widely understood that Source Plasma is collected 
predominantly from paid donors.
    (Comment 6) Several comments agreed with the definitions of 
eligibility of a donor and suitability of the donation in proposed 
Sec.  630.3(d) and (i), respectively. The comments stated the terms are 
helpful in clarifying many requirements.
    (Response) We agree, and have finalized the definitions as proposed 
in Sec.  630.3(d) and (j), respectively.
    (Comment 7) Several comments stated that the definition of intimate 
contact, designated in the final rule at Sec.  630.3(f), should be 
reworded to describe an activity (sexual contact or living with) that 
could result in an exchange of blood with another individual.
    (Response) As stated earlier, we revised the term from intimate 
contact to intimate contact with risk for a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection. The term means having engaged in an activity 
that could result in the transfer of potentially infectious body fluids 
from one person to another. The new definition does not reference blood 
or saliva specifically; it also does not define the specific activity 
that could result in the transfer of potentially infectious body 
fluids. The definition applies only when intimate contact presents 
risks for transmission of a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. 
This definition of intimate contact with risk for a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection and the associated requirement in 
Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(v) to assess donors for this risk replaces current 
Sec.  640.3(c)(2), which requires deferral of donors who have a history 
of close contact within 12 months of donation with an individual having 
viral hepatitis. The new provisions refine the current requirement, and 
we note that the donor history questionnaires prepared by AABB and the 
Plasma Protein Therapeutic Association, which have been recognized as 
acceptable by FDA for screening donors of blood, blood components and 
Source Plasma, already address the risk of transmission of HBV and HCV 
by including questions about the donor's ``sexual contact'' and 
``living with'' individuals with hepatitis (Refs. 6, 7, 8).
    We also note that FDA has recommended that a donor be deferred on 
the basis of sexual contact with an individual infected with HIV. 
Questions related to sexual contact with an individual infected with 
HIV are also included in the donor history questionnaires found 
acceptable by FDA (Refs. 6, 7, 8). FDA intends to issue guidance as 
needed to identify other relevant transfusion-transmitted infections 
where we consider intimate contact to present significant risks for 
transmission of such infection.
    (Comment 8) Several comments stated that the proposed definition of 
intimate contact was not consistent with public health messages that 
the risk of transmission of HIV transmission through kissing is remote.
    (Response) We agree with this comment in part and have revised the 
proposed definition. Public health messages have not identified casual 
kissing as a risk for HIV. However, CDC has identified open-mouth 
kissing with an HIV infected person as a risk if there are breaks in 
the skin or tongue (Ref. 9). FDA's guidance for donor deferral is 
limited to ``having sexual contact with an HIV infected individual'' 
(Ref. 10). It does not recommend deferral for kissing.
    (Comment 9) One comment agreed with the proposed definition of 
physician substitute; however, the comment stated that the term could 
be misleading for the general public and could imply that physician 
substitutes can perform all duties of a licensed physician at the 
Source Plasma establishments.
    (Response) We disagree that the term physician substitute implies 
that physician substitutes can perform all the duties of a licensed 
physician. We believe the definition in Sec.  630.3(g) describes 
sufficiently the training and qualifications of a physician substitute, 
who must be a graduate of an education program for healthcare workers 
that includes clinical training, currently licensed or certified as a 
health care worker in the jurisdiction where the collection 
establishment is located, and currently certified in cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation. Moreover, the definition now makes explicit that a 
physician substitute must be trained and authorized under State law, 
and/or local law when applicable, to perform specified functions under 
the direction of the responsible physician. Finally, Sec.  630.5 
describes the activities the responsible physician may delegate to the 
physician substitute, and those the responsible physician is not 
authorized to delegate.
    (Comment 10) Several comments stated that syphilis and CJD should 
not be included in the definition of relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection.
    (Response) We disagree with the comments. Syphilis is a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection which screening tests have long been 
used to detect. As discussed in our response to comment 31, we continue 
to review data to determine whether it is still necessary to perform 
screening tests for this infection. However, data submitted to date do 
not justify a determination that testing to identify syphilis infection 
is no longer needed to protect the blood supply. Accordingly, we have 
included syphilis in the definition of a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection at final Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(v).
    We have also determined that CJD and vCJD are relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections because of the risks they present. Screening 
tests are not yet available for CJD and vCJD. It is current practice 
for establishments to perform screening by means of a medical history 
interview, and FDA has issued guidance recommending donor screening for 
these diseases (Ref. 11). Consistent with these current practices, we 
have included CJD and vCJD in the definition of a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection at Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(viii) and (ix), 
respectively.
    However, our inclusion of certain transfusion-transmitted 
infections within the definition of relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection does not necessarily mean an establishment will always be 
required to perform donor history screening, or donor testing for that 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. Specifically, in line with 
the more flexible testing paradigm and criteria we have adopted in 
final Sec.  610.40(a), it is possible that testing for syphilis will no 
longer be necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of syphilis by blood or blood components. The same applies 
to CJD and vCJD, and to relevant transfusion-transmitted infections 
other than HIV, HBV, and HCV. New Sec.  610.40(a)(4) describes the 
evidence that may be used to support such a determination.
    (Comment 11) One comment recommended the inclusion of West Nile 
virus, Chagas disease, and bacteria in the definition of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection, noting that blood components are 
routinely tested for West Nile virus and Chagas disease.
    (Response) We agree that West Nile virus and Chagas disease present 
significant risks to the safety, purity, and potency of the blood 
supply, and that the performance of screening tests for these 
transfusion-transmitted infections has become routine. Accordingly, we 
have added these two infections to the definition of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections in this final rule. However, testing 
or screening of blood donors to identify

[[Page 29850]]

specific bacterial infections is not routinely performed for donors of 
all blood components, although under final Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(i) 
establishments must assess all donors for symptoms of a recent or 
current illness. We decline to add bacteria to the definition of 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection at this time, but we have 
addressed bacterial testing of platelets in Sec.  606.145 of this rule.
    (Comment 12) One comment recommended that responsible physician be 
defined to differentiate between the duties of a physician overseeing 
blood collection at an individual facility and a corporate physician 
with broader oversight responsibilities. Another comment stated that 
regional responsible physicians should be responsible for endorsing 
standard operating procedures (SOPs), and for supervising employees' 
compliance with those SOPs. Locally based physicians should not control 
or approve SOPs as this would lead to inconsistency in operations.
    (Response) We decline to provide distinct definitions for 
``corporate responsible physician'' and ``locally based physician''. As 
discussed in section II.C of this preamble, Sec.  606.100(b) requires 
blood establishments to establish, maintain, and follow written SOPs 
for all steps in the collection, processing, compatibility testing, 
storage, and distribution of blood and blood components. These 
regulations do not prescribe the roles of corporate and locally based 
physicians in developing and approving SOPs. In fact, one process for 
establishing SOPs may be appropriate for one type of blood 
establishment, such as a licensed blood establishment that collects 
blood and blood components in multiple states, but inappropriate for a 
smaller blood establishment that collects and distributes blood and 
blood components within a limited geographic area.

C. Standard Operating Procedures (Sec.  606.100)

    We are finalizing Sec.  606.100(b), on which we received no 
comments, largely as proposed. In this section we revised the 
requirements for SOPs to require more specifically that blood 
establishments follow those procedures, to distinguish transfusions as 
either ``allogeneic'' or ``autologous,'' and to require more explicitly 
that establishments establish, maintain, and follow written standard 
operating procedures for investigating product deviations and for 
recordkeeping related to current good manufacturing practice 
requirements and other applicable requirements and standards. We are 
also finalizing as proposed Sec.  606.100(b)(20) and (b)(21), which 
require procedures for donor deferral as prescribed in Sec.  610.41, 
and procedures, including appropriate follow up, for notification of 
donors under Sec.  630.40, and, for autologous donors, their referring 
physicians. We have also added Sec.  606.100(b)(22), which requires 
establishments to have procedures to control the risks of bacterial 
contamination of platelets, including all steps required under Sec.  
606.145. We are including this provision to clarify that taking steps 
to control bacterial contamination of platelets is a step in the 
collection, processing, storage, and distribution of platelets, for 
which SOPs are required. Our discussion of comments received regarding 
bacterial testing of platelets can be found at comments 13 through 24 
in section II.D.

D. Control of Bacterial Contamination of Platelets (Sec.  606.145)

    We have finalized in new Sec.  606.145 the requirement we proposed 
as Sec.  630.30(a)(5), which, for platelet components, would have 
required establishments who collect blood and blood components to 
``take adequate steps to assure that the donation is tested for 
bacterial contamination and found negative.'' We are finalizing this in 
part 606 in order to underscore the importance of including methods to 
control the risk of the proliferation of bacteria in platelets as 
current good manufacturing practice for blood and blood components.
    Unlike other blood components, platelets do not function optimally 
following refrigeration. They are stored at room temperature, an 
environment conducive to the growth of bacteria. If the platelet unit 
is contaminated, bacteria can flourish and grow quickly in the warm, 
nutrient-rich platelet storage bag. Bacterial contamination is 
estimated to occur in as many as 1/1,000 to 1/3,000 platelet 
collections (Refs. 12, 13). The transfusion of bacterially contaminated 
platelets puts recipients at risk, with reactions varying due to a 
number of factors, including the pathogenicity of the bacteria, the 
quantity of the bacteria transfused, and the immune status of the 
recipient. Reactions range from no obvious clinical effects to severe 
and life-threatening infections (Ref. 14). Under current regulations 
(Sec.  606.170(b)), blood collection establishments and transfusion 
services are only required to report to FDA when adverse reactions 
related to blood collection or transfusion are confirmed to be fatal. 
Deaths due to bacterial contamination of platelets have been reported 
to FDA in recent years as follows: in 2008, there were two fatalities 
reported as complications of platelet transfusions, with subsequent 
reports of five in 2009, one in 2010, three in 2011, and two in 2012 
(Ref. 15).
    The final rule requires blood collection establishments and 
transfusion services to assure that the risks of bacterial 
contamination of platelets are adequately controlled using FDA approved 
or cleared devices or other adequate and appropriate methods found 
acceptable for this purpose by FDA. This final rule requires these 
manufacturers to meet this standard, and, unlike the language in the 
proposed rule, does not necessarily require that components be ``tested 
. . . and found negative.'' Even though testing of platelet components 
using an FDA approved or cleared test would currently meet this 
requirement, the standard setting language used in the final rule would 
provide for appropriate use of new technologies in the future. For 
example, if pathogen reduction technology is approved or cleared and 
available in the future, then use of pathogen reduction technology may 
also meet the requirements of this provision. We intend to issue 
guidance addressing how establishments would use FDA approved or 
cleared devices or methods that FDA has determined to be adequate to 
assure that the risks of bacterial contamination of platelets are 
adequately controlled.
    Transfusion services are manufacturers that release platelet 
components for transfusion to an identified recipient but do not 
routinely collect blood and blood components. Under this rule, 
transfusion services may rely on the steps taken by the blood 
collection establishment to assure that the risks of bacterial 
contamination of a platelet component are controlled, as long as those 
methods adequately control risks from the growth of bacteria until the 
transfusion service releases the product for transfusion. If the 
collection establishment did not take steps to control the risk of 
bacterial contamination, then the transfusion service must do so. We 
note that collection establishments currently take steps to control the 
risk of bacterial contamination in most platelet components, and expect 
that transfusion services will have to take steps to control the risk 
of bacterial contamination only for limited numbers and types of 
platelet components. For example, a transfusion service may intend to 
release for transfusion a platelet component derived from a single unit 
of whole blood. Collection

[[Page 29851]]

establishments do not typically subject such components to testing by 
culture-based methods, in part because the volume of the sample 
required for currently available culture tests would significantly 
deplete the volume of the component. For such platelet components, 
Sec.  606.145 would require the transfusion service to take steps, such 
as the performance of an FDA-cleared rapid test, to assure that the 
risk of bacterial contamination is adequately controlled.
    In the proposed rule (72 FR 63416 at 63421), FDA asked for comments 
on the following additional points related to testing for bacterial 
contamination: (1) Whether to require the identification of the species 
of the bacterial contaminant; (2) whether to require donor deferral and 
notification when identification of the contaminant indicates possible 
endogenous bacteremia, and not contamination during collection and 
processing; and (3) whether to extend bacterial testing requirements to 
other transfusable blood components. We discuss the first issue at 
comments 18 through 21, and the second issue at comments 103 through 
106, related to Sec. Sec.  630.30 and 630.40. With respect to the third 
issue, as discussed at comment 24, we have decided not to codify a 
requirement for bacterial testing of other blood components in this 
rule.
    (Comment 13) One comment supported requirements for bacterial 
testing of platelets prior to transfusion in order to reduce the risk 
of post-transfusion infection, sepsis, or mortality.
    (Response) We appreciate this support for bacterial testing of 
platelets.
    (Comment 14) Several comments opposed a requirement to obtain a 
negative test result prior to determining a platelet donation to be 
suitable. Two comments noted that this standard is difficult to apply 
when a culture-based method is used. The comments stated that in 
current practice, cultured platelets are released as negative-to-date 
while incubation is continued. The comments asked FDA not to finalize 
the proposed requirement.
    (Response) We agree that the proposed requirement that platelets be 
``tested for bacterial contamination and found negative'' may have been 
too prescriptive. Accordingly, Sec.  606.145(a) requires manufacturers 
to assure that the risks of bacterial contamination of platelets are 
adequately controlled using FDA approved or cleared devices or other 
adequate and appropriate methods found acceptable for this purpose by 
FDA. This could permit release on the basis of an adequate culture test 
method that is ``negative-to-date'' on the date of release, even if the 
establishment continues to incubate the culture. In some circumstances, 
the culture may later indicate the presence of bacteria in a platelet 
component that was appropriately released as ``negative-to-date''. In 
that event, the establishment would initiate appropriate action under 
21 CFR 606.100(c) and part 7, which may include notifying consignees 
and retrieving transfusable blood components prepared from that 
collection.
    (Comment 15) Some comments expressed concern that the testing 
requirement in this provision would be difficult for blood centers to 
implement because there are currently no cleared or approved release 
tests for bacterial testing of platelet products. One of the two 
cleared quality control tests does not report a single negative result, 
only a negative-to-date reading. The comment recommended that FDA not 
finalize these requirements and, instead, provide separate guidance 
after FDA approves a release test to identify bacteria in platelets.
    (Response) We decline to delay establishing a requirement that 
establishments assure that the risk of bacterial contamination of 
platelets is adequately controlled. Some manufacturers have been 
conducting bacterial testing on platelet components for over a decade. 
We note that the College of American Pathologists has established 
bacterial testing of platelets as an accreditation standard (Ref. 16). 
In March 2004, AABB established an accreditation standard requiring 
accredited blood banks and transfusion services to have methods to 
limit and detect bacterial contamination in all platelet components 
(Ref. 17). We have modified the language in the proposed rule so that 
we require manufacturers to assure that the risks of bacterial 
contamination of platelets are controlled using FDA approved or cleared 
devices or other adequate and appropriate methods found acceptable for 
this purpose by FDA. We intend to issue guidance addressing the use of 
methods that FDA has determined to be acceptable for this purpose.
    (Comment 16) One comment asserted that a requirement for negative 
test results could become outdated. Methods for bacterial testing 
continue to evolve and the possibility exists that a pathogen reduction 
procedure will obviate the need for bacterial screening.
    (Response) We recognize that, as technology develops, new methods, 
including pathogen reduction, may become adequate to satisfy the 
requirements in Sec.  606.145(a), and may replace testing. We 
anticipate that, in the future, we will recognize such developments by 
updating our guidance on the methods that would meet the requirements 
of Sec.  606.145(a).
    (Comment 17) One comment requests that the Agency add a requirement 
that bacterial contamination testing be performed in a laboratory 
certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 
(42 U.S.C. 263a) (CLIA) to perform the testing. The comment asserts 
that the CLIA requirements complement FDA requirements and lead to 
higher quality laboratory testing.
    (Response) We appreciate the comment. However, we note that final 
Sec.  606.145(a) requires manufacturers to ``assure that the risks of 
bacterial contamination of platelets are adequately controlled using 
FDA approved or cleared devices or other adequate and appropriate 
methods found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.'' In the future, 
technology may develop adequate methods that do not include testing, 
instead incorporating, for example, pathogen reduction technology. 
Under these circumstances, laboratory testing may no longer be 
necessary to assure platelet safety from bacterial contamination. For 
this reason, we are not specifying a specific requirement to ``test'' 
in the final rule, and do not require that ``tests'' be performed in a 
laboratory certified under CLIA.
    (Comment 18) One comment observed that bacterial speciation may be 
viewed as an important part of an investigation of a failed product 
quality control test. Species identification assists in isolating the 
source of the contamination, such as when the species is associated 
with environmental contamination, skin flora, or is an enteric 
organism. Furthermore, species identification permits appropriate 
investigation and donor counseling to take place. The comment noted 
that the identification of certain skin bacteria may raise questions 
about adequate performance of skin preparation procedures, and may 
support further examination of the donor's antecubital areas for 
scarring and pitting at the donor's next donation. The identification 
of enteric organisms such as Streptococcus bovis may be an indication 
of an underlying illness in the donor.
    (Response) We agree with these observations. Bacteria may be 
introduced into a platelet component by means that do not indicate any 
illness in the donor, such as passage of the collection needle through 
the donor's non-sterile skin, or other environmental factors. However, 
in rare cases, the presence of bacteria is due to its

[[Page 29852]]

endogenous presence in the donor's bloodstream. This can reveal a 
serious illness in the donor (Ref. 18). For example, the presence of 
Streptococcus bovis in the blood is associated with colonic pathology, 
including malignancy (Refs. 18, 19). Speciation of bacteria can provide 
information valuable to the processing establishment about deficiencies 
in platelet collection and processing methods, and may provide 
information that may be important to the donor's health. To assure 
blood safety, final Sec.  606.145(b) requires that, in the event that a 
blood collection establishment identifies platelets as bacterially 
contaminated, that establishment may not release for transfusion the 
platelets or any other component prepared from the same collection, and 
must take appropriate steps to identify the organism. Final Sec.  
606.145(c) requires that, in the event that a transfusion service 
identifies platelets as bacterially contaminated, the transfusion 
service must not release the platelets, and must notify the blood 
collection establishment that provided the platelets. The transfusion 
service must take appropriate steps to identify the organism; these 
steps may include contracting with the collection establishment or a 
laboratory to identify the organism. The transfusion service must 
further notify the blood collection establishment either by providing 
information about the species of the contaminating organism when the 
transfusion service has been able to identify it, or by advising the 
blood collection establishment when the transfusion service has 
determined that the species cannot be identified. Final Sec.  
606.145(d) provides that in the event that a contaminating organism is 
identified under Sec.  606.145(b) or (c), the responsible physician for 
the collection establishment must determine whether the contaminating 
organism is likely to be associated with a bacterial infection that is 
endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor, in accordance with a 
standard operating procedure developed under Sec.  606.100(b)(22). This 
determination may not be further delegated.
    Finally, we note that requirements to take appropriate steps to 
identify contaminating organisms apply only when bacterial 
contamination is found. In the event that approved or cleared devices 
or other methods that employ pathogen reduction technology, rather than 
relying on identifying contamination, are determined to be adequate and 
appropriate, the use of such technologies may eventually limit the 
situations where establishments would need to identify the presence of 
contaminating bacteria. If fewer instances of contamination are 
identified due to widespread use of pathogen reduction technologies, 
the instances where establishments are required to identify the 
contaminating organisms would also be reduced in number.
    (Comment 19) Several comments stated that they consider the 
decision whether to identify the species of the bacterial contaminant 
to fall within the purview of the collection facility's medical 
director. Some stated that the standard of care already includes 
speciation of isolated bacteria and donor notification when felt to be 
medically appropriate, and regulation is not required in this area. One 
comment stated that, consistent with the College of American 
Pathologists and AABB accreditation standards, blood establishments 
should have a defined policy for how to investigate and handle 
bacterial contamination. However, this policy represents medical 
decision making that should not be addressed in regulation.
    (Response) Current good manufacturing practices applicable to the 
manufacture of drugs, including transfusable platelet components, 
already require a manufacturer to thoroughly investigate the failure of 
a batch or any of its components to meet any of its specifications (21 
CFR 211.192). Identifying the species of contaminating bacteria can 
provide information concerning the likely pathway that permitted the 
bacteria to enter the contaminated component. That information may then 
permit a manufacturer to determine whether, and how, a deficient 
manufacturing practice (for example, poor arm preparation, non-sterile 
docking, or contamination of the collection container) allowed the 
contamination to occur. Such a determination could enable the 
manufacturer to take appropriate corrective actions, which may include, 
for example, additional training of personnel. Because speciation of 
bacteria provides information that is important to a manufacturer's 
investigation of the failure of a platelet component to be free of 
bacteria, a decision concerning whether or not to identify the species 
of contaminating bacteria is not solely for the medical director to 
make. Instead, it falls within the province of production and process 
controls. For this reason, we have included in Sec.  606.145 an 
explicit current good manufacturing practice requirement for 
manufacturers to take appropriate steps to identify the organism. In 
addition, in the event that the contaminating organism is identified, 
Sec.  606.145(d) requires the responsible physician for the collection 
establishment to determine whether the contaminating organism is likely 
to be associated with a bacterial infection that is endogenous to the 
bloodstream of the donor, in accordance with a standard operating 
procedure developed under Sec.  606.100(b)(22).
    (Comment 20) Some comments noted that FDA did not provide a 
definition of an endogenous bacterial infection, and stated that they 
are not aware of any bright line dividing an endogenous bacteremia from 
contamination, since the organisms involved overlap significantly.
    (Response) The proposed rule referenced ``endogenous'' bacteria in 
proposed Sec.  630.40(a), which would have required notification of a 
donor ``whose platelet component has tested positive for an endogenous 
bacterial contamination.'' In Sec.  606.145(d), we now require the 
responsible physician for the collection establishment to determine 
whether the contaminating organism is likely to be associated with a 
bacterial infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor, 
in accordance with a standard operating procedure. Examples of 
contaminating organisms that the responsible physician, based on his or 
her medical judgment, may determine to be likely to be associated with 
a bacterial infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the 
donor include Streptococcus bovis, Streptococcus veridins, and 
Salmonella. We require the responsible physician to make this 
determination in accordance with a standard operating procedure.
    (Comment 21) Another comment stated that FDA should not require 
testing for a contaminating organism until the Agency approves a test 
specifically for that purpose. The comment supported the introduction 
of bacterial screening when assays become available that are accurate, 
rapid, and economically feasible.
    (Response) We believe that, consistent with current standards of 
the College of American Pathologists and AABB, a majority of collection 
establishments are currently using bacterial detection methods such as 
culture to identify the contaminating organism. Section 606.145(b) and 
(c) require that blood collection establishments and transfusion 
centers take appropriate steps to identify the organism. To satisfy 
this requirement, an establishment would use adequate and currently 
available technologies, which may include appropriate culture methods. 
As we noted in our response to comment 15, we intend to issue guidance

[[Page 29853]]

addressing how establishments would use FDA approved or cleared devices 
or methods that FDA has determined to be adequate to assure that the 
risks of bacterial contamination of platelets are adequately 
controlled.
    (Comment 22) Some comments noted that, when a transfusion service 
pools platelets separated from Whole Blood with other units of Whole 
Blood-derived platelets immediately before releasing the pooled 
platelet component for transfusion, there is not enough time to use 
culture methods to assess the pooled unit for bacterial contamination. 
The comments stated that the proposed rulemaking would, as a practical 
matter, prohibit the use of components prepared from platelets 
separated from Whole Blood and then pooled immediately prior to 
transfusion. The comments further stated that while systems exist that 
allow Whole Blood-derived platelets to be pooled by a collection 
facility before storage and tested for bacteria using culture-based 
methods, these systems are not used by most collection facility 
component laboratories.
    (Response) We disagree that the requirements in final Sec.  606.145 
will prohibit the use of platelet components prepared at the 
transfusion service by pooling units of Whole Blood-derived platelets, 
and note that practices have evolved since the comment raised these 
objections. Since the proposed rule published, FDA has cleared rapid 
bacterial detection devices that detect bacteria in platelets. These 
devices do not use culture-based methods, and provide a result in less 
than 1 hour. The transfusion service may use such devices to control 
the risks of bacterial contamination before releasing a pooled platelet 
unit for transfusion. We also note that pre-storage pooling has become 
the prevailing practice for platelet units derived from Whole Blood. 
Based on data presented at the July 2012 AABB Workshop (Ref. 20), 
currently about 65 percent of Whole Blood-derived platelets are 
cultured by collection establishments as pre-stored pools. About 35 
percent of those platelet components are tested as pools constituted 
within 4 hours prior to transfusion using an FDA-cleared rapid test 
(Ref. 20).
    (Comment 23) Some comments stated that the standards requiring 
testing for platelet contamination, such as those of AABB, do not 
currently apply to Whole Blood-derived platelets. Transfusion services 
may not subject the platelet components they pool to bacterial testing, 
and instead use, at the time of release for transfusion, surrogate 
methods such as pH meters, to assess whether bacterial contamination is 
likely.
    (Response) Testing using surrogate methods such as pH meters is 
inadequate to determine whether platelets are bacterially contaminated. 
Studies have shown that pH does not constitute an adequate surrogate 
marker for bacterial contamination in platelets, and has poor 
sensitivity and poor positive predictive value (Ref. 13). Other FDA 
cleared devices, including rapid tests, are available for use by a 
transfusion service to identify the presence of bacterial 
contamination. The use of such devices can help assure the safety of 
the platelet component, and protect the recipient from bacterial 
infections. Accordingly, final Sec.  606.145(a) requires blood 
collection establishments and transfusion services to assure that the 
risks of bacterial contamination of platelets are adequately controlled 
using FDA approved or cleared devices or other adequate and appropriate 
methods found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.
    (Comment 24) Some comments stated that it is not appropriate to 
extend requirements addressing bacterial contamination of platelets to 
the manufacture of other transfusable blood components. They note that 
the rate of reported septic reactions to Red Blood Cells and plasma 
products is very low, and methods to identify bacterial contamination 
in these products are not well developed. Furthermore, there appears to 
be little rationale for requiring bacterial testing of blood products 
that, unlike platelets, are stored at cold temperatures that do not 
promote bacterial growth.
    (Response) We agree that transfusable blood components other than 
platelets are stored at cold temperatures that do not promote bacterial 
growth, and that the rate of septic reactions to these products is very 
low. The final rule includes requirements specific to bacterial 
contamination of platelet components, and also provides that, in the 
event that a blood collection establishment or transfusion service 
identifies platelets as bacterially contaminated, that establishment 
must not release the product or any other component prepared from the 
same collection. In the event of technological changes, or significant 
evidence that transfusion recipients are at greater risk from bacterial 
contamination of Red Blood Cell and Plasma products than is presently 
considered to exist, we will consider again whether additional 
requirements specific to blood components other than platelets are 
necessary.

E. Records (Sec.  606.160)

    The final rule makes the conforming changes described in proposed 
Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(ix) and (xi), now identified as Sec.  
606.160(b)(1)(x) and (xi). These changes relate to the move of the 
donor notification provisions from Sec.  630.6 to Sec.  630.40. Current 
Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(x) is redesignated as Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(ix). We 
also inserted the word ``postal'' before the word ``address'' in the 
current requirement, so that the recordkeeping requirement would 
closely track the requirement in final Sec.  630.10(g)(1) to obtain a 
``postal address.''
    In response to comments, we have significantly narrowed the 
requirements we proposed in Sec.  606.160(e). We have not finalized a 
requirement to share a record of all ineligible donors with appropriate 
personnel at all locations operating under the same license or under 
common management. Instead, final Sec.  606.160(e)(1) requires 
establishments to maintain at each location a record of all donors 
found to be ineligible or deferred at that location, so that blood and 
blood components from such individuals are not collected or distributed 
while they are ineligible or deferred. This provision is related to 
current Sec.  606.160(e), which requires that ``A record shall be 
available from which unsuitable donors may be identified so that 
products from such individuals will not be distributed.'' Final Sec.  
606.160(e)(2) through (4) requires establishments to maintain a 
cumulative record of donors deferred from donation under Sec.  610.41 
based on their reactive tests for evidence of infection due to HIV, 
HBV, or HCV. In addition, establishments other than Source Plasma 
establishments must include in this cumulative record donors deferred 
from donation for evidence of infection due to HTLV or Chagas disease. 
Establishments must maintain the cumulative record of deferred donors 
at all locations operating under the same license or under common 
management, must update the cumulative record at least monthly, and 
revise the cumulative record for donors who are requalified under Sec.  
610.41(b). Final Sec.  630.10(d) sets out requirements for 
establishments to consult the cumulative record of deferred donors 
before collection, or if pre-collection review is not feasible, before 
release of any blood or blood component prepared from the collection.
    (Comment 25) We received several comments objecting to the scope of 
donor deferrals that would be included in the list of ineligible donors 
described in the proposed rule.

[[Page 29854]]

    (Response) We agree that the types of donor deferrals that were 
proposed to trigger inclusion in the list of ineligible donors were 
broad, and that requiring extensive deferral records to be updated and 
consulted at the donation site before collection could be unduly 
burdensome. The final rule requires establishments to enter into the 
cumulative list only those donors who were deferred under Sec.  610.41 
due to reactive test results for HIV, HBV, or HCV, as well as HTLV or 
Chagas disease for donors other than Source Plasma donors.
    (Comment 26) We received several comments objecting to a 
requirement for a common donor deferral registry to be used by all 
donor screening locations operating under a single operating license or 
common management. Some expressed concern that it would be 
technologically difficult to make this information available to all 
locations under a single operating license or under common management.
    (Response) Under the final rule establishments must enter into the 
cumulative list only those donors who were deferred under Sec.  610.41 
due to reactive screening test results for HIV, HBV, or HCV, as well as 
HTLV or Chagas disease for donors other than Source Plasma donors. We 
believe that it is a current industry practice to maintain such lists 
(Refs. 21, 22). In the final rule, we have significantly narrowed the 
scope of information subject to this requirement in a manner that is 
consistent with this industry practice, and to reduce the technological 
challenges of making reliable information available.
    We disagree with the suggestion that it is technologically 
difficult for facilities operating under a single license, or under 
common management, to make this more limited cumulative record of 
deferred donors available at collection sites for consultation by all 
facilities operating under a single operating license or under common 
management. The cumulative record is now required to list only a subset 
of deferred donors, who are identified by very specific and objective 
criteria. This information may be made available by providing a copy of 
the cumulative record of deferred donors at each collection site. 
Establishments may also comply with this requirement by providing for a 
pre-collection query of a centrally maintained cumulative record of 
deferred donors. In the event that pre-collection review is not 
feasible, Sec.  630.10(d)(1) requires establishments to consult the 
cumulative record prior to release of any blood or blood component 
prepared from the collection.
    (Comment 27) In the preamble to the proposed rule we also solicited 
comments on the feasibility of sharing donor deferral lists among 
licensed and registered establishments. Such shared lists are known as 
national donor deferral registries, and are already in use among 
establishments collecting Source Plasma. We received several comments 
opposing a requirement for a national donor deferral registry. Some 
described national donor deferral registries as unnecessary or 
burdensome. One comment emphasized differences between Source Plasma 
and collections of Whole Blood and other blood components, and stated 
that the Source Plasma donor deferral registry would be a poor model 
for other collection establishments. The comment cited technical 
limitations such as computer down times and connectivity from remote 
locations, and stated that the creation of a national donor deferral 
system for whole blood donors would be burdensome and time-consuming.
    (Response) As noted, it is currently the practice of most Source 
Plasma collection establishments to determine whether a donor is 
permanently deferred because the donor tested reactive for HIV, HBV, or 
HCV by accessing a shared list of deferred donors called the National 
Donor Deferral Registry (NDDR). We recognize that the NDDR is a 
voluntary, self-regulating initiative by the Source Plasma collection 
industry that is operated by a third party administrator. We agree it 
is an important industry practice to ensure the safety of plasma-
derived therapies. Moreover, we are aware that, to increase efficiency 
and to protect donor confidentiality and proprietary information across 
non-affiliated Source Plasma establishments, information entered into 
the NDDR is coded as to infectious disease test result. This rule is 
not intended to interfere with that practice. We believe that the 
current NDDR goes beyond the requirements in the final rule, since it 
is a national list of donors deferred by multiple licensed 
establishments (Ref. 23). For Source Plasma establishments, we believe 
that participation in the NDDR would meet the requirements under this 
section. If a Source Plasma establishment does not participate in the 
NDDR, the establishment must establish its own cumulative record of 
deferred donors with all other establishments operating under common 
management or a single license, as required under this section.
    We are not requiring blood collection establishments to share donor 
deferral information in a national donor deferral registry.
    (Comment 28) In the preamble of the proposed rule (72 FR 63416 at 
63420), we stated that we were considering whether to include, in the 
final rule, a provision requiring that the donor deferral records be 
used and disclosed only for purposes consistent with subchapter F of 21 
CFR Chapter I. One comment expressed concern about the importance of 
protecting donor information. Another comment explained why additional 
protections are not needed. For example, the NDDR used by Source Plasma 
collectors is never available in its entirety to its users. When an 
NDDR check is performed, the database is queried to determine whether a 
record for the potential donor is present. If a record is present, the 
establishment performing the check is informed that a record exists. No 
other information is shared. One comment stated confidentiality of 
information is of extraordinary importance to the industry. The comment 
stated that each company uses its own best methods for handling 
confidential information consistent with its operational policies and 
procedures in submitting relevant information to the NDDR. One comment 
stated that in their current system, unique donor identifiers such as 
social security numbers are not available.
    (Response) As we discussed earlier in this section, we are not 
requiring establishments to participate in a national donor deferral 
registry system, and we are not requiring the sharing of information 
outside a single license or outside common management.

F. Test Requirements (Sec. Sec.  610.40, 640.5, 640.71(a))

    We have modified proposed Sec.  610.40(a), (b), and (e) in order to 
address concerns that the proposed rule did not permit an adequately 
flexible approach to donor testing. Although the testing for HIV, HBV, 
HCV, and HTLV that is required under current Sec.  610.40(a) would 
continue under the new rule, we have also provided additional 
flexibility for FDA to permit testing less frequently than at every 
donation, or as appropriate, to stop testing, for relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections other than HIV, HBV, and HCV, provided that the 
practices are supported by evidence related to the risk of transmission 
of such infection, such as epidemiological data and developments in 
risk reduction technology. In Sec.  610.40(a), we have clarified 
requirements for Chagas disease and West Nile virus testing and have 
continued the existing requirement

[[Page 29855]]

to test donations for evidence of syphilis. We have also provided 
requirements for testing for infectious agents that may be identified 
in the future as relevant transfusion-transmitted infections, in the 
event that testing becomes necessary to ensure blood safety.
    Final Sec.  610.40(b) clarifies that the tests performed to comply 
with Sec.  610.40(a) must be ``licensed, approved, or cleared screening 
tests''; current Sec.  610.40(b) refers only to ``approved screening 
tests''. We made this change because Sec.  610.40(b) is now applicable 
to syphilis testing, and syphilis screening tests are generally 
``cleared,'' and not licensed or approved.
    The final rule contains a different heading for Sec.  610.40(c). 
Instead of ``Exceptions to testing for allogeneic transfusion or 
further manufacturing use,'' which is used in current Sec.  610.40(c), 
the heading is now ``Exceptions to testing for dedicated donations, 
medical devices, and samples.'' We made this change because the 
exception from testing for HTLV is now addressed in Sec.  
610.40(a)(2)(ii) and (iii), and we are removing the exception for HTLV 
now found in current Sec.  610.40(c)(2). Since Sec.  610.40(c) no 
longer addresses Source Plasma (the most commonly identifiable blood 
component collected for further manufacturing use) the new heading is 
more accurate.
    In Sec.  610.40(e), we are maintaining the existing requirement for 
further testing when a donation tests reactive for a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection. When a licensed, approved, or 
cleared supplemental test is not available, the rule provides greater 
flexibility to allow the use of licensed, approved, or cleared tests, 
as adequate and appropriate to determine the reactive donor's infection 
status. We address further testing for donations reactive for syphilis 
in Sec.  610.40(e)(2).
    Under the proposed rule, existing testing practices for HIV, HBV, 
HCV, and HTLV would continue. In addition, we proposed that, when a 
test for the disease or disease agent is approved or cleared for donor 
screening and FDA determines that testing is necessary to reduce the 
risk of transmission of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection 
by the blood or blood component, blood collection establishments would 
be required to test for CJD, vCJD, and malaria, which were identified 
as relevant transfusion-transmitted infections in proposed Sec.  
630.3(g)(1)(vi) through (viii). We further proposed that, when the 
conditions concerning the availability and necessity of testing were 
met, establishments would be required to test for other relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections meeting the standard in proposed 
Sec.  630.3(g)(2).
    We also solicited comments with supporting data on whether to 
discontinue the requirement for testing for syphilis, and we indicated 
that we might drop the requirement for syphilis testing if sufficient 
data were submitted (72 FR 63416 at 63422). We stated that testing for 
a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection may not be required if 
viral inactivation or removal procedures have been validated to ensure 
inactivation or removal of the infectious agent and screening for risk 
factors is available, unless the risk of harm from transmission is too 
great to rely solely on viral inactivation procedures and screening for 
risk factors. We are finalizing this provision using the concepts 
proposed, but have provided greater flexibility to permit 
establishments to stop testing, or vary testing frequency, when the 
evidence shows testing each donation intended for transfusion is no 
longer necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of the relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection by the blood or blood component. Such 
changes must be made in accordance with procedures found acceptable for 
this purpose by FDA. We have retained requirements for syphilis testing 
of blood and blood components for transfusion, since we did not receive 
data sufficient to support their elimination. However, if such evidence 
is developed in the future, the rule would allow establishments to 
change their testing practices in accordance with procedures found 
acceptable for this purpose by FDA. We have removed existing Sec.  
610.40(i), which required testing for syphilis, and address testing 
transfusable blood and blood components for syphilis in Sec.  
610.40(a). To reflect this new citation for the syphilis testing 
requirement, we made conforming changes to Sec. Sec.  610.40(d), (g), 
(h)(1), (h)(2)(vi), and (h)(2)(vii), 610.41 and 610.42.
    Current Sec.  640.5 provides additional standards for testing Whole 
Blood. We did not propose changes to Sec.  640.5 in the proposed rule. 
However, based on comments received and discussed at comment 29, we 
recognize that greater flexibility in testing schedules may be 
appropriate, and that it may be adequate and appropriate to test donors 
for certain relevant transfusion-transmitted infections less frequently 
than at every donation, or while observing geographic or seasonal 
limitations. Accordingly, we are making a related change to the 
introductory paragraph of Sec.  640.5, which currently provides ``All 
laboratory tests shall be made on a specimen of blood taken from the 
donor at the time of collecting the unit of blood, and these tests 
shall include the following.'' Because it may be appropriate to perform 
testing other than on each collection, we are modifying this to state 
``All laboratory tests shall be made on a specimen of blood taken from 
the donor, and these tests shall include the following.''
    We are also making one other minor conforming change, removing 
current Sec.  640.5(a) which requires ``Whole Blood shall be negative 
to a serological test for syphilis.'' This provision is duplicative of 
the requirement to test for syphilis in new Sec.  610.40(a)(2), and to 
avoid confusion we are deleting Sec.  640.5(a).
    For similar reasons, we are amending the provisions of current 
Sec.  640.71(a) which specify certain donor screening tests related to 
Source Plasma. We are removing the phrase ``the following tests'' and 
adding in its place ``testing performed in accordance with Sec.  610.40 
of this chapter and Sec.  640.65(b)'' and we are removing the list of 
tests set out in current Sec.  640.71(a)(1) through(4). We are making 
these changes so that Sec.  640.71(a) will conform to final Sec.  
610.40.
1. Section 610.40(a)
    Final Sec.  610.40(a) addresses testing for the infectious agents 
already required under current Sec.  610.40(a), and now identified in 
Sec.  630.3(h)(1) as relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. We 
continue to require testing of each donation for evidence of infection 
due to HIV; HBV; and HCV. We also continue to require testing of each 
donation, except Source Plasma, for evidence of infection due to HTLV 
and syphilis. We are adding a requirement to test donations, except 
Source Plasma, for West Nile virus and Chagas disease.
    As in the existing regulations, testing requirements for certain 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections vary for Source Plasma. For 
example, we have concluded that, in the absence of testing, the risk of 
HTLV, a highly cell-associated pathogen, is sufficiently mitigated by 
plasma derivative manufacturing steps, including validated viral 
inactivation and removal procedures. These manufacturing procedures 
therefore obviate the need to test individual donations of Source 
Plasma for HTLV. We have further determined that these manufacturing 
procedures obviate the need to test individual donations of Source 
Plasma for West Nile virus and Chagas disease. Testing of Source Plasma 
donors for syphilis must be performed every 4 months in accordance with 
Sec.  640.65(b).

[[Page 29856]]

    The final rule allows for the possibility that, in the future, 
evidence related to the risk of transmission of HTLV, syphilis, West 
Nile virus, and Chagas disease could support the conclusion that 
testing of each donation is no longer necessary to reduce adequately 
and appropriately the risk of transmission of that relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection by the blood or blood component. 
Under final Sec.  610.40(a)(2)(iii)(A), if testing each donation is not 
necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, an 
establishment may adopt an adequate and appropriate alternative testing 
procedure that has been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA. 
Section 610.40(a)(4) makes clear that an assessment that testing each 
donation is not necessary could be based on, for example, changing 
science, or epidemiological or other scientific data. It may also 
include evidence related to seasonal or regional variations in the 
activity of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. Under final 
Sec.  610.40(a)(2)(iii)(A), following an assessment that testing each 
donation is not necessary, establishments may adopt alternative 
procedures that have been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA such 
as initial or periodic testing of donations from the same donor due to 
the epidemiology of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection.
    An example of such an alternative testing paradigm is FDA's current 
recommendation contained in guidance for one-time testing of a donor 
for Chagas disease, instead of testing the donor at each donation (Ref. 
24). FDA made this recommendation after reviewing comments to the draft 
guidance and consulting with the Blood Products Advisory Committee 
(April 2009) (Ref. 25). Consistent with Sec.  610.40(a)(2)(iii)(A), we 
continue to recognize this testing practice as an acceptable 
alternative testing paradigm for Chagas disease. In the future, new 
epidemiologic or other scientific data could demonstrate that a 
different testing paradigm, including testing of the donor at each 
donation, is needed to adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of 
transmission of Chagas disease.
    This rule also provides that establishments may stop testing blood 
and blood components for HTLV, syphilis, West Nile virus, or Chagas 
disease in the event that such testing is no longer necessary. Section 
610.40(a)(2)(iii)(B) authorizes such an action taken in accordance with 
procedures found acceptable for this purpose by FDA, when testing is no 
longer necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of such infection by blood or a blood component, based on 
evidence related to the risk of transmission of that relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection. Section 610.40(a)(4) describes the 
evidence that would support such a finding, such as a change in the 
epidemiology of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, or the 
implementation of pathogen reduction technology. We note that the rule 
does not require establishments to test donors of Source Plasma for 
these relevant transfusion-transmitted infections because of reduced 
risk of transmission by fractionated products manufactured from Source 
Plasma.
    We recognize that there are no donor screening tests currently 
licensed, approved, or cleared for the following relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections identified in Sec.  610.40(a)(3): CJD, vCJD, or 
malaria. In the event that a donor screening test is licensed, approved 
or cleared for one of these infections, the rule would require the use 
of the test, if testing is necessary to reduce adequately and 
appropriately the risk of transmission of that relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection.
    Similarly, FDA has not yet identified any relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections under the criteria in Sec.  630.3(h)(2). In the 
future, if a transfusion-transmitted infection is identified by FDA to 
meet the criteria for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection 
under Sec.  630.3(h)(2), and FDA has licensed, approved or cleared a 
donor screening test, FDA may seek advice from the Blood Products 
Advisory Committee on the use of the donor screening test, and seek 
public comment by issuing guidance in accordance with good guidance 
practices. When a transfusion-transmitted infection has met both the 
standards under final Sec.  630.3(h)(2) and Sec.  610.40(a)(3), such 
that it now meets the criteria for a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection and testing is necessary to reduce adequately and 
appropriately the risk of transmission of that relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection, use of the test would be required. When testing 
for a particular relevant transfusion-transmitted infection become 
necessary under final Sec.  610.40(a)(2) or (a)(3), FDA intends to 
enforce the testing requirements under this regulation only after 
issuing a final guidance advising establishments and the public of the 
Agency's assessment of the applicable criteria.
    Should testing become necessary to reduce adequately and 
appropriately the risk of transmission of a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection under Sec.  610.40(a)(3), FDA will also consider 
the application of Sec.  610.40(a)(3)(ii)(A), which we drafted to 
parallel Sec.  610.40(a)(2)(iii)(A). Under this provision, if testing 
each donation is no longer necessary to reduce adequately and 
appropriately the risk of transmission of a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection, an establishment may adopt an adequate and 
appropriate alternative testing procedure that has been found 
acceptable for this purpose by FDA. Under Sec.  610.40(a)(4), such 
methods may address seasonal or regional variations in the activity of 
the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, or where, due to the 
epidemiology of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, initial 
or periodic testing of donations from the same donor (instead of 
testing each donation) would be sufficient. In the event that the 
standard set forth in Sec.  610.40(a)(3)(ii)(A) and (a)(4) is met, FDA 
intends to reassess the applicability of alternative testing 
procedures, and if needed, seek advice from the Blood Products Advisory 
Committee and issue new guidance in accordance with good guidance 
practices. Similarly, Sec.  610.40(a)(3)(ii)(B), which we drafted to 
parallel Sec.  610.40(a)(2)(iii)(B), recognizes that, at some later 
point in time, if evidence related to the risk of transmission of such 
infection supports a determination that testing is no longer necessary 
to adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of that 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. When testing is not 
necessary, establishments may stop such testing in accordance with 
procedures found acceptable for this purpose by FDA. Sections 
610.40(a)(3)(ii)(A) and (a)(3)(ii)(B) provide mechanisms for tailoring 
testing requirements to more accurately address the risks presented by 
a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, while assuring that blood 
establishments perform adequate and appropriate testing of blood 
donations.
    We recognize that greater flexibility in testing schedules may be 
appropriate, and have incorporated these changes into this final rule. 
Accordingly, we are making a related change to the introductory 
paragraph of Sec.  640.5, which currently provides ``All laboratory 
tests shall be made on a specimen of blood taken from the donor at the 
time of collecting the unit of blood, and these tests shall include the 
following.'' Because it may be appropriate to perform testing other 
than on each collection, we are

[[Page 29857]]

modifying this to state ``All laboratory tests shall be made on a 
specimen of blood taken from the donor, and these tests shall include 
the following.''
    (Comment 29) One comment supported a requirement to test for 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections that meet the definition 
under proposed Sec.  630.3(g)(2), when such testing is available and is 
necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of the relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection by the blood or blood component, 
because of the need to identify and respond to current and future 
agents.
    (Response) We agree with this comment. We have drafted final Sec.  
610.40(a)(3) to provide a framework for applying the rule's testing 
provisions to infectious agents that may, in the future, meet the 
standard for relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, as defined in 
final Sec.  630.3(h)(2). For example, under Sec.  630.3(h)(2), a 
transfusion-transmitted infection such as babesia or dengue virus may 
meet the definition of a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection if 
the disease or disease agent meets criteria for incidence and/or 
prevalence or may have been accidentally or intentionally released, and 
if appropriate screening measures have been developed and/or an 
appropriate screening test has been licensed, approved, or cleared for 
such use and is available. In the event that such a test has been 
licensed, cleared, or approved, its use would be required under this 
section when necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of the 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. Whether testing is 
necessary would depend on all the relevant circumstances, including, 
for example, whether screening for travel history or another risk 
factor would, by itself, adequately reduce the risk of transmission. 
FDA intends to seek advice on relevant scientific issues from the Blood 
Products Advisory Committee as appropriate.
    (Comment 30) One comment suggested that testing be required for 
West Nile virus, Chagas disease, and bacteria because testing for those 
agents is currently conducted.
    (Response) We agree that establishments should be required to 
conduct testing for West Nile virus and Chagas disease for blood and 
blood components for transfusion. Under the proposed rule, these 
infectious agents would have been evaluated under the standards for 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection in proposed Sec.  
630.3(g)(2). To provide greater clarity on this regulation, we have 
specified these diseases by name in the definition of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection at Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(vi) and (vii), 
and testing for these agents is addressed in Sec.  610.40(a)(2). We 
recognize that bacterial contamination of platelets presents 
significant issues related to the safety, purity, and potency of 
platelets. We have addressed the risk presented by bacterial 
contamination of platelets in Sec. Sec.  606.145 (see comments 13 
through 24), 630.30 (see comments 103 through 106), and 630.40 (see 
comment 107). We address bacterial contamination of blood components 
other than platelets in response to comment 24.
    (Comment 31) Several comments stated that FDA should not require 
that blood donors be tested for syphilis. One comment recommended that 
testing for syphilis continue to be required, but for public health 
reasons, rather than for its value in protecting blood safety.
    (Response) We are continuing to require testing for syphilis at 
this time. We note that in the proposed rule, FDA requested information 
on the value of testing for syphilis as a marker of increased risk 
behavior, as a surrogate test for other infectious diseases, and in 
preventing the transmission of syphilis through blood transfusion. We 
stated that if we received adequate data, FDA would eliminate or modify 
this testing requirement in the final rule. This was the second time we 
invited the submission of such data; we also invited it in an earlier 
proposed rule, ``Requirements for Testing Human Blood Donors for 
Evidence of Infection Due to Communicable Disease Agents'' (64 FR 
45340, August 19, 1999). Syphilis testing was discussed at the 
September 2000 Blood Products Advisory Committee meeting and studies 
that might help determine that such testing would no longer be needed 
were identified (Ref. 26). We have not received adequate scientific 
data in response to our solicitations.
    However, the final rule recognizes the possibility of discontinuing 
the requirement for syphilis testing of blood and blood components 
intended for transfusion. We have moved this requirement from Sec.  
610.40(i) to Sec.  610.40(a). The more flexible framework found in 
Sec.  610.40(a)(2)(iii) provides a mechanism under which an 
establishment could stop testing for syphilis or adopt different 
testing frequency, provided that evidence related to the risk of 
transmission demonstrates that testing of each donation is no longer 
necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of syphilis, and provided that the change is made in 
accordance with procedures found acceptable for this purpose by FDA. In 
the event that the evidence supports such a determination under Sec.  
610.40(a)(2)(iii)(B), FDA intends to issue guidance recognizing 
procedures for ending syphilis testing of blood and blood components 
for transfusion.
    (Comment 32) Another comment asserted that current syphilis testing 
practices are deficient, since many confirmed positives are in fact 
false positives.
    (Response) We recognize that syphilis screening tests, like other 
screening tests, may yield false positive results on some donations. 
However, Sec.  610.40(h)(2)(vi) permits the use of blood and blood 
components that test reactive for syphilis if the donation is further 
tested by an adequate and appropriate test which demonstrates that the 
reactive screening test is a biologic false-positive. In addition, 
consistent with the current regulation, the final rule permits the 
reentry of positive donors who have been successfully requalified under 
Sec.  610.41(b).
    (Comment 33) Several comments stated that testing for CJD and vCJD 
should not be required.
    (Response) There are no currently licensed, approved, or cleared 
donor screening tests for these agents. If and when donor screening 
tests for CJD or vCJD become available, testing would be required under 
this provision only if testing was necessary to adequately and 
appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of CJD or vCJD, taking 
into account the risks presented by donated blood and blood components.
    (Comment 34) One comment stated that the use of the defined term 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection in the proposed rule (Sec.  
630.3(g)) in Sec.  610.40(a) would require testing for agents such as 
cytomegalovirus (CMV), even though screening of all donors for CMV is 
not currently thought to be necessary.
    (Response) We agree that, currently, it is not necessary to test 
all donors for CMV. For this reason, donor screening testing for CMV is 
not now required under Sec.  610.40 of the final rule, which in Sec.  
610.40(b) requires testing only ``as necessary to reduce adequately and 
appropriately the risk of transmission'' (emphasis added).
2. Section 610.40(e)
    In this section, FDA is maintaining the requirement for further 
testing when a donation tests reactive for a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection. Consistent with the existing regulation and the 
proposed rule, establishments must perform further testing using an 
approved supplemental test when one is available. However, the final 
rule now

[[Page 29858]]

recognizes that supplemental tests may be licensed, approved, or 
cleared. We eliminated the term ``additional'' as unnecessary. When a 
supplemental test is not available, the final rule requires the use of 
other tests as adequate and appropriate to provide additional 
information concerning the reactive donor's infection status. This 
language provides greater clarity concerning the purpose of further 
testing. Under this paradigm, if an approved supplemental test was not 
available, or became unavailable, an establishment would conduct 
further testing using, for example, an alternative algorithm to provide 
additional information to the establishment concerning the donor's 
infection status. For example, a testing algorithm that was adequate 
and appropriate to determine the reactive donor's infection status 
might include the use of multiple approved donor screening tests. We 
intend to issue guidance on these issues as needed.
    Section 610.40(e)(2) requires establishments to perform further 
testing when a donation is reactive by a non-treponemal donor screening 
test for syphilis. Previously, we did not require establishments to 
perform any supplemental testing after a reactive test for syphilis. 
However, further testing may help to rule out syphilis infection. 
Additionally, a reactive test result on a non-treponemal syphilis test 
may be a biologic false-positive result, which may potentially be 
indicative of a serious illness in the donor, such as lupus 
erythematosus (Ref. 27). In this setting, further testing will provide 
important information for donor notification, including information 
that is appropriate for medical follow up and counseling under Sec.  
630.40(b)(4). Blood establishments must perform further testing using a 
licensed, cleared, or approved supplemental test for syphilis, when 
available. When no such supplemental test is available, FDA would 
consider the use of a licensed, approved, or cleared treponemal test to 
be adequate and appropriate to provide additional information 
concerning the donor's infection status. Establishments are not 
required to perform further testing of a donation found to be reactive 
by a treponemal donor screening test for syphilis, since those tests do 
not present similar risks of a biological false positive result.
    (Comment 35) FDA received several comments raising concern about 
the lack of availability of supplemental tests for certain infectious 
agents for which FDA currently requires donor screening.
    (Response) FDA recognizes the importance of confirming the 
infection status of a deferred donor. This information is important to 
donor notification, and in some instances determines whether a donor 
should be entered into the cumulative record of deferred donors under 
Sec.  606.160(e). Accordingly, we have revised this section to require, 
when a supplemental test is not available, the use of one or more 
licensed, approved, or cleared tests as adequate and appropriate to 
provide additional information concerning the reactive donor's 
infection status.

G. Donor Deferral (Sec.  610.41)

    We have made conforming changes in final Sec.  610.41(a) to 
incorporate the ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection'' 
terminology, the inclusion of syphilis testing in Sec.  610.40(a) 
instead of Sec.  610.40(i), and updated the term from ``supplemental'' 
testing to ``further'' testing, to reflect the change in Sec.  
610.40(e). At the same time we clarified the meaning of the second 
sentence of Sec.  610.41(a)(1), which now states, ``However, you must 
defer the donor if further testing for HBV or HTLV has been performed 
under Sec.  610.40(e) and the donor is found to be positive, or if a 
second, licensed, cleared, or approved, screening test for HBV or HTLV 
has been performed on the same donation under Sec.  610.40(a) and is 
reactive, or if the donor tests reactive for anti-HBc or anti-HTLV, 
types I and II on more than one occasion.'' Previously this provision 
stated, ``When a supplemental (additional, more specific) test for 
anti-HBc or anti-HTLV, types I and II has been approved for use under 
Sec.  610.40(e) by FDA, such a donor must be deferred.'' Consistent 
with current guidance, establishments now defer a donor who tests 
reactive for anti-HBc or anti-HTLV, types I and II, on more than one 
occasion, or when further testing on the same donation is positive, or 
when a second licensed, cleared, or approved screening test for HBV or 
HTLV has been performed on the same donation and is reactive (Refs. 28, 
29).

H. Purpose and Scope (Sec.  630.1)

    Final Sec.  630.1 describes the purpose and scope of the combined 
subparts of part 630 that require blood establishments to perform the 
following activities: determine that on the day of donation the donor 
is in good health and is eligible to donate blood or blood components; 
determine the suitability of the donation for use in transfusion or 
further manufacturing; and notify a donor who is deferred from donating 
because the donor did not satisfy the eligibility criteria described in 
part 630 or because the donor's test results revealed a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection as described under Sec.  610.40. This 
section is consistent with the proposed rule, with one change. Since we 
are not defining the term ``you'' in Sec.  630.3, we have finalized 
Sec.  630.1(b) to describe the scope as ``Blood establishments that 
manufacture blood and blood components, as defined in Sec.  630.3(a) 
and (b) of this chapter, must comply with subparts A, B, and C of this 
part.'' Accordingly, the requirements in part 630 apply to any 
establishment or facility that collects, or performs other 
manufacturing steps for, blood or blood components for transfusion, 
including components for autologous use, for further manufacturing use, 
or for use as a component of a medical device.

I. Medical Supervision (Sec. Sec.  630.5, 640.130)

    Final Sec.  630.5(a) requires a responsible physician, as defined 
in Sec.  630.3(i), to determine the eligibility of a donor of blood or 
blood components, including Source Plasma, in accordance with the 
regulations in 21 CFR Chapter I, subchapter F. This section describes 
the activities related to the collection of blood and blood components 
that the responsible physician may delegate to a physician substitute 
or other trained person, taking into account the training and medical 
expertise needed to assess whether the donor's health permits the 
collection, and to mitigate the risks related to donation. Recognizing 
that conditions may change, final Sec.  630.5(a)(1)(i)(C) provides that 
the Director, CBER, may authorize the delegation of additional 
activities, after determining that delegating the activity would 
present no undue medical risk to the donor or to the transfusion 
recipient. The requirements in this section are not intended to preempt 
State or local laws when those laws require a higher level of medical 
oversight for certain blood collection activities This section combines 
the existing requirements related to eligibility for donors of Whole 
Blood (Sec.  640.3) and Source Plasma (Sec.  640.63) into a single 
section.
    For the collection of blood and blood components other than Source 
Plasma and plasma collected by plasmapheresis, Sec.  630.5(b) 
authorizes the responsible physician to delegate the following 
activities to a physician substitute or other trained person: 
Determining the eligibility of a donor and documenting assessments 
related to that determination; collecting blood and blood components; 
returning red blood cells to a donor during apheresis procedures; and 
obtaining the informed consent of a plateletpheresis donor as described 
in Sec.  640.21(g). Under

[[Page 29859]]

Sec.  630.5(b)(2), the responsible physician is not required to be 
present at the collection site when any of these activities are 
performed, provided that the responsible physician has delegated 
oversight of these activities to a trained person who is not only 
adequately trained and experienced in the performance of these 
activities but also adequately trained and experienced in the 
recognition of and response to the known adverse responses associated 
with blood collection procedures.
    However, under Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(A), the responsible physician 
must not delegate the examination and determination that the health of 
a donor would not be adversely affected by donating, when the donor's 
systolic blood pressure falls outside the range of 90 to 180 
millimeters (mm) of mercury, or when the diastolic blood pressure falls 
outside the range of 50 to 100 mm of mercury. Additionally, the 
responsible physician must not delegate the examination and 
determination that the health of a donor would not be adversely 
affected by donating Whole Blood or Red Blood Cells more frequently 
than specified under Sec.  630.15(a)(1).
    Under Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(B), the responsible physician must not 
delegate the following determinations: That the health of a donor whose 
pulse measurement falls outside the range of 50 to 100 beats per 
minute, or is irregular, would not be adversely affected by donating; 
that the health of an ineligible autologous donor permits the 
collection procedure; and that a dedicated plateletpheresis donor is in 
good health. The responsible physician may make the determinations 
addressed in Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(B) by telephonic or other offsite 
consultation.
    Under Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(C), the responsible physician must not 
delegate the determination of the health of the donor or the 
determination that the blood or blood component collected would present 
no undue medical risk to the transfusion recipient, as required for 
dedicated donations by an ineligible donor for a specific transfusion 
recipient based on documented exceptional medical need. The responsible 
physician may make this determination by telephonic or other offsite 
consultation. In recognition that conditions may evolve in the future, 
we have added Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(v) to permit the responsible physician 
to delegate other activities when authorized by the Director, CBER, 
based on a determination that delegating the activities would present 
no undue medical risk to the donor or to the transfusion recipient. We 
anticipate that the Director, CBER, would authorize such delegations 
under 21 CFR 640.120, or in response to submissions from individual 
establishments, as appropriate. In addition, such authorizations may be 
discussed in guidance issued under good guidance practices.
    For the collection of Source Plasma and plasma collected by 
plasmapheresis, Sec.  630.5(c)(1)(i) authorizes the responsible 
physician to delegate to a physician substitute or other trained person 
the following activities related to donor eligibility and blood 
component collection, provided that the responsible physician or a 
physician substitute is on the premises at the collection site: (1) 
Determining and documenting donor eligibility, (2) collecting blood and 
blood components, (3) returning red blood cells to the donor during 
apheresis, (4) other activities authorized by the CBER Director, (5) 
the collection of Source Plasma in an approved collection program from 
a donor who is otherwise determined to be ineligible, and (6) the 
collection of a blood sample for testing required under Sec.  
640.65(b)(1)(i). Similar to collections of blood and blood components 
subject to delegations under Sec.  630.5(b), Sec.  630.5(c)(1)(i)(A)(1) 
through (c)(1)(i)(A)(3) provide that the responsible physician must not 
delegate specific responsibilities related to the assessment of donor 
blood pressure, donation frequency after red blood cell loss, donor 
pulse, and certain plasmapheresis collections from an ineligible donor. 
Section 630.5(c)(1)(i)(A)(4) and (c)(1)(i)(A)(5) provide that the 
responsible physician must not delegate the responsible physician's 
determination related to a donor's false-positive reaction to a 
serologic test for syphilis, or the responsible physician's 
determination to permit plasmapheresis of a donor with syphilis. In 
addition, Sec.  630.5(c)(1)(ii) authorizes the responsible physician, 
who may or may not be present when these activities are performed, to 
delegate to a trained physician substitute the approval and signature 
for a plasmapheresis procedure and review and signature for accumulated 
laboratory data, the calculated values of each component, and the 
collection records. However, the responsible physician must not 
delegate the decision to reinstate a donor in accordance with Sec.  
640.65(b)(2)(i). These provisions in Sec.  630.5(c)(1)(ii) were not 
expressly included in proposed Sec.  630.5. We have included them here 
in order to state more clearly how the new delegation provisions in 
Sec.  630.5 affect the existing responsibilities of the responsible 
physician.
    With respect to donor immunization, consistent with the proposed 
rule, Sec.  630.5(c)(2)(i) authorizes the responsible physician to 
delegate to a physician substitute or other trained person the 
administration of an immunizing agent other than red cells to a donor 
in an approved immunization program, provided that the responsible 
physician or physician substitute is on the premises. Section 
630.5(c)(2)(ii) authorizes the responsible physician to delegate to a 
physician substitute the function of donor immunization with red blood 
cells, provided that the responsible physician has approved the 
procedure and is on the premises when the procedure is performed. 
Section 630.5(c)(3) authorizes the responsible physician to delegate to 
a physician substitute the administration of the medical history, 
physical examination (including examination before immunization), and 
informed consent required in Sec.  630.15(b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(5). 
The responsible physician is not required to be present at the 
collection site when the physician substitute performs these 
activities.
    Section 630.5(c)(4) addresses delegations for collections from 
infrequent plasma donors, as defined in Sec.  630.3(e). This section 
authorizes the responsible physician to delegate to a trained person 
the following activities related to collections from infrequent plasma 
donors: the activities listed in Sec.  630.15(b)(1)(i) through 
(b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(v), and the administration of the informed 
consent under Sec.  630.15(b)(2). The responsible physician or a 
physician substitute is not required to be present at the collection 
site provided that the responsible physician has delegated these 
activities to a trained person who is also adequately trained and 
experienced in the recognition of and response to the known adverse 
responses associated with blood collection procedures. However, if 
Source Plasma is collected from an infrequent plasma donor and the 
donor is otherwise ineligible or is participating in an approved 
immunization program, the responsible physician may only delegate 
activities as described in Sec.  630.5(c)(1) through (c)(3), as 
appropriate to that collection.
    Section 630.5(d) requires that, for all collections, establishments 
must establish, maintain, and follow standard operating procedures for 
obtaining rapid emergency medical services for donors when medically 
necessary. In addition, establishments must assure that an individual 
(responsible physician, physician substitute, or trained person,

[[Page 29860]]

as defined in Sec.  630.3) who is currently certified in 
cardiopulmonary resuscitation is located on the premises whenever the 
establishment is performing collections of blood or blood components.
    Finally, we have added Sec.  640.130 to new subpart M of 21 CFR 
part 640, entitled ``Definitions and Medical Supervision.'' Section 
640.130 clarifies that the requirements for medical supervision 
established in Sec.  630.5 supplement the regulations in part 640. We 
are adding this provision to aid the reader in identifying applicable 
requirements for medical supervision related to the collection of blood 
and blood components in accordance with part 640.
    (Comment 36) One comment agreed that the responsible physician 
should direct and control the physician substitutes and trained 
personnel, and supported proposed provisions under which the 
responsible physician could authorize trained personnel, including 
physician substitutes, to determine the donor's eligibility and collect 
blood and blood components in the absence of a responsible physician.
    (Response) We have finalized the proposed rule to permit delegation 
of blood collection activities to trained persons, including physician 
substitutes, who are adequately instructed and qualified to perform the 
delegated functions. This delegation provision is not intended to 
preempt more restrictive requirements under State or local law. We do 
not require the responsible physician to be on the premises, except for 
red blood cell immunizations, although State or local law may provide 
otherwise. We have also clarified the activities that the responsible 
physician may not delegate. Delegation is not permitted in these 
circumstances because the medical expertise of the responsible 
physician is necessary to assess whether the donor's health permits the 
collection.
    (Comment 37) One comment requested clarification that designated 
physician substitutes and trained persons may perform the collection of 
platelets, Red Blood Cells and plasma (as distinct from Source Plasma) 
and may return red blood cells during an apheresis collection in the 
absence of the responsible physician. Another comment criticized a 
requirement for the presence of a physician substitute in the 
collection of Source Plasma, noting that red blood cells are now 
routinely returned by automated equipment during apheresis collections 
of plasma, Red Blood Cells, and platelets. The comment stated that, 
since modern apheresis devices return red blood cells to the donor 
through automated processes, the return of red blood cells does not 
pose a heightened risk relative to other procedures, and therefore 
there is no need for a responsible physician or physician substitute to 
be present during the return of red blood cells to apheresis donors. 
The comment suggested that the presence of a physician substitute or 
the responsible physician should only be required in the unlikely event 
that a Source Plasma establishment was returning red blood cells 
manually.
    (Response) Section 630.5(b)(1)(iii) and (c)(1)(i)(A) of the final 
rule authorize the responsible physician to delegate to a physician 
substitute or other trained person the return of red blood cells to the 
donor during apheresis. Subject to an exception for certain 
plasmapheresis collections, the regulation does not require the 
responsible physician to be present at the collection site when red 
blood cells are returned to the donor during apheresis, provided that 
the responsible physician has delegated oversight of these activities 
to a trained person who is also adequately trained and experienced in 
the recognition of and response to the known adverse responses 
associated with blood collection procedures. However, when this 
activity is performed in relation to the collection of plasma by 
plasmapheresis (other than a collection from an infrequent plasma 
donor), the regulation requires the responsible physician or physician 
substitute to be present at the collection site. We have determined 
that the presence of the responsible physician or of a physician 
substitute under the supervision of the responsible physician is 
necessary to help ensure the continued safety of plasmapheresis donors 
who are not infrequent donors, as defined in Sec.  630.3(e). This is 
because such donors are permitted to donate up to two times every week, 
and larger volumes of fluid may be collected at each donation than from 
other donors. These factors may increase risks for the donor, and 
warrant the on-site presence of a physician substitute or the 
responsible physician.
    (Comment 38) One comment noted that Sec.  630.5(c) would permit a 
collecting establishment to authorize a physician substitute to perform 
the functions of a responsible physician in the collection of Source 
Plasma, except the responsible physician would be required to be 
present for red blood cell immunizations. The comment stated that they 
assume that FDA is requiring the presence of the responsible physician 
for the red blood cell immunization to assist the recipient of red 
blood cells if a life-threatening situation arises during the 
immunization process. The comment asserted that this is most likely 
based on the fact that potential life-threatening reactions most 
commonly occur within 10 to 15 minutes of the start of the transfusion 
with as little as 10 milliliters (mL) transfused.
    The comment said that they understand the potential risks 
associated with red blood cell immunization. However, the comment 
stated that having a physician present during the immunization process 
does not protect against the single greatest risk to recipients of red 
blood cells, which is human error when identifying the blood product 
for administration to the recipient of red blood cells. Therefore, in 
protecting against this risk, the comment stated that it is imperative 
that plasma establishments have processes and procedures in place to 
assure that the correct red blood cell product is infused to the 
intended recipient. The comment reports that this is currently achieved 
by adherence to current good manufacturing practices. The comment 
recommended that FDA remove the requirement of having a physician 
present during immunization with red blood cells as long as current 
good manufacturing practices are followed.
    (Response) We agree with the description of the risks of red blood 
cell immunizations. We also agree that Source Plasma establishments 
must adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Blood and Blood 
Components (21 CFR part 606), including Sec.  606.100(b), which require 
establishments to establish, maintain, and follow written standard 
operating procedures for all steps in the collection, processing, 
compatibility testing, storage, and distribution of blood and blood 
components for allogeneic transfusion, and further manufacturing 
purposes. However, adherence to current good manufacturing practices 
does not replace the medical oversight provided by the responsible 
physician, or the clinical expertise that a responsible physician can 
provide in the case of an emergency at the establishment. Accordingly, 
we require that the responsible physician must be present when a donor 
is immunized with red blood cells. Section 630.5(c)(2)(ii) authorizes 
the responsible physician to delegate to a physician substitute the 
function of donor immunization with red blood cells, provided that the 
responsible physician has approved the procedure and is on the premises 
at the collection site when the procedure is performed.

[[Page 29861]]

    (Comment 39) A comment to proposed Sec.  630.5(e) asserted that 
blood collection personnel should be trained in cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators, and 
should call 911 to transport donors to a medical facility for emergency 
care as soon as possible. Another comment noted that the final rule 
could require that collection staff be trained in cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation.
    (Response) Final Sec.  630.5(d) requires blood collection 
establishments to establish, maintain, and follow standard operating 
procedures for obtaining rapid emergency medical services for donors 
when necessary. In addition, blood collection establishments must 
assure that an individual (responsible physician, physician substitute, 
or trained person) who is currently certified in cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation is located on the premises whenever collections of blood 
or blood components are performed. We agree that the availability of 
such a person on the premises will provide important donor protections 
in the event they are needed. We are not including in the codified 
language a requirement for a person also to be trained in the use of 
automated external defibrillators because such devices are not always 
available at collection sites. However, we believe that the presence of 
automated external defibrillators may be helpful, and establishments 
may choose to provide training on available automated external 
defibrillators, in addition to assuring that a person currently 
certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation is located on the premises 
during collections. As noted in our response to comment 40, we believe 
that establishments will incorporate the use of 911 services into their 
procedures for obtaining rapid emergency medical services for donors 
when necessary.
    (Comment 40) One comment noted that proposed Sec.  630.5(e) would 
have required establishments to establish, maintain, and follow 
standard operating procedure for providing emergency medical services 
for donors within 15 minutes. The comment agreed that SOPs should be 
established, maintained, and followed for the provision of emergency 
medical services but stated that ensuring a 15 minute response time 
would not be feasible in some communities and in any event is beyond 
the control of the blood establishment. Other comments also noted that 
local emergency medical service response time is community dependent. 
Blood centers cannot control how quickly emergency medical services 
respond and cannot guarantee a 15 minute response time.
    (Response) After considering the comments, we have finalized this 
provision without referencing a 15 minute timeframe. We recognize that 
in many instances blood collection facilities must rely on the response 
time of emergency medical services available through local 911 
services. Instead, we are requiring in Sec.  630.5(d) that that 
establishments establish, maintain, and follow standard operating 
procedures for obtaining rapid emergency medical services for donors 
when necessary. In addition, the final rule requires that at least one 
person (responsible physician, physician substitute, or trained person) 
on the premises during the collection of blood and blood components be 
currently certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. FDA expects that 
procedures established by blood collection establishments for obtaining 
rapid emergency medical services will generally result in the provision 
of emergency medical services within 15 minutes. However, by not 
specifying a 15 minute response time (and instead calling only for a 
``rapid'' response), we are recognizing that unanticipated 
circumstances that are outside the control of the blood establishment 
may delay such care. Establishments should consider the availability of 
emergency medical services and local response times, particularly when 
determining locations for mobile collections.
    (Comment 41) One comment responded that proposed Sec.  630.5(e) 
should be reworded to include public emergency medical services. The 
comment agreed that the establishment of standard procedures for 
providing emergency medical services within 15 minutes, if necessary, 
for donors seems appropriate.
    (Response) We decline to include the term ``public'' prior to 
emergency medical services in Sec.  630.5(d). We interpret emergency 
medical services to include an onsite responsible physician or access 
to emergency medical services available through 911. If an 
establishment determines that emergency medical services accessible 
through 911 may not be available rapidly, due to the location of the 
collection facility or mobile unit, the establishment should provide 
for a responsible physician to be present at the collection site.

J. General Donor Eligibility Requirements (Sec.  630.10)

    This section includes requirements to ensure that blood and blood 
components are safe, pure and potent. It also includes requirements to 
determine that the donor is in good health and the donor's health will 
not be adversely affected by the donation. We require the establishment 
to provide the donor with certain educational material related to 
infectious disease risk so that the donor can self-defer, to check 
donor deferral records, to perform a limited physical assessment of the 
donor, to assess the donor for risk factors for relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections and other factors that might adversely affect 
the donation or the donor's health, to obtain a donor acknowledgement 
that is signed or otherwise recorded, to defer ineligible donors, and 
to obtain proof of the donor's identity and a postal address where the 
donor may be contacted for 8 weeks after donation for purposes of donor 
notification under Sec.  630.40.
    We received comments on this section from individuals, blood 
establishments and trade organizations. We are finalizing this section 
largely as proposed, except that we have clarified the language in some 
sections and combined or revised other sections. We have combined 
proposed Sec.  630.10(e), (f), and (g) covering various aspects of 
donor eligibility into one section, Sec.  630.10(e). We have renumbered 
proposed Sec.  630.10(h) into final Sec.  630.10(f). Final Sec.  
630.10(f)(3) provides a modified standard for donor hemoglobin or 
hematocrit. Proposed Sec.  630.10(i) is final Sec.  630.10(g), and we 
have clarified proposed Sec.  630.10(i)(2) Donor's written statement of 
understanding, now titled ``Donor's acknowledgement'' in Sec.  
630.10(g)(2). We also added Sec.  630.10(h) to state more explicitly 
what an establishment must do when a donor is ineligible.
1. Section 630.10(a)
    Consistent with FDA's long standing requirement that a donor be in 
good health at the time of donation to assure that blood, blood 
components and blood products manufactured from their donations will be 
safe, pure and potent, this section states that an establishment must 
not collect blood or blood components before determining that the donor 
is eligible to donate. We received no comments on this provision. We 
added language to explain that, to be eligible, a donor must be in good 
health and free from transfusion-transmitted infections as can be 
determined by the processes in this subchapter. The phrase ``as can be 
determined by the processes in this subchapter'' clarifies that blood 
establishments must assess a donor's eligibility in accordance with 
these regulations. Like the proposed rule, this section states that a 
donor is ineligible if the donor is not in good health or if the blood 
establishment identifies

[[Page 29862]]

factors that may adversely affect the health of the donor or the 
safety, purity, or potency of the blood or blood components collected 
from the donor.
2. Section 630.10(b)
    Section 630.10(b) requires that, before determining eligibility, an 
establishment must provide the donor with educational material in an 
appropriate format regarding certain relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections when providing that information is necessary to assure the 
safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood components, such as for 
HIV risk factors. Currently, the only relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection for which FDA has determined that providing such information 
is necessary to assure blood safety, purity, and potency is HIV. FDA 
first made this recommendation in 1983 (Ref. 30). The donor history 
questionnaires and accompanying materials found acceptable by FDA 
include blood donor educational material addressing HIV risk behaviors 
and signs and symptoms of HIV (Refs. 6, 7, 8). Providing this 
educational information in written or electronic format would meet the 
requirements of this section. In addition, the provision permits 
establishments to provide, in the educational material, information 
concerning the risks and hazards of donation. This provision differs 
from proposed Sec.  630.10(b) in two significant ways: (1) In response 
to comments, we have clarified that blood collection establishments 
must provide information concerning certain, and not all, relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections and (2) to provide greater 
flexibility and to accommodate existing practices, we have revised this 
section to expressly permit establishments to provide, in this 
educational material, information regarding the risks and hazards of 
the donation procedure to meet the requirements under Sec.  
630.10(g)(2)(ii)(E).
    (Comment 42) Two comments raised concern that the proposal would 
require establishments to provide the donor with too much information 
about too many relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. Several 
comments suggested that the rule should not require the educational 
material to include signs and symptoms of a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection. Several comments suggested that providing the 
donor history questionnaire should be sufficient to meet this 
requirement, while several comments suggested that the donor history 
questionnaire should not include signs and symptoms of HIV.
    (Response) FDA believes that providing educational material to 
donors protects the safety of the blood supply and donor health. FDA 
believes that self-deferral by at risk donors because of information 
provided in the educational materials has helped ensure blood safety 
(Refs. 6, 7, 8, 31, 32, 33). Blood establishments have voluntarily 
developed donor educational material in response to potential threats 
(Refs. 6, 7, 8, 31, 32, 33).
    FDA agrees with the comments that educational materials should not 
describe all relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. Instead, this 
section requires establishments to provide donor information about a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection when necessary to assure the 
safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood components. As noted 
previously, currently HIV is the only relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection for which providing such information is necessary. The 
longstanding practice of providing educational material about HIV, 
including information about signs and symptoms, would continue as a 
requirement under this provision.
    FDA believes that establishments may choose to include in the donor 
educational material information to explain the collection procedure 
and the risks and hazards of the procedure, as required under Sec.  
630.10(g)(2)(ii)(E). This section expressly permits the incorporation 
of that information into the donor educational material, but does not 
require it.
3. Section 630.10(c)
    Section 630.10(c) requires establishments to determine the donor's 
eligibility on the day of donation and prior to collection. Under Sec.  
630.10(c)(1), which is applicable to products that cannot be stored for 
more than 24 hours, an establishment may determine the donor's 
eligibility and collect a sample for testing required under Sec.  
610.40 no earlier than 2 calendar days before the day of donation. In 
Sec.  630.10(c)(2), the final rule authorizes blood establishments to 
clarify a donor's response to a donor history question under Sec.  
630.10(e) or (g) in accordance with standard operating procedures and 
within 24 hours of the time of collection.
    (Comment 43) Several comments stated that for components having a 
shelf life of 24 hours, collecting a sample for testing for infectious 
diseases one day before donation may not provide enough time to obtain 
the results. They requested that FDA allow the donor to be tested 3 
days prior to collection of the donation or alternatively allowing the 
donation to be released under emergency provisions in Sec.  610.40(g) 
or where appropriately labeled as from a donor who has been previously 
tested.
    (Response) FDA agrees with that there is a need for some 
flexibility on the timing for collecting a sample for testing and 
making a donor eligibility determination for donors of blood components 
that cannot be stored for more than 24 hours. We have decided to 
finalize the proposed provision, now Sec.  630.10(c)(1), and provide 
that ``when a donor is donating blood components that cannot be stored 
for more than 24 hours, you may determine the donor's eligibility and 
collect a sample for testing required under Sec.  610.40 of this 
chapter, no earlier than 2 calendar days before the day of donation, 
provided that your standard operating procedures address these 
activities.'' We believe that this 2 calendar day timeframe will be 
adequate to accommodate donor testing before collection. We also note 
that current Sec.  610.40(g) allows release of untested components in 
appropriately documented medical emergency situations.
    (Comment 44) FDA received several comments requesting that FDA 
permit blood establishments to obtain answers to missing donor 
information for 24 hours after the collection occurred.
    (Response) FDA realizes that sometimes blood establishments become 
aware that there are missing answers to donor history questions, or 
they need clarification of answers to certain donor history questions. 
In response to comments, and consistent with current FDA policy (Ref. 
34), we are adding new Sec.  630.10(c)(2) to the final rule. Section 
630.10(c)(2) expressly authorizes establishments to clarify donor 
records after collection under these circumstances, ``In the event 
that, upon review, you find that a donor's responses to the donor 
questions before collection were incomplete, within 24 hours of the 
time of collection, you may clarify a donor's response or obtain 
omitted information required under paragraph (e) of this section, 
provided that your standard operating procedures (required under 21 CFR 
606.100) address these activities.'' This applies only to responses to 
donor questions, and not to information that establishments are 
required to obtain as part of the physical assessment of the donor 
addressed in Sec.  630.10(f).
4. Section 630.10(d)
    Section 630.10(d) requires a blood establishment to determine the 
donor's eligibility before collection by performing four tasks: (1) 
Consulting the records of deferred donors maintained under Sec.  
606.160(e)(1) and (2). Because it

[[Page 29863]]

may not be feasible to review the cumulative record described in Sec.  
606.160(e)(2) prior to collection at all collection sites, the 
regulation provides that if pre-collection review is not feasible, the 
establishment must consult the cumulative record prior to release of 
any blood or blood component prepared from the collection; (2) assuring 
that the interval since the donor's last donation is appropriate; (3) 
assessing the donor's medical history; and (4) performing a physical 
assessment of the donor. We have finalized the description of the last 
two steps as proposed, and we have clarified the language used to 
describe the second step by omitting unnecessary language.
    The first factor has been changed to reference the ``records of 
deferred donors maintained under Sec.  606.160(e)(1) and (2) of this 
chapter'' instead of the proposed ``list of ineligible donors required 
under Sec.  606.160(e)(2) of this chapter'', and to provide flexibility 
for consulting the cumulative record before release of blood or blood 
components when the record cannot be available at the collection site. 
We discuss final Sec.  606.160(e) at comment 25. The review of the 
records of deferred donors may be accomplished by making an electronic 
query of a centralized database.
    (Comment 45) One comment questioned the validity of donor deferral 
registries in ensuring the safety of the blood supply. For example, the 
comment asserted that requiring collection facilities to consult the 
donor deferral registry prior to donation would negatively affect 
mobile operations and impact other facilities when computer outages 
occur that would have a significant negative impact on blood 
availability.
    (Response) The requirements in Sec. Sec.  606.160(e) and 
630.10(d)(1) will help assure that blood and blood components that are 
not suitable for use are not collected or distributed. These provisions 
protect donors from making donations that should not be collected, 
protect recipients from the release and use of unsuitable donations, 
and help establishments to conserve resources used in collecting, 
testing, and manufacturing blood and blood components. Moreover, since 
Sec.  630.10(d)(1) helps to prevent the collection of unsuitable units, 
we believe that it will be feasible for establishments to comply with 
these requirements while at the same time maintaining adequate supplies 
of suitable blood and blood components. We believe that the 
requirements, as finalized, are similar to existing practices within 
blood establishments. Moreover, Sec.  630.10(d)(1) of the final rule 
now provides additional flexibility so that if unusual circumstances 
prevail (for example, at a distant mobile collection, or when an 
establishment is having temporary technical difficulties), and pre-
collection review is not feasible because the establishment cannot 
consult the cumulative record at the collection site, the establishment 
may collect from the donor, but must consult the cumulative record 
before release of any blood or blood component prepared from the 
collection.
5. Section 630.10(e)
    The requirements of proposed Sec.  630.10(e), (f), and (g) are 
interrelated. We have combined proposed Sec.  630.10(e), (f), and (g) 
into one section, final Sec.  630.10(e). This section requires 
establishments to conduct a medical history interview as described in 
this section to determine if the donor is in good health, to identify 
risk factors closely associated with exposure to, or clinical evidence 
of, a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, and to determine if 
there are other conditions that may adversely affect the health of the 
donor or the safety, purity, or potency of the blood or blood 
components or any product produced from the blood or blood components. 
Blood establishments must take a medical history as described in this 
section.
    Section 630.10(e) also contains specific requirements for 
determining that the donor is in good health and free from risk factors 
for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. This assessment must 
include the following factors: (1) Factors that make the donor 
ineligible to donate because of an increased risk for, or evidence of, 
a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, including the factors 
described in Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(i) through (vi) and (2) other factors 
described in Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(i) through (vii) that may make the 
donor ineligible, including factors related to donor health or travel 
history.
    Section 630.10(e) is intended to provide explicitly in our 
regulations for our current donor deferral recommendations and blood 
establishment practices. We discuss the comments received on that 
provision. We received no comments on our proposal in Sec.  
630.10(g)(7), under which a donor would be ineligible because she was 
pregnant at the time of, or within 6 weeks of, donation, and have 
finalized that proposal in Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(v).
    (Comment 46) Several organizations requested FDA not to finalize 
the provision in proposed Sec.  630.10(e) that would have required an 
establishment to determine whether a health care practitioner ever told 
the donor not to donate blood.
    (Response) We agree. We included this provision, in part, as a 
result of the anthrax exposures in 2001, where individuals may have 
been advised not to donate. However, prior advice not to donate blood 
may be based on a number of factors, including a transient infection, 
now cured, or blood loss due to an accident, from which the donor has 
long recovered. We have not included this provision in the final rule. 
Instead we require establishments to take a medical history, as 
described in Sec.  630.10(e). Such a medical history would be focused 
on eliciting information related to potential and current risks, either 
to the donor, or to the safety of the donated blood product.
    (Comment 47) We received comments stating that FDA has recognized 
uniform donor history questionnaires and should not add the criteria 
for deferral in proposed Sec.  630.10(f).
    (Response) FDA believes that use of a current and acceptable donor 
history questionnaire, such as the donor history questionnaires and 
accompanying materials found acceptable by FDA in guidance (Refs. 6, 7, 
8), would meet these requirements. If the need arises, FDA will 
describe how to comply with these provisions in guidance documents 
issued in accordance with good guidance practices.
    (Comment 48) One comment suggested that we abandon the term 
``social'' in proposed Sec.  630.10(f)(1), ``social behaviors 
associated with relevant transfusion-transmitted infections.''
    (Response) We agree and have dropped the term ``social.'' Section 
630.10(e)(1)(i) now refers simply to ``behaviors.''
    (Comment 49) Other comments stated that FDA should not consider the 
behavior of men who have had sex with another man even one time since 
1977 to be ``behaviors associated with relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections'' under proposed Sec.  630.10(f)(1).
    (Response) This rule does not specify the circumstances under which 
FDA would consider men who have sex with another man to be a behavior 
associated with relevant transfusion-transmitted infections. Instead, 
that is an issue FDA has addressed in previous guidance related to the 
issue (Ref. 10). We are currently reviewing this policy. If we 
determine that modifications of any behavior-based donor deferral 
recommendations are warranted, we will issue new guidance to blood

[[Page 29864]]

establishments in accordance with good guidance practices.
    (Comment 50) We received several comments suggesting that FDA 
change the following phrase in proposed Sec.  630.10(f)(2), ``Medical 
treatments and procedures associated with exposure to relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections.'' The comments stated that this 
criterion was too vague and suggested that the donor history 
questionnaire would provide a sufficient basis for determining whether 
the donor had risk exposures from medical procedures.
    (Response) We agree with the comment in part and have made this 
criterion, now contained in Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(ii), more specific. FDA 
recognizes that many medical procedures present some risk, which cannot 
be specifically quantified. Consequently, final Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(ii) 
states, ``Receipt of blood or blood components or other medical 
treatments and procedures associated with possible exposure to a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection.'' In any event, we agree 
with comments that an acceptable donor history questionnaire, such as 
the donor history materials that are currently recognized in FDA 
guidances (Refs. 6, 7, 8), may be used to elicit information adequate 
to satisfy these provisions.
    (Comment 51) One comment asked FDA to clarify how establishments 
would gather information related to signs and symptoms of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections under proposed Sec.  630.10(f)(3).
    (Response) In final Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(iii), we require 
establishments to assess ``Signs and/or symptoms of a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection.'' For example, FDA has issued 
guidance on signs and symptoms of HIV (Refs. 10, 30). If a donor 
exhibits signs or symptoms of HIV, they would be deferred under this 
provision. We believe that an establishment would meet this requirement 
by determining that the donor is in good health, and using a currently 
acceptable donor history questionnaire. FDA has periodically issued new 
guidance recommending assessment for signs and symptoms of a new 
infectious agent or disease (Refs. 35, 36). FDA will issue guidance in 
accordance with good guidance practices in the event that different 
information is needed to satisfy the requirements of this section.
    (Comment 52) Several comments asked FDA to reconsider the 
longstanding requirement for deferral of donors with a ``history of 
viral hepatitis.''
    (Response) Neither the proposed nor the final rule refers to a 
``history of viral hepatitis'' as a factor in determining donor 
eligibility. We are finalizing the donor eligibility requirements 
without reference to a requirement to defer donors with a history of 
viral hepatitis after the age of 11. Instead, under new Sec.  
630.3(h)(1)(ii) and (iii), HBV and HCV are relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections. Under Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(iii), an establishment 
must defer a donor exhibiting signs and/or symptoms of relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections, including HBV and HCV. Reactive 
test results for these relevant transfusion-transmitted infections 
would result in donor deferral as described in Sec.  610.41(a).
    (Comment 53) One comment requested that that we not finalize the 
requirement in proposed Sec.  630.10(f)(4) to determine whether a donor 
has been institutionalized in a correctional institution, preferring 
that this be addressed in guidance, not regulation. Another comment 
recommended that FDA clarify that deferral would be for 
institutionalization in a correctional institute for 3 days or more.
    (Response) We have finalized a requirement in Sec.  
630.10(e)(1)(iv) that establishments determine whether a donor has been 
institutionalized in a correctional institution. We have rejected the 
suggestion that we leave this deferral to guidance because we concluded 
that this deferral is readily described and unlikely to change due to 
technological developments. We agree with the second comment and have 
further clarified that the deferral applies to donors who were 
institutionalized in a correctional institution for 72 consecutive 
hours or more in the 12 months before donation.
    (Comment 54) We received comments asking us to revise the 
definition for ``intimate contact'' provided in proposed Sec.  
630.3(e), which was applicable to proposed Sec.  630.10(f)(5), and to 
clarify that the deferral for ``intimate contact'' would only apply to 
those relevant transfusion-transmitted infections where such 
transmission occurs through intimate contact.
    (Response) We agree in part with the comment. We have modified the 
defined term in Sec.  630.3(f) so that it is now ``intimate contact 
with risk for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection'' and 
clarified that this term refers to conduct that could result in the 
transfer of potentially infectious body fluids from one person to 
another. The provision that is now finalized in Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(v) 
incorporates this clarified definition, and requires inquiry concerning 
such intimate contact with risk for a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection, which is defined in Sec.  630.3(f) as having engaged in an 
activity that could result in the transfer of potentially infectious 
body fluids from one person to another. We have issued guidance when we 
believed that deferral for intimate contact with an individual infected 
with a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection or exposed to a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection was appropriate (Refs. 11, 
37). FDA will issue a future guidance document as necessary for 
deferral of donors because of specific intimate contact with risk for a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection.
    (Comment 55) One comment requested that we state that nonsterile 
percutaneous inoculation, as proposed in Sec.  630.10(f)(6), be 
considered a basis for deferral only when the inoculation took place 
within 4 months of the donation.
    (Response) We did not specify in the proposed regulation a 
timeframe for this deferral, stating that the blood establishment 
should defer the donor if the factor was ``still applicable'' at the 
time of donation, and we have not specified a timeframe in the final 
rule codifying this factor at Sec.  630.10(e)(1)(vi). FDA's 1992 
guidance entitled, ``Revised Recommendations for the Prevention of 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission by Blood and Blood 
Products,'' recommends a 1 year deferral for nonsterile percutaneous 
exposure, and this recommendation is still current (Ref. 10).
    (Comment 56) We received several comments asking FDA to modify 
proposed Sec.  630.10(g)(1), which identified ``Medical or dental 
treatment, or symptoms of a recent or current illness'' as a basis for 
ineligibility. These comments asked FDA to delete the reference to 
dental treatment.
    (Response) We agree with these comments in part. In finalizing 
proposed Sec.  630.10(g)(1), we have revised this provision and 
separated it into two sections. Section 630.10(e)(2)(i) now requires 
establishments to assess donors for symptoms of a recent or current 
illness. Section 630.10(e)(2)(ii) now requires establishments to assess 
donors for certain medical treatments or medications, such as a major 
surgical procedure, that indicates that the donor should not donate. We 
have omitted the requirement to defer donors for recent dental 
treatment.
    (Comment 57) We received several comments asking FDA to delete the 
provision in proposed Sec.  630.10(g)(1) through (g)(3) which refer to 
ineligibility because of medical treatment, medication, or major 
surgical procedure.

[[Page 29865]]

One comment suggested that the deferral be limited to the criteria and 
medications enumerated in current FDA guidance documents. Several 
comments asked FDA to identify major medical procedures.
    (Response) We have finalized Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(ii) to require 
blood establishments to assess donors for certain medical treatments or 
medications, such as a major surgical procedure, that indicate that the 
donor should not donate. This provision is intended to protect the 
health of the donor and ensure the safety and purity of the blood 
product. We note that we have issued guidance on donor deferral 
criteria for certain medications (Ref. 38). We believe that 
establishments can meet the requirements of this section by using 
current donor history questionnaire materials recognized as acceptable 
by FDA, or other approved donor history questionnaire. If our 
recommendations for deferral for medical procedures or specific 
medications change, we would issue guidance in accordance with good 
guidance practices.
    (Comment 58) We received several comments asking FDA not to 
finalize proposed Sec.  630.10(g)(4), under which a donor would be 
ineligible on the basis of travel to, or residence in, an area endemic 
for a transfusion-transmitted infection. The comments criticized the 
provision as vague and more appropriately dealt with in FDA guidance 
documents.
    (Response) In finalizing this provision in Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(iii), 
we have provided additional clarity by stating that a donor would be 
ineligible on the basis of such travel or residence only when such 
screening is necessary to assure the safety, purity, and potency of 
blood and blood components due to the risks presented by donor travel 
and the risk of transmission of that transfusion-transmitted infection 
by such donors. For example, in the future we may determine that 
screening donors under this provision for the Chickungunya virus, a 
transfusion-transmitted infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes, is 
necessary to assure the safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood 
components. If so, we would address deferral of donors with a travel 
history to an area endemic for Chickungunya in accordance with good 
guidance practices.
    (Comment 59) Several comments suggested that we delete the 
provision in proposed Sec.  630.10(g)(6), which would have required a 
determination of ineligibility due to exposure or possible exposure to 
a released disease or disease agent relating to a transfusion-
transmitted infection, if it was known or suspected that such a release 
has occurred. The comments suggested that this provision was vague and 
better addressed in guidance when an event occurs.
    (Response) In Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(iv), we have finalized this 
provision as proposed. This factor only becomes relevant when a disease 
or disease agent for a transfusion-transmitted infection has been 
released. We expect this to apply in rare circumstances, such as after 
a serious accident or bioterrorism attack involving the release of such 
agents. FDA intends to issue guidance, as practicable, when a released 
disease or disease agent is identified and is of a nature or type that 
donor deferral would be warranted. We note that we previously issued 
guidance on the deferral of donors with possible exposure to anthrax 
due to a possible bioterrorism event (Ref. 39).
    (Comment 60) We received several comments on proposed Sec.  
630.10(g)(8), which would have required blood establishments to 
determine to be ineligible donors who gave answers to medical history 
questions that appeared unreliable due to the apparent influence of 
drugs or alcohol, or due to another reason affecting the reliability of 
the donor's answers. The comments agreed with the deferral, but stated 
that blood establishment procedures were adequate to address this 
issue.
    (Response) We combined donor suitability requirements from existing 
regulations for Whole Blood donations (Sec.  640.3) and Source Plasma 
donations (Sec.  640.63) in the final rule. Source Plasma regulations 
have had a longstanding requirement (Sec.  640.63(d)) that ``any donor 
who, in the opinion of the interviewer, appears to be under the 
influence of any drug, alcohol, or for any reason does not appear to be 
providing reliable answers to medical history questions, shall not be 
considered a suitable donor.'' Until now, there has not been a 
corresponding provision in the requirements for Whole Blood donors, 
even though a donor who does not provide reliable answers presents 
similar risks in that venue. We are finalizing this requirement for all 
donations in Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(vi).
    In the preamble to the proposed rule we gave, as an example of an 
unreliable answer, a donor who states that he or she is donating in 
order to be tested for infectious agents. This is because of our 
concern that the donor may be aware of some additional, undisclosed, 
risk factor that leads him or her to seek information on their 
infection status by presenting at a blood donation center. Such 
undisclosed risk factors endanger blood safety, particularly when the 
donor is in the ``window period'' when the donor is infected and 
infectious, but the infection cannot yet be detected by donor screening 
tests. We did not receive comments on this example. We have decided to 
expressly require the deferral of a donor who states they are seeking 
testing for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. We expect 
that blood establishments may then refer the donors to public health 
testing clinics and other venues providing testing.
    (Comment 61) We received comments requesting that we not finalize 
the proposed requirement to determine a donor to be ineligible due to 
receipt of a xenotransplantation product, or intimate contact with such 
a recipient (proposed Sec.  630.10(g)(5)).
    (Response) In final Sec.  630.10(e)(2)(vii), we require 
establishments to assess the eligibility of a donor on the basis of 
receipt of a xenotransplantation product. We finalized this provision 
to protect the health of the donor who received the xenotransplantation 
product and to address the risk of transmission of animal infectious 
agents by blood and blood products collected from such a donor. In 
2002, we discussed those risks in a draft guidance entitled ``Guidance 
for Industry: Precautionary Measures to Reduce the Possible Risk of 
Transmission of Zoonoses by Blood and Blood Products from 
Xenotransplantation Product Recipients and Their Intimate Contacts'' 
(Ref. 37). We have not finalized the proposed requirement to require 
screening for intimate contact with a xenotransplantation recipient. 
If, in the future, we determine that donation by an individual who has 
had intimate contact with a recipient of a xenotransplantation product 
may affect that donor's health, or the safety, purity, or potency of 
the blood or blood component, or product produced from the blood or 
blood component collected from that donor, we will issue guidance to 
address these risks.
6. Section 630.10(f)
    As we described earlier, we combined proposed Sec.  630.10(e) 
through (g) into Sec.  630.10(e) in the final rule. We have finalized 
proposed Sec.  630.10(h) as final Sec.  630.10(f).
    The physical assessment criteria set forth in Sec.  630.10(f)(1) 
through(6) in this final rule requires establishments to determine that 
a donor is in good health which helps to assure that blood and blood 
components collected are safe, pure, and potent. This section requires 
establishments to determine on the day of donation and prior to 
collection of blood or blood components that the

[[Page 29866]]

donor is in good health, indicated in part by a normal temperature, a 
blood pressure within acceptable limits, an acceptable hemoglobin or 
hematocrit level, a regular pulse, and a minimum weight requirement. 
Blood establishments are also required to perform an examination of the 
donor's phlebotomy site and the donor's arms and forearms.
    a. Temperature (Sec.  630.10(f)(1)).
    (Comment 62) We received no comments objecting to the requirement 
for measuring a donor's temperature. We received one comment asking 
whether we would specify a subnormal temperature.
    (Response) We are finalizing the proposed requirement to determine 
that the donor's oral body temperature does not exceed 37.5 [deg]C 
(99.5[emsp14][deg]F), or the equivalent if measured at another body 
site, since an elevated temperature indicates that the donor is not in 
good health and may be a symptom of infection or other adverse 
condition. On the other hand, a temperature that is a few degrees lower 
than 37.5 [deg]C (99.5[emsp14][deg]F), is not necessarily indicative of 
poor health. We decline to specify a subnormal temperature at this 
time. Instead, we leave assessment of an apparently healthy donor who 
presents for donation with an unusually low temperature for blood 
establishments to address in their standard operating procedures.
    b. Blood Pressure (Sec.  630.10(f)(2)).
    (Comment 63) Several comments recommended that FDA should not 
finalize a requirement for determining the donor's blood pressure, 
while others recommended not specifying limits for systolic and/or 
diastolic blood pressure measurements, or addressing such bounds only 
in guidance. One comment stated that a baseline blood pressure for all 
donors at each donation is needed in the event of a reaction.
    (Response) Current Sec.  640.3(b)(2) requires that donors be in 
good health, as demonstrated by systolic and diastolic blood pressure 
within normal limits, unless the examining physician is satisfied that 
an individual with blood pressure outside these limits is an otherwise 
qualified donor. In the preamble to the proposed rule we had solicited 
comments requesting supporting scientific data regarding the necessity, 
or lack of necessity of requiring specific upper and lower blood 
pressure limits for a donor (72 FR 63416 at 63426 and 63427). We did 
not receive significant data. In November 2009, we asked the Blood 
Products Advisory Committee whether available data support the utility 
of obtaining pre-donation blood pressure measurements as predictors of 
risk of an adverse response to donation, and the majority responded 
that data did not establish pre-donation blood pressure as a predictor 
of risk of an adverse response. However, even though the vote did not 
support blood pressure measurement as a predictor of risk, many members 
of the committee stated that blood pressure measurement should be 
retained as part of the donor assessment. The committee members noted 
that studies examining adverse events and blood pressure have been 
restricted to donors with currently acceptable blood pressure levels. 
Several committee members were concerned that it was not safe for 
donors with blood pressures above 180 mm of mercury to donate. They 
noted the lack of data on the safety of blood donations in hypertensive 
donors and the potential for severe adverse events in such donors. 
Other committee members noted that low blood pressure could be 
predictive of adverse events in young female donors who have low blood 
volume.
    We are finalizing a requirement to measure the donor's blood 
pressure before donation. If a donor's systolic blood pressure is 
outside the range of 90 to 180 mm of mercury, or if the donor's 
diastolic blood pressure is outside the range of 50 to 100 mm of 
mercury, establishments may permit the donor to donate only when the 
responsible physician has examined the donor and determined that the 
health of the donor would not be adversely affected by donating. Note 
that under Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(A) and (c)(1)(i)(A)(1), the responsible 
physician is not authorized to delegate this examination and 
determination of the health of the donor, and must personally perform 
this examination and determination. Final Sec.  630.10(f)(2) is 
consistent with the proposed rule and largely consistent with the 
current requirement in Sec.  640.3(b)(2), and will assure that donors 
who present with either unusually high, or unusually low, blood 
pressure will be examined by the responsible physician before they are 
permitted to donate. We are establishing these criteria in the 
regulation, rather than providing a flexible standard, because we have 
determined that establishing clear criteria will be more protective of 
donor health. We note that, under the limits provided in Sec.  
630.10(f)(2), donors with blood pressure readings above 140/90 would be 
eligible to donate, even though such donors may be hypertensive (Ref. 
40). However, experience to date indicates that donors with blood 
pressures in the range provided in this rule may safely donate (Refs. 
41, 42).
    (Comment 64) In response to our request for comments on the 
accuracy of blood pressure measurements, one comment stated that ``Many 
factors can influence blood pressure along with pulse such as stress, 
exercise, and caffeine intake. In addition, interobserver differences 
are found with measurements that rely on sphygmomanometers and 
stethoscopes. Therefore, a general preference for automated devices is 
found not only among donor centers but also among clinics, hospitals, 
and for use at home. These devices are commercially available and 
approved for sale. We recommend that FDA acknowledge the acceptance of 
automated devices in either the preamble to the final rule or in 
guidance. FDA also notes that an isolated measurement of blood pressure 
may not reliably assess acceptability for donation.''
    (Response) We are not requiring that a specific type of device to 
be used to measure blood pressure. Establishments may use manual or 
automated devices as long as such use is consistent with the applicable 
standards or current good manufacturing practices, and their own 
standard operating procedures.
    (Comment 65) The comment recommended that FDA provide the 
following, or similar, guidance: ``Firms should have a procedure for 
re-measuring the vital signs if there is reason to believe stress or 
other factors have affected the initial measurement.''
    (Response) We are not issuing guidance on this issue at this time. 
We recognize that stress and other factors may affect initial 
measurements of the donor's blood pressure and pulse, required under 
Sec.  630.10(f)(2) and (f)(4). In accordance with Sec.  606.100(b)(2), 
establishments must have standard operating procedures for taking a 
donor's blood pressure and pulse before collection. However, these 
requirements do not prevent a blood collection establishment from 
providing in those standard operating procedures for taking and relying 
upon a second measurement of blood pressure if there is reason to 
believe stress or another factor affected the initial measurement and 
taking a second measurement is consistent with medical practice.
    c. Hemoglobin or hematocrit determination (Sec.  630.10(f)(3)).
    We proposed to require that a donor's hemoglobin level or 
hematocrit value be determined using a sample of blood obtained by 
fingerstick, venipuncture or by a method that provides equivalent 
results. Blood obtained from the earlobe is not acceptable. We received 
no

[[Page 29867]]

comments on this provision and are finalizing this provision as 
proposed. This section was proposed as Sec.  630.10(h)(3)(i); we now 
finalize it as the first paragraph of Sec.  630.10(f)(3). We further 
proposed to retain the existing requirement for autologous donations 
that a donor's hemoglobin level be no less than 11 grams of hemoglobin 
per deciliter of blood or a hematocrit value of 33 percent. We received 
no comments on this provision and are finalizing this provision as 
proposed. In addition, for allogeneic donations, we proposed to retain 
existing requirements that a donor's hemoglobin level be no less than 
12.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood or a hematocrit value 
of no less than 38 percent. We also solicited comments (72 FR 63416 at 
63427) on:
     Changing the minimum acceptable hemoglobin level to 12.0 
grams per deciliter of blood or hematocrit of 36 percent for female 
allogeneic donors, or whether a decision to collect from donors with 
such levels should be left to the discretion of the medical director of 
the collecting establishment on a case-by-case basis;
     The possibility of adverse effects caused by the 
collection of blood and blood components from female allogeneic donors 
with a minimum level of 12.0 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood 
or a hematocrit value of 36 percent;
     The possibility of adverse effects caused by the 
collection of blood and blood components from allogeneic donors with a 
minimum level of 12.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood or a 
hematocrit value of 38 percent;
     Establishing a more stringent interdonation interval; and
     The use of copper sulfate solution based methods as an 
appropriate method to determine acceptable hemoglobin levels.
    Since the proposed rule was published, FDA has brought up issues 
related to blood donation, hemoglobin levels, and iron depletion in 
donors for discussion at two Blood Products Advisory Committee meetings 
on September 10, 2008 and July 27, 2010 (Refs. 43, 44). In addition, 
the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 
Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability discussed iron 
depletion and donor informed consent at its December 17, 2008 meeting 
(Ref. 45). In co-sponsorship with the Department of Health and Human 
Services, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, AABB, America's 
Blood Centers and Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, FDA held a 
workshop entitled ``Public Workshop: Hemoglobin Standards and 
Maintaining Adequate Iron Stores in Blood Donors'' on November 8-9, 
2011 (November 2011 Workshop) (Ref. 46).
    At the July 2010 Blood Products Advisory Committee meeting, 
following the discussion of hemoglobin qualification standards and iron 
depletion in donors, the committee voted unanimously (10 yes votes, 0 
no votes, 1 abstention) in support of raising the hemoglobin level for 
men, but did not support a change in the hemoglobin level for women (10 
no votes and 1 abstention) (Ref. 44). The shortcomings of relying 
solely on hemoglobin measurement and the need to study measures to 
mitigate iron deficiency in blood donors were discussed at both 
meetings of the Blood Products Advisory Committee (Refs. 43, 44) and at 
the November 2011 Workshop (Ref. 46). After reviewing those discussions 
and the data presented at those meetings, we have decided to promulgate 
different standards for male and female donors, but not to alter the 
current 8 week interval between donations of Whole Blood and single 
donations of apheresis Red Blood Cells. Recognizing that research in 
this area continues and that data may be developed to support a change 
in donor hemoglobin standards, we have provided for greater flexibility 
in donor hemoglobin standards.
    Section 630.10(f)(3)(i) now requires that allogeneic donors must 
have a hemoglobin level or hematocrit value that is adequate to assure 
donor safety. In addition, we establish minimum standards. The minimum 
standard established for female allogeneic donors in Sec.  
630.10(f)(3)(i)(A) is consistent with the current standard: A 
hemoglobin level that is equal to or greater than 12.5 grams per 
deciliter of blood, or a hematocrit value that is equal to or greater 
than 38 percent. However, we recognize that a lower hemoglobin/
hematocrit level is also within the normal range for female donors. 
Since hemoglobin levels are influenced by the male hormone 
testosterone, female donors typically have lower hemoglobin levels than 
male donors. The fact that a female donor's hemoglobin/hematocrit level 
is lower than that of a male of similar age does not necessarily mean 
that the female donor has low iron stores, which the body uses to 
replace hemoglobin lost to blood donation (Refs. 47, 48). For this 
reason, in the preamble to the proposed rule we specifically requested 
comment on whether to permit collections from female allogeneic donors 
with a hemoglobin level of 12.0 grams per deciliter of blood or a 
hematocrit value of 36 percent. We are not establishing that minimum 
level at this time. However, Sec.  630.10(f)(3)(i)(A) provides that an 
establishment may collect blood from female allogeneic donors who have 
a hemoglobin between 12.0 and 12.5 grams per deciliter of blood, or 
hematocrit value between 36 and 38 percent, provided that the 
establishment takes additional steps to assure that the lower value is 
adequate with respect to donor safety, in accordance with a procedure 
that has been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA. FDA has not yet 
recognized any such procedures, and awaits the development of data 
related to these issues. Conceivably, these steps might include a pre-
donation measure of iron stores by means of a ferritin test, or iron 
replacement therapy and monitoring of iron stores. We have determined 
that standard collections from a donor with a hemoglobin level as low 
as 12.0 grams per deciliter of blood or hematocrit value of 36 percent 
would meet minimum potency levels based on calculated hemoglobin 
content.
    Section 630.10(f)(3)(i)(B) of the final rule establishes a minimum 
standard for male allogeneic donors of 13.0 grams of hemoglobin per 
deciliter of blood, or a hematocrit value that is equal to or greater 
than 39 percent. This standard aligns more closely with the low range 
of normal levels for men, and is higher than the current regulation's 
minimum standard of 12.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood, or 
a hematocrit value that is equal to or greater than 38 percent (Ref. 
48). We requested comment in the preamble to the proposed rule on the 
possibility of adverse effects on male donors with a minimum hemoglobin 
level of 12.5 grams per deciliter of blood or a hematocrit value of 38 
percent. We solicited these comments, in part, because of our concern 
about possible adverse effects of collecting blood from male donors 
with below normal hemoglobin or hematocrit levels, and reports about 
iron depletion resulting from blood donation (Refs. 46, 49, 50). Males 
with below normal hemoglobin or hematocrit levels may have a higher 
incidence of iron deficiency due to frequent blood donations or 
undiagnosed conditions such as gastrointestinal bleeding due to colon 
cancer. Since the proposed rule published, the results of a study 
sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, National 
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor 
Study-II (REDS-II)

[[Page 29868]]

Donor Iron Status Evaluation Study (REDS-II-RISE study) on hemoglobin 
levels in donors have become available (Refs. 49, 50). The results of 
the REDS-II-RISE study amplified existing concern about frequent 
donation and iron depletion. In this rule, we are establishing higher 
minimum hemoglobin/hematocrit levels for male donors after reviewing 
that study and considering the comments submitted.
    (Comment 66) We received numerous comments asking FDA not to make 
changes in acceptable hemoglobin and hematocrit levels for male and 
female donors until the REDS-II-RISE study on hemoglobin levels in 
donors was completed.
    (Response) We are finalizing this rule after reviewing the results 
of the REDS-II-RISE study. Preliminary results of the REDS-II-RISE 
study were presented at the July 2010 Blood Products Advisory Committee 
meeting. At the conclusion of that discussion, the advisory committee 
voted unanimously that the available scientific evidence supported 
raising the minimum hemoglobin/hematocrit levels for male donors. The 
committee did not support lowering minimum standards for female donors 
(Ref. 44). The REDS-II-RISE study published on October 10 and 24, 2011, 
and the results were discussed at a November 2011 Workshop (Ref. 46). 
Results from the REDS-II-RISE study were published in an article 
entitled, ``Iron deficiency in blood donors: The REDS-II Donor Iron 
Status Evaluation (RISE) Study,'' (Ref. 50). The authors reported a 
high prevalence of iron depletion in frequent blood donors. As 
recommended by the comments, FDA has considered the results of the 
REDS-II-RISE study in determining appropriate hemoglobin standards for 
this rule. We agree that the study provides important new information 
on hemoglobin levels in donors, and supports increasing the minimum 
hemoglobin/hematocrit requirements for male donors. We recognize that 
this is an important donor safety issue, and we will continue to review 
the scientific data as we consider these issues in the future.
    (Comment 67) We received one comment supporting lowering the 
hemoglobin level for women and one opposing lowering the hemoglobin 
level for women. The comment supporting a lower minimum hemoglobin 
level stated that a hemoglobin level of 12.0 grams per deciliter of 
blood was normal for women, and allowing such donors to donate would 
improve blood availability. The comment opposing lowering the minimum 
hemoglobin level stated that this practice would make more women 
susceptible to anemia and iron deficiency.
    (Response) For female allogeneic donors, the current minimum 
hemoglobin/hematocrit levels remain the default minimum levels under 
this rule. In the event that an establishment takes additional steps 
that are adequate to assure donor safety an establishment may collect 
from female donors with normal, but lower, hemoglobin levels, between 
12.0 and 12.5 grams per deciliter of blood, or a hematocrit value 
between 36 and 38 percent, provided the establishment has taken 
additional steps to assure that this alternative standard is adequate 
to ensure that the health of the donor will not be adversely affected 
due to the donation, in accordance with a procedure that has been found 
acceptable for this purpose by FDA. We have not yet found such a 
procedure adequate for this purpose. However, we recognize that, in the 
future, new data may support revised hemoglobin/hematocrit standards 
for female allogeneic donors, particularly if it becomes possible to 
measure other values, including iron stores, before donation. In 
determining or recognizing an alternative measure, FDA intends to 
consider other evidence related to donor health, including iron stores. 
Until then, establishments must follow the current standard for female 
allogeneic donors: A hemoglobin level of 12.5 grams per deciliter of 
blood or a hematocrit value of 38 percent.
    (Comment 68) One comment stated that changing the hemoglobin level 
could affect cleared devices as some are cleared based on a specified 
hemoglobin/hematocrit lower limit.
    (Response) We recognize that some operator's manuals for apheresis 
devices describe the minimum hemoglobin level of 12.5 grams per 
deciliter of blood, or a hematocrit value of 38 percent, and that these 
references would need to be updated to reflect the new minimum standard 
for male donors. In addition, related changes to apheresis device 
software may be needed.
    d. Pulse (Sec.  630.10(f)(4)).
    Current regulations require that a donor of Source Plasma have a 
normal pulse, but do not specify a related requirement for donors of 
Whole Blood or other blood components. We proposed in Sec.  
630.10(h)(4) to require that all donors have a regular pulse that 
measures between 50 and 100 beats per minute. A donor with an irregular 
pulse or measurements outside these limits would be permitted to donate 
only when the responsible physician has examined the donor and 
determines and documents that the health of the donor would not be 
adversely affected by donating. We have finalized this provision in 
Sec.  630.10(f)(4) with one change. The final rule provides that a 
donor with an irregular pulse or measurements outside these limits may 
be permitted to donate only when the responsible physician determines 
and documents that the health of the donor would not be adversely 
affected by donating. This determination may be made by the responsible 
physician on the basis of an assessment of the donor's information (for 
example, the responsible physician may conclude that the donor's low 
pulse rate is due to regular marathon running). This provision thus 
does not require that the responsible physician personally examine the 
donor. Note that under final Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(B) and 
(c)(1)(i)(A)(2), the responsible physician cannot delegate this 
determination that the donor's health would not be adversely affected 
by donating.
    (Comment 69) Several comments opposed adding a requirement for 
determining that the donor has a regular pulse between 50 and 100 beats 
per minute. One comment indicated that the physician should examine the 
donor for any irregularity in their pulse, not just a pulse outside the 
proposed limits.
    (Response) To assure that donors are in good health and will not be 
adversely affected by donating, we are finalizing the requirement to 
measure the donor's pulse and assess eligibility based on pulse rate 
and regularity. In November 2009, FDA asked the Blood Products Advisory 
Committee if available data support the utility of obtaining pre-
donation pulse measurements as predictors of risk of adverse response 
to donation. The majority of the committee agreed (10 yes votes, 8 no 
votes) that pulse measurement was a predictor of risk of adverse 
response to donation. In particular, high pulse rates may be associated 
with higher rates of vasovagal reactions. We also agree with the 
comment that an irregular pulse can indicate that a donor is not in 
good health (Ref. 51). Therefore, final Sec.  630.10(f)(4) requires 
that the donor's pulse must be regular and between 50 and 100 beats per 
minute--no less than 50 beats per minute, and no more than 100 beats 
per minute. A donor with an irregular pulse or measurements outside 
these limits is ineligible unless the responsible physician determines 
and documents that the health of the donor would not be adversely 
affected by donating.
    (Comment 70) One comment asserted that a phone consultation between 
the blood collection center and the responsible physician should be 
sufficient to determine whether a donor

[[Page 29869]]

with an irregular pulse can donate, rather than the proposed 
requirement that responsible physician actually ``examine'' the donor. 
For example, the comment stated that their blood collection center 
routinely permits the responsible physician on-call to give phone 
authorization for donors with pulse rates between 40 and 50 beats per 
minute to donate, when it is ascertained by the donor's history that 
the donor is an athlete.
    (Response) We agree with the comment. A donor with an irregular 
pulse or measurements outside the limits provided in final Sec.  
630.10(f)(4) may be permitted to donate when the responsible physician 
has determined that the health of the donor would not be adversely 
affected by donating. We have not finalized a requirement that the 
responsible physician must examine the donor, and we provide that in 
appropriate circumstances the responsible physician may make a 
determination of whether a donor's health would be adversely affected 
by donating blood or blood components. Such a determination may be 
reached by a phone consultation between the establishment and the 
responsible physician, though under Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(B) and 
(c)(1)(i)(A)(2), the responsible physician cannot delegate the 
determination that the donor's health would not be adversely affected 
by donating.
    e. Weight (Sec.  630.10(f)(5)).
    We proposed in Sec.  630.10(h)(5) that a donor weigh a minimum of 
50 kilograms (110 pounds) and not have any unexplained loss of greater 
than 10 percent of body weight within the past 6 months. We are 
finalizing the requirement that donors weigh at least 110 pounds, but 
have not finalized the requirement related to unexplained weight loss.
    (Comments 71) Several comments suggested deleting the requirement 
to assess the donor's weight because most blood establishments do not 
currently weigh donors. Several comments said there was no 
justification for the 110 pounds lower weight limit and that deferrals 
based on the overall health of the donor were better addressed through 
the donor history questionnaire.
    (Response) Section 630.10(f)(5) does not require blood 
establishments to weigh Whole Blood donors. Blood establishments may 
make this determination by asking a donor whether the donor weighs at 
least 110 pounds.
    f. Skin examination (Sec.  630.10(f)(6)).
    In proposed Sec.  630.10(h)(6) we proposed requirements that: (1) 
The donor's phlebotomy site be free of evidence of infection, 
inflammation, lesions, and pitted skin and (2) the donor's arms and 
forearms be free of punctures and scars indicative of injected drugs of 
abuse. We have finalized these provisions, except that we have deleted 
the reference to ``pitted skin''.
    (Comment 72) One comment recommended that FDA not include the term 
``pitted skin'' from the final rule. The comment stated frequent 
plasmapheresis donors would be expected to have pitted areas of their 
skin due to the needle punctures for their donations as frequently as 
twice per week. The comments asserted that a close examination for 
pitted skin could lead to deferral of committed donors.
    (Response) We agree with the comment that frequent donors often 
have pitted areas of their skin due to needle punctures. Therefore, we 
do not include the term pitted skin in Sec.  630.10(f)(6) of the final 
rule, and require only that the donor's arms must be free of infection, 
inflammation, and lesions. We note that pitted skin may be more 
difficult to decontaminate, which may affect the choice of the 
phlebotomy site.
7. Section 630.10(g)
    a. Proof of identity and postal address (Sec.  630.10(g)(1)).
    We proposed in Sec.  630.10(i)(1) that collection establishments 
obtain, before donation, proof of the donor's identity and a mailing 
address where the donor may be contacted for 8 weeks following 
donation. Establishments are currently required to maintain a record of 
this address in the donor record as required under Sec.  
606.160(b)(1)(x) (redesignated in this rule as Sec.  
606.160(b)(1)(ix)). Establishments may use this information to contact 
the donor to communicate regarding test results for evidence of 
infection, as required under Sec.  630.40. We are finalizing this 
provision as proposed, except that the final rule specifies that the 
donor's mailing address must be a postal address.
    (Comment 73) One comment suggested that the donor's name and last 
four digits of their Social Security Number (United States) or Social 
Insurance Number (Canada), with proof of an address, would be adequate 
proof of a donor's identification. Another comment stated that it is 
not always possible to obtain photographic identification, stating that 
members of certain groups are reluctant to have their photographs 
taken. The comment stated that FDA should allow for other means of 
identifying the donor.
    (Response) We have finalized the rule to require that blood 
establishments obtain proof of identity of the donor prior to donation. 
However, we have not specified the means of establishing proof. We 
believe that photographic identification, a valid driver's license, 
validated biometric means, or other means can be useful in establishing 
the donor's identity. Establishments must include procedures for 
establishing donor identity in their standard operating procedures 
under Sec.  606.100(b). We also note that, while this provision 
establishes a requirement for Whole Blood donors, Sec.  640.65(b)(3) 
has long required Source Plasma establishment to have a donor 
identification system in place. For Source Plasma establishments, Sec.  
630.10(g)(1) does not add new requirements.
    (Comment 74) We received several comments objecting to the 
requirement to obtain an address where the donor may be contacted for 8 
weeks after donation. One comment stated that this provision would have 
an impact on blood collection on college campuses due to the movement 
of college students to other addresses for the summer. One comment 
referenced information from the United States Postal Service, 
indicating that most individuals who move do leave a forwarding 
address. The comment suggested that donors can be contacted through 
this mechanism. The comment further suggested that newer communication 
technologies such as email and cell phones can be used for notification 
purposes when necessary.
    (Response) We have finalized the rule to require that blood 
establishments obtain a postal address where the donor may be contacted 
for 8 weeks after donation. This provision supports effective 
communication on issues that may be important to the donor and his or 
her contacts. We recognize that, when the donors are found ineligible 
prior to collection, they are deferred and notified of the reasons for 
their deferral at the blood center. However, communication with the 
donor becomes necessary after donation due to reactive or positive test 
results obtained on the donation. We believe that most establishments 
invite the donor back to the donor center to inform the donor of 
reactive or positive infectious disease test results on the donation. 
We do not believe that the provision improperly burdens blood 
establishments because of college students and other mobile 
populations. Student donors would provide the postal address where they 
expect to be in residence if they plan to leave school during the 8 
weeks

[[Page 29870]]

following donation. We recognize that other means of contact, such as 
email or telephone, may permit more rapid communication. Establishments 
may also request an email address or telephone number, although the 
rule does not require establishments to collect this information. If 
the donor has been successfully contacted by other means, then we do 
not require that contact be made using the postal service.
    b. Donor acknowledgement (Sec.  630.10(g)(2)).
    In proposed Sec.  630.10(i)(2), we proposed to require 
establishments to provide the donor with a written statement of 
understanding to be read and signed by the donor. The establishment 
would be required to use procedures to assure that the donor 
understands the material provided in the statement, which must not 
include language that would waive any of the donor's legal rights and 
must address seven elements: (1) The donor statement that he or she has 
reviewed the educational material required by Sec.  630.10(b); (2) the 
donor's agreement not to donate if the donation could put the blood 
supply at risk; (3) testing of the donor's blood; (4) additional 
testing of the donor's blood if initial tests are reactive; (5) the 
consequences if the donation is determined not to be suitable, or if 
the donor is ineligible; (6) the risks and hazards of the specific 
donation procedure or of immunization, if applicable; and (7) the 
donor's opportunity to ask questions and withdraw consent at any time.
    We have modified the provision after considering comments received 
to the proposed rule and the recommendations made from the Blood 
Products Advisory Committee at the April 28-29, 2011, meeting (Ref. 
52). For clarity, we now call this ``Donor's acknowledgement,'' instead 
of the proposed ``Donor's written statement of understanding.'' The 
statement does not have to be in a written form only, although it must 
provide for a signature or other documented acknowledgement.
    In proposed Sec.  630.10(i)(2)(iv), we proposed to require that the 
donor be informed that a blood sample will be tested for specified 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections and that the further 
testing might be required for reactive donations. Although we are 
finalizing the requirement that the donor be informed of infectious 
disease testing, following the recommendation of the Blood Products 
Advisory Committee at the April 2011 meeting (Ref. 52), we are not 
finalizing a requirement that the donor acknowledge that infectious 
disease testing may include additional testing of reactive samples 
(proposed Sec.  630.10(i)(2)(iv)). We are not including this detailed 
requirement in the final rule, and are finalizing 6 out of the 7 
proposed requirements.
    We have also clarified the requirement that the donor be informed 
of the risks and hazards of the donation procedure. We now require in 
Sec.  630.10(g)(2)(ii)(E) that the donor acknowledgement include 
acknowledgment that the donor has been provided and reviewed 
information regarding the risks and hazards of the specific donation 
procedure that the donor will undergo. This is required for every 
donation of blood and blood components, including Source Plasma and 
other donations by apheresis. We are finalizing this section with the 
additional modifications discussed in our responses to comments.
    (Comment 75) One comment questioned the use of the term 
``understanding'' as used in ``written statement of understanding'' in 
proposed Sec.  630.10(i)(2).
    (Response) We have revised the provision to require that the donor 
acknowledge that the donor has read the material provided. Accordingly, 
we now designate this as ``Donor's acknowledgement''.
    (Comment 76) We were also asked how this section relates to other 
sections of the existing Source Plasma regulations on informed consent.
    (Response) For collections of plasma and platelets for apheresis, 
Sec. Sec.  630.15(b) and 640.21(g) require establishments to engage the 
donor at least annually in an informed consent dialogue. See discussion 
in comments 86 and 117. The requirement to obtain a donor 
acknowledgement applies to every collection of blood and blood 
components, including apheresis collections of plasma and platelets. 
The donor's acknowledgement must be obtained at each donation.
    (Comment 77) Several comments objected to a requirement that the 
donor ``sign'' a statement and urged FDA to allow an electronic 
signature.
    (Response) We agree that this requirement can be satisfied by an 
electronic signature. Final Sec.  630.10(g)(2)(i) requires that the 
donor's acknowledgement be provided by signature or other documented 
acknowledgement.
8. Section 630.10(h)
    We have added Sec.  630.10(h) to make explicit a requirement in the 
proposed regulation. Section 630.10(h) provides that a blood 
establishment must not collect from a donor found, before collection, 
to be ineligible, unless an exception exists. In addition, we 
incorporated existing requirements to defer donors found to be 
ineligible and to notify the donors of their deferral as required in 
Sec.  630.40(a).

K. Donor Eligibility Requirements Specific to Whole Blood, Red Blood 
Cells and Plasma Collected by Apheresis (Sec.  630.15)

    Section 630.15(a) establishes donor eligibility requirements for 
the collection of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cells collected by 
apheresis, and Sec.  630.15(b) establishes donor eligibility 
requirements for collections of Source Plasma and plasma collected by 
plasmapheresis. These requirements are in addition to those in Sec.  
630.10.
    For donors of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cells collected by 
apheresis, this rule requires that donation frequency be consistent 
with protecting the donor's health, describes minimum intervals between 
donations, and addresses donations by donors undergoing therapeutic 
phlebotomy. We have added references to Red Blood Cells collected by 
apheresis to the heading and at several points in this section to 
clarify the applicability of Sec.  630.15(a) to Red Blood Cells 
collected by apheresis.
    For donors of Source Plasma and plasma collected by plasmapheresis, 
the rule requires the responsible physician, subject to Sec.  630.5(c), 
to conduct an appropriate medical history and physical examination of 
the donor. Additionally, blood establishments are required to weigh the 
donor before each plasmapheresis procedure and to assess the donor's 
total protein level prior to each donation. This provision includes a 
requirement in Sec.  630.15(b)(1)(ii) to defer a plasmapheresis donor 
found to have a medical condition that would place the donor at risk 
from plasmapheresis, and to defer a donor because of red blood cell 
loss as described in the rule. This section also contains informed 
consent requirements for donors of Source Plasma and plasma collected 
by plasmapheresis. These provisions complement other requirements for 
the collection of plasma by plasmapheresis in part 640 and part 630, 
including restrictions on frequency of collection as specified in 
Sec. Sec.  640.32 and 640.65. In addition Sec.  630.15(b)(1) cross-
references certain exceptions provided for plasmapheresis collections 
from infrequent plasma donors in Sec.  630.25.
1. Section 630.15(a)
    Consistent with the proposed rule, final Sec.  630.15(a)(1) 
requires that for a

[[Page 29871]]

collection resulting in a single unit of Whole Blood or Red Blood Cells 
collected by apheresis, the donation frequency must be no more than 
once in 8 weeks. For an apheresis collection resulting in two units of 
Red Blood Cells, the donor must not donate more than once in 16 weeks. 
These limitations on donation frequency reflect long standing donation 
interval practices established to protect the donor from potential 
health risks associated with frequent donations of Whole Blood or Red 
Blood Cells. The purpose of these provisions is to protect the health 
of the donor and allow time for red blood cell recovery. In Sec.  
630.15(a)(1)(ii), we provide two exceptions to the donation interval: 
(1) The donation is for autologous use as prescribed by the donor's 
physician and the responsible physician determines and documents that 
the donation may proceed or (2) the donation is a dedicated donation 
based on the intended recipient's documented exceptional medical need 
and the responsible physician determines and documents that the health 
of the donor would not be adversely affected by donating. In the final 
rule, we added the term ``exceptional'' to clarify that this exception 
to donation frequency should apply only in those rare situations where 
the recipient's need for a component from a donor with particular 
characteristics is exceptional. For example, it may be appropriate to 
rely on this exception in the event that a recipient needs a blood 
component that is negative for a rare blood cell antigen. Under this 
exceptional medical need provision, the responsible physician must 
examine the donor and determine and document that the health of the 
donor would not be adversely affected by donating. Under Sec.  
630.5(b)(1)(i), the responsible physician is not authorized to delegate 
the examination of the donor or the determination that the health of 
the donor would not be adversely affected by donating.
    For clarity, the requirements regarding therapeutic phlebotomy have 
been consolidated in the final rule in Sec.  630.15(a)(2).
    (Comment 78) One comment stated that the applicability of proposed 
Sec.  630.15 to Red Blood Cells collected by apheresis was unclear. The 
comment stated that ``double unit collection programs,'' often have 
additional and different donor eligibility requirements, as described 
in proposed Sec.  630.15(a)(1).
    (Response) Final Sec.  630.15(a) now more expressly includes Red 
Blood Cells collected by apheresis. Final Sec.  630.15(a)(1) 
establishes minimum time intervals between collections of Whole Blood, 
and single and double units of Red Blood Cells by apheresis. These time 
intervals are consistent with existing regulations and guidance. This 
addition makes explicit what was less directly stated in the proposed 
rule. Proposed Sec.  630.15(a)(1) referred to ``double unit collection 
programs,'' which are double Red Blood Cell collections by apheresis. 
Moreover, proposed Sec.  640.12 required establishments to determine 
the eligibility of donors of Red Blood Cells in accordance with 
Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15.
    (Comment 79) One comment stated that FDA should not specify 8 and 
16 week donation intervals. Instead, the comment recommended that a 
blood establishment determine donation frequency without reference to a 
specific donation interval, taking into account the donor history, the 
results of a limited physical examination, the participation of a 
medical director or his or her designee, and the blood center's 
procedures. Another comment recommended that a physician be allowed to 
authorize more frequent collection by certifying that the prospective 
donor has recovered from the prior donation without evidence of 
residual effects or to allow the physician to simply certify that the 
prospective donor meets his/her requirements for a repeat donation on 
the day of the examination.
    (Response) FDA regulations have long specified a minimum interval 
of 8 weeks between Whole Blood donations, unless a physician examines 
the donor and certifies the donor to be in good health. FDA is 
finalizing minimum donation intervals in this rule to protect the 
health of donors of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cells collected by 
apheresis because too frequent donation may adversely affect a donor's 
health (Refs. 47, 48). In the final rule at Sec.  630.15(a)(1), we are 
retaining a minimum requirement for an 8 week interval between the 
donation of a unit of Whole Blood or donation of a single unit of Red 
Blood Cells by apheresis, and requiring a 16 week interval after a 
double collection of Red Blood Cells. A 16 week interval following a 
double collection of Red Blood Cells is recommended in current FDA 
guidance (Ref. 53). Blood establishments are free to establish longer 
donation intervals.
    We have provided a limited exception to these donation intervals to 
allow for more frequent collections for: (1) An autologous donation as 
prescribed by the donor's physician only when the donor has been 
examined by the responsible physician who determines and documents that 
the donation may proceed and (2) a dedicated donation based on the 
intended recipient's documented exceptional medical need, only when the 
responsible physician examines the donor and determines and documents 
that the health of the donor would not be adversely affected by 
donating.
    (Comment 80) Several comments requested that we clarify in the 
final rule that donors with hereditary hemochromatosis can donate more 
frequently than the 8 week interval set forth in proposed Sec.  
630.15(a)(1) and also to clarify that more frequent donations from such 
donors may be collected more frequently without an exception or 
alternative under Sec.  640.120.
    (Response) Final Sec.  630.15(a)(2) states clearly that a donation 
may be collected from a donor more frequently than once in 8 weeks for 
collections resulting in a single unit of Whole Blood or Red Blood 
Cells, or 16 weeks for apheresis collections resulting in a double 
collection of Red Blood Cells, when the donor is determined to be 
eligible under Sec.  630.10 and the collection is a physician-ordered 
therapeutic phlebotomy of a donor, including a donor with hereditary 
hemochromatosis. Establishments do not need an exception or alternative 
under Sec.  640.120 to make a collection under this provision if the 
requirements set forth in Sec.  630.15(a)(2) are met.
    (Comment 81) One comment recommended that the term ``iron 
overload'' should be substituted for the term ``hereditary 
hemochromatosis'' in the provision providing an exception to the 
requirement to label a collection with the disease state of a donor 
undergoing therapeutic phlebotomy.
    (Response) We decline to substitute the term ``iron overload'' for 
the term ``hereditary hemochromatosis'' in final Sec.  630.15(a)(2). 
The term, ``iron overload'' describes imprecisely the donors for whom 
establishments would perform phlebotomies without charge. However, we 
agree with the comment that this provision may, at some time in the 
future, appropriately be applied to collections from donors whose 
therapeutic phlebotomy is necessitated by a disease or condition other 
than hereditary hemochromatosis. Accordingly, final Sec.  630.15(a)(2) 
provides that no labeling for the disease or condition is required if: 
(i) The donor meets all eligibility criteria; (ii) the donor undergoes 
a therapeutic phlebotomy as prescribed by a licensed health care 
provider treating the donor for (A) hereditary hemochromatosis; or (B) 
another disease or condition, when the health of a donor with that 
disease or condition will not be adversely

[[Page 29872]]

affected by donating, the donor's disease or condition will not 
adversely affect the safety, purity, and potency of the blood and blood 
components collected, or any products manufactured from them, and the 
collection is in accordance with a procedure that has been found 
acceptable for this purpose by FDA; and (iii) the establishment 
performs without charge therapeutic phlebotomies for all individuals 
with that disease or condition. Labeling to identify the disease state 
or condition that necessitated the therapeutic phlebotomy is still 
required when these criteria are not met.
    (Comment 82) Another comment suggested that the final rule should 
not require a physical examination by a responsible physician at the 
time of donation for individuals presenting a prescription for 
therapeutic phlebotomy for medical reasons. The comment observed that 
the 2001 guidance document entitled, ``Guidance for Industry: Variances 
for Blood Collection from Individuals with Hereditary 
Hemochromatosis,'' (Ref. 54) did not provide for such a physical 
examination for exceptions or alternatives granted in accordance with 
that guidance document.
    (Response) We agree with this suggestion. The final rule does not 
require that an individual undergoing a prescribed therapeutic 
phlebotomy to promote the donor's health be examined by a responsible 
physician at the time of donation. The physical assessment required for 
all donors under Sec.  630.10(f) still applies, however.
    (Comment 83) One comment supported the proposal that disease 
labeling would not be required for blood and blood components donated 
by an individual with hereditary hemochromatosis if the donor meets all 
eligibility criteria and the collecting establishment performs 
therapeutic phlebotomies without charge for all individuals with 
hereditary hemochromatosis, including those who need therapeutic 
phlebotomy but do not wish or are not eligible to donate. However, the 
comment recommended that the final rule authorize blood establishments 
to accept grants and gifts from third parties, including partial 
insurance coverage, related to the costs of phlebotomy.
    (Response) The final rule provides that blood establishments do not 
have to label donations from a donor with hereditary hemochromatosis 
with the donor's disease state if the donor is eligible and the 
establishment does not charge anyone with hereditary hemochromatosis 
(or another disease or condition, if the conditions in the regulation 
are met) for therapeutic phlebotomy. This provision is intended to 
remove the incentive for an individual with hereditary hemochromatosis 
to provide untruthful answers to donor eligibility questions for a 
blood donation in order to receive the benefit of a phlebotomy without 
charge. If a blood establishment charged a fee for an ineligible donor 
to undergo a therapeutic phlebotomy, but not for an eligible donor with 
hereditary hemochromatosis, the ineligible hereditary hemochromatosis 
donor would have an incentive to deny risk conditions that might 
preclude cost-free donation (Ref. 55). This policy is in part based on 
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and 
Availability (Ref. 56). We decline to modify this provision to address 
the acceptance of grants, gifts, or insurance payments. We note that we 
did not propose such a provision, and we believe that a reference to 
grants, gifts, or insurance payments could confuse patients seeking a 
therapeutic phlebotomy.
    (Comment 84) One comment suggested that hospitals that transfuse 
suitable blood and blood components labeled with the donor's iron 
overload disease state should include a statement to that effect in 
their informed consent for transfusion.
    (Response) This rule does not address the content of hospital 
discussions related to informed consent for transfusion. Final Sec.  
630.15(a)(2) authorizes blood establishments to collect blood and blood 
components only from donors, including donors with hereditary 
hemochromatosis, determined to be eligible. Blood from hereditary 
hemochromatosis donors has been used for transfusion in other countries 
without reports of adverse events in recipients (Refs. 57, 58, 59).
1. Section 630.15(b)
    We revised proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(1), formerly entitled 
``Physical examination and informed consent,'' by dividing it into two 
sections. This clarifies that separate requirements apply for the 
medical history and physical examination (final Sec.  630.15(b)(1)) and 
for obtaining informed consent (final Sec.  630.15(b)(2)). As a result, 
proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(2) through (b)(7) are finalized as Sec.  
630.15(b)(3) through (b)(8).
    a. Medical history and physical examination (Sec.  630.15(b)(1)).
    This section, titled ``Physical examination and informed consent'' 
in the proposed rule, is now titled ``Medical history and physical 
examination.'' Informed consent requirements are now addressed in Sec.  
630.15(b)(2). The new heading more accurately describes the assessment 
required under this section. As proposed, we would have required the 
responsible physician to examine the donor for medical conditions that 
would place the donor at risk during plasmapheresis. We intended for 
this physical examination to include conducting an appropriate medical 
history and physical examination to identify medical conditions that 
may place the donor at risk from plasmapheresis.
    (Comment 85) One comment stated that FDA should not require a 
responsible physician to examine the donor before the initial donation 
and at least annually thereafter. The comment asserted that 
plasmapheresis collection has been in place for years without risk to 
donors. The comment also stated that an annual and initial exam is 
unnecessary for infrequent plasma donors and donors not participating 
in immunization programs.
    (Response) Examination by a qualified licensed physician is already 
required under current Sec.  640.63(b) for all Source Plasma donors, 
and we believe that the requirement to conduct a medical history and 
physical examination before the first donation, and at least annually 
thereafter, contributes to the safety record of these collections. We 
have modified this requirement by authorizing the responsible physician 
in Sec.  630.5(c)(3) to delegate this activity to a physician 
substitute, as defined in Sec.  630.3(g). During the annual physical, 
donors may be examined for a variety of conditions, such as heart 
disease, seizures, trouble breathing, allergies, recent medical 
operations, or medications, in order to ensure that donating will not 
adversely affect the health of the donor. Such evaluations would 
include a physical examination and medical history which might identify 
medications or underlying medical conditions that would lead to donor 
deferral. Because frequent donation by plasmapheresis of plasma for 
transfusion raises similar donor safety concerns, this requirement now 
applies to collections from frequent plasmapheresis donors, and not 
only to Source Plasma donors.
    However, we agree with the comment that an annual and initial 
examination is unnecessary for an infrequent plasma donor, as defined 
in Sec.  630.3(e). Final Sec.  630.25 provides certain exceptions from 
donor eligibility requirements for infrequent plasma donors, including 
the requirement for an enhanced medical history and physical 
examination under Sec.  630.15. These donors remain subject to

[[Page 29873]]

the requirements for medical history and physical assessment under 
Sec.  630.10.
    b. What requirements apply to obtaining informed consent? (Sec.  
630.15(b)(2)).
    (Comment 86) Several comments stated that for plasmapheresis 
donors, the distinction between the written statement of understanding 
and informed consent should be clarified.
    (Response) We have clarified that the written statement of 
understanding, renamed and revised as the donor's acknowledgement in 
final Sec.  630.10(g)(2), applies to the collection of all blood and 
blood components, including Source Plasma and plasmapheresis 
collections. Informed consent for Source Plasma donation has long been 
required under current Sec.  640.61, and this rule continues those 
requirements for Source Plasma and plasmapheresis collections. In 
recognition that the donation of Source Plasma and plasma by 
plasmapheresis may present additional and potentially greater risks to 
the donors, Sec.  630.15(b)(2) requires the responsible physician to 
obtain the informed consent of such a donor on the first day of 
donation or no more than 1 week before the first donation. Section 
630.5 addresses the authority of the responsible physician to delegate 
this task. The responsible physician must explain the risks and hazards 
of the procedure to the donor. The explanation must be made in such a 
manner that the donor may ask questions of the responsible physician. 
The explanation must also give the donor a clear opportunity to refuse 
the procedure. This informed consent process involves a dialogue 
between the donor and the responsible physician. The establishment must 
obtain informed consent from these donors at least once every year. If 
a donor does not return for 6 months, the establishment must obtain 
informed consent again. If new risks and hazards are identified, or if 
the donor is enrolled in a new program such as an immunization or 
special collection program, then a new informed consent, addressing the 
specific risks and hazards of that program, must be obtained. The 
informed consent requirements in Sec.  630.15(b)(2) are in addition to 
the donor acknowledgement, which under Sec.  630.10(g)(2), must be 
obtained from the donor at each donation.
    c. Weight (Sec.  630.15(b)(3)).
    Section 630.15(b)(2) of the proposed rule would have required that 
establishments determine a donor's weight at each donation of plasma by 
plasmapheresis. We received several comments regarding this provision, 
which we address in this rule, and are finalizing this provision in 
Sec.  630.15(b)(3) as proposed.
    (Comment 87) Two comments asserted that weighing a donor at each 
donation is not useful. One comment further stated that donors are not 
weighed prior to plateletpheresis procedures, and there is no evidence 
that asking the donor to state their weight, as opposed to weighing 
donors, has been unsafe. The comment further asserted that it would not 
make sense to require a donor to be weighed prior to a co-collection of 
plasma and platelets by apheresis as donors are currently not weighed 
prior to triple plateletpheresis procedures, and there have been no 
adverse events.
    (Response) We are finalizing this provision as proposed, and 
require establishments to weigh a donor before collecting plasma by 
plasmapheresis. A current weight measurement permits the collecting 
establishment to calculate accurately the plasma volumes to be 
collected based on a weight specific nomogram. The need for accurate 
measurement applies to all collections by plasmapheresis, whether 
Source Plasma, or frequent or infrequent plasmapheresis collection. We 
have not included a requirement to weigh plateletpheresis donors. The 
instructions for use for the apheresis devices used for such 
collections vary concerning whether they require the user to weigh the 
donor. Instead, establishments would address donor weight in their 
standard operating procedures for plateletpheresis collection in a 
manner that is consistent with the instructions for use (operator's 
manual) for the apheresis devices used by the establishment to collect 
platelets.
    When there is a co-collection including plasma by apheresis, this 
provision requires the establishment to weigh the donor because the 
collection of plasma by apheresis will be based on the donor's weight. 
In addition, the instruction for use, including the operator's manual 
of the device used to collect platelets by apheresis, may include an 
instruction to determine the donor's weight for co-collections with 
plasma.
    (Comment 88) One comment also recommended that in addition to 
weighing donors at Source Plasma establishments, the donor's height be 
taken once a year. The comment suggested that conversion of the 
measurement of height and weight to lean body mass should be the basis 
for the quantity of plasma removed.
    (Response) Measuring the donor's height combined with measuring a 
donor's weight may be useful in identifying and using a more accurate 
nomogram to determine the maximum quantity of plasma that should be 
collected from the donor by plasmapheresis. However, we believe donors 
are able to accurately report their height, which is less likely to 
fluctuate over time than their weight. Therefore, Sec.  630.15(b)(3) 
requires establishments to weigh each donor prior to each donation, 
while permitting reliance on a donor's self-reported height when needed 
to determine an accurate nomogram for the maximum quantity of plasma 
that should be collected. We note that under current Sec.  606.65(e) 
establishments must follow the device instructions for use and 
operators manual of the apheresis collection device.
    d. Total protein level (Sec.  630.15(b)(4)).
    We are finalizing the requirement for collection establishments to 
test the donor's blood sample for total plasma protein, and that the 
donor have a value of no less than 6.0 grams per deciliter and no more 
than 9.0 grams per deciliter. Consistent with current Sec.  
640.63(c)(5) and proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(4), this section requires 
establishments to continue the practice of assessing protein levels 
before each plasmapheresis procedure. In addition, we are maintaining 
the existing requirement in current Sec.  640.65(b)(1)(i), which 
requires establishments to assess a Source Plasma donor's total protein 
levels, and to perform a plasma or serum protein electrophoresis or 
quantitative immuno-diffusion test or an equivalent test to determine 
immunoglobulin composition of the plasma or serum, on the day of the 
first medical examination or plasmapheresis, and at least every 4 
months thereafter. Final Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) requires the responsible 
physician to review the accumulated laboratory data, including any 
tracings of the plasma or serum protein electrophoresis pattern, the 
calculated values of the protein composition of each component, and the 
collection records within 14 calendar days after the sample is drawn to 
determine whether or not the donor should be deferred from further 
donation. Comments on Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) are discussed at comment 
118.
    (Comment 89) Several comments questioned the validity of the 
proposal to require 9.0 grams protein per deciliter value for the upper 
limit for total plasma protein. One comment stated the requirement for 
total protein should specify that the donor's total plasma or serum 
protein must have a value of no less than 6.0 grams per deciliter and 
that the acceptable upper limit may be established based on applicable

[[Page 29874]]

statistical analysis of test results on their donors.
    (Response) After further consideration, we are finalizing these 
limits largely as proposed. We consider the lower limit, no less than 
6.0 grams protein per deciliter, and the total upper limit of 9.0 grams 
protein per deciliter in a plasma or serum sample, as appropriate 
measurement parameters to ensure the donor's health. We have determined 
that the reference ranges for testing protein in serum and plasma are 
comparable (Ref. 60); the final rule now applies these lower and upper 
limits whether testing is performed on either a plasma or serum sample. 
Although the comments questioned the value of an upper limit, we 
consider an upper limit to be necessary to ensure donor health, because 
high protein levels can be associated with adverse health conditions, 
such as plasma cell dyscrasias (Ref. 61).
    (Comment 90) Another comment suggested FDA should consider a 
flexible regulation to allow for the development of an acceptable 
alternative to the current procedures.
    (Response) We have not identified a need to provide for a variable 
standard in this rule. An establishment that proposes to use a 
different standard may submit a request for an exception or alternative 
under Sec.  640.120.
    e. Examination before immunization (Sec.  630.15(b)(5)).
    We have finalized Sec.  630.15(b)(5) to be consistent with proposed 
Sec.  630.15(b)(4), but we have revised the language for clarity. This 
section requires the responsible physician, subject to Sec.  630.5, to 
conduct an appropriate medical history and physical examination of the 
donor no more than 1 week before the first immunization injection of a 
donor for the production of high-titer antibody plasma. This requires 
that the responsible physician conducts an appropriate medical history 
and physical examination, as described in Sec.  630.15(b)(1), before 
the first immunization. It further provides an opportunity to obtain an 
informed consent specific for participation in an immunization program, 
as required in Sec.  630.15(b)(2)(iv) (Ref. 62). However, it is not 
necessary to repeat the medical history and physical examination 
required in Sec.  630.15(b)(1) if the immunized donor's plasma is 
collected within 3 weeks of the first immunization injection. Under 
Sec.  630.15(b)(5)(ii), establishments are not required to re-examine a 
donor before immunizing the donor for the production of high-titer 
antibody plasma if the donor is currently participating in a 
plasmapheresis collection program and is eligible under Sec.  630.10.
    f. Deferral of donors due to red blood cell loss (Sec.  
630.15(b)(6)).
    For the safety of the donor, we are requiring establishments to 
defer donors from donating Source Plasma and plasma collected by 
plasmapheresis following red blood cell loss due to a donation of Whole 
Blood or Red Blood Cells collected by apheresis. Establishments must 
also ensure that the cumulative red blood cell loss resulting from 
previous donations does not adversely affect the health of the donor.
    Under final Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(i), establishments must defer a 
donor from donating plasma by plasmapheresis for 8 weeks following a 
donation of Whole Blood or a single unit of Red Blood Cells by 
apheresis. However, establishments may collect Plasma by plasmapheresis 
48 hours after a donation of Whole Blood or a single unit of Red Blood 
Cells, provided the extracorporeal volume of the apheresis collection 
device is less than 100 mL (Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(i)). We authorize 
collection under these circumstances because the risk of red blood cell 
loss in the donor is lower. The limited volume of the extracorporeal 
circuit limits the donor's potential red blood cell loss in routine 
apheresis collection. In addition, under Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(ii), plasma 
donors must be deferred for 16 weeks if the donor donates two units of 
Red Blood Cells during a single apheresis procedure. Final Sec.  
630.15(b)(6)(iii) requires deferral for 8 weeks or more if the 
cumulative red blood cell loss in any 8 week period could adversely 
affect donor health.
    We have not finalized the provisions in the proposed rule that 
would have required deferral after red blood cell loss of equal to or 
greater than 200 mL (proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(5)(i) and (b)(5)(iii)). 
We recognize that it is difficult to measure the amount of blood lost 
in order to determine whether the volume is equal to or greater than 
200 mL. Instead, we are finalizing the requirement in Sec.  
630.15(b)(6)(iii) to defer the donor if the donor's cumulative red 
blood cell loss in any 8 week period could adversely affect donor 
health. We have addressed deferral due to red blood cell loss in 
guidance (Ref. 63) and intend to issue future guidance on the impact of 
the cumulative red blood cell loss following frequent apheresis 
procedures.
    (Comment 91) One comment noted that FDA's guidance, ``Guidance for 
Industry and FDA Review Staff: Collection of Platelets by Automated 
Methods,'' which published in December 2007 during the comment period 
for the proposed rule, contained recommendations for 16 week deferral 
of platelet donors who experienced losses of red blood cells of 300 mL 
or more. The comment recommended that 16 week deferrals for larger red 
blood cell loss should be included for plasma donors in this final 
rule.
    (Response) We agree with this comment about the relevance of FDA's 
recommendations in ``Guidance for Industry and FDA Review Staff: 
Collection of Platelets by Automated Methods,'' hereafter, referred to 
as the ``2007 Guidance'' (Ref. 64). Because the risks associated with 
red blood cell loss are comparable for donors of plasma and platelets 
by apheresis, Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(iii) requires establishments to defer 
for 16 weeks plasma donors who donate two units of Red Blood Cells 
during a single apheresis procedure.
    (Comment 92) Another comment stated that specific deferral periods 
are unnecessarily restrictive, and that there should be a provision 
similar to that in the proposed rule at Sec.  640.21(e), to the effect 
that collection of plasma by apheresis should be permitted following a 
donation of Whole Blood or other red cell loss, if the extracorporeal 
red blood cell volume for the apheresis device is less than or equal to 
100 mL. The comment noted that most of the plasma collected by 
apheresis from volunteer blood donors is plasma collected concurrently 
with apheresis platelets. The comment stated that since FDA recognizes 
that plateletpheresis collection is safe in this circumstance, it does 
not make sense to have more restrictive criteria for the collection of 
plasma by apheresis during plateletpheresis, as the red blood cell loss 
would be the same for these procedures.
    (Response) We recognize that a co-collection of Plasma and 
Platelets may occur and we agree that the risks associated with red 
blood cell loss for collections of Source Plasma and Plasma by 
apheresis are similar to those for collections of Platelets by 
apheresis. The requirements for deferral of Plasma donors due to red 
blood cell loss following Whole Blood or Red Blood Cell donation or 
inadvertent red blood cell loss are addressed in this section. 
Separately, we are finalizing a corresponding provision for the 
deferral of Platelet donors due to Whole Blood or Red Blood Cell 
donation or red blood cell loss in Sec.  640.21. We intend for the 
deferrals for red blood cell loss to be the same for all collections of 
Plasma and Platelets by apheresis, including co-collections, because we 
consider the

[[Page 29875]]

risks of red blood cell loss to be the same.
    In the final rule, we require the deferral of plasmapheresis donors 
following the donation of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cells, and because 
of cumulative red blood cell loss over time. Consistent with the final 
requirements for Platelets in Sec.  640.21, Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(i) 
permits the collection of Source Plasma and Plasma by plasmapheresis 2 
days after a donation of Whole Blood or a single unit of Red Blood 
Cells, provided the extracorporeal volume of the apheresis collection 
device is less than 100 mL.
    g. Exceptions to deferral due to red blood cell loss (Sec.  
630.15(b)(7)).
    Final Sec.  630.15(b)(7) provides an exception to deferral due to 
red blood cell loss for certain Source Plasma donors. While the 
introductory paragraph of proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(6) referred to 
participation in a plasmapheresis program instead of to Source Plasma 
collections, we finalized this exception using the more explicit term 
``Source Plasma.'' In proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(i), the responsible 
physician would have been required to conduct an examination and 
``certify'' the donor's good health; final Sec.  630.15(b)(7)(i) 
requires that the responsible physician examine the donor at the time 
of the current donation and determine and document that the donor is in 
good health and the donor's health permits the plasmapheresis. Under 
Sec.  630.5(c)(1)(i)(A), the responsible physician is not authorized to 
delegate this examination and determination. In proposed Sec.  
630.15(b)(6)(ii), this exception would apply when the ``donor possesses 
an antibody that is transitory, of a highly unusual or infrequent 
specificity, or of an unusually high titer.'' In final Sec.  
630.15(b)(7)(ii), the exception is reserved for donors whose plasma 
possesses a property such as an antibody, antigen, or protein 
deficiency, that is transitory, of a highly unusual or infrequent 
specificity, or of an unusually high titer. This reference to the 
donor's plasma, instead of the narrower reference to an ``antibody'' in 
the plasma is repeated in final Sec.  630.15(b)(7)(iii), which requires 
the establishment to document the special characteristics of the 
donor's plasma and the need for plasmapheresis of that donor. We 
altered this provision to refer more generally to the unusual 
characteristics of the plasma, rather than to a specific antibody, 
because we recognized that this exception should be available under 
appropriate circumstances where the donor's plasma has other unusual 
characteristics, such as a rare antigen. As additional protection 
against additional red blood cell loss in a collection under this 
provision, final Sec.  630.15(b)(7)(iv) provides that the 
extracorporeal volume of the apheresis device used to collect plasma 
under this provision must be less than 100 mL. We note that donors who 
donate subject to this exception must be advised of the risks and 
hazards related to this donation under Sec. Sec.  630.10(g)(2) and 
630.15(b)(2), or under Sec.  630.15(b)(2)(iv), if the donor is newly 
enrolled in the program.
    (Comment 93) One comment asserted that the statement in the 
proposed rule at Sec.  630.15(b)(6)(ii), ``the donor possesses an 
antibody that is transitory. . .'' requires modification. The comment 
stated that the usual antibody characterized this way would be anti-Jka 
or -Jkb. The comment continued that it would be difficult to determine 
whether the plasma was collected from someone who has an antibody that 
is transitory before it is collected. The comment recommended the 
language be changed to state, ``donor's plasma contains an antibody. . 
.''
    (Response) We are retaining the word ``transitory'' in final Sec.  
630.15(b)(7), although it now refers to a transitory property in the 
donor's plasma, rather than specifically to a transitory antibody. This 
provision is meant to apply to collections of plasma from individuals 
with specific transitory properties. These provisions apply only when 
an establishment knows that the donor's plasma has a particular 
property that is transitory.
    h. Malaria (Sec.  630.15(b)(8)).
    Consistent with proposed Sec.  630.15(b)(7), final Sec.  
630.15(b)(8) does not require Source Plasma donors to be free from risk 
of malaria (for example, based on residence in or travel history to a 
malaria endemic area). We do not require establishments to screen 
Source Plasma donors for malaria risk factors because Source Plasma 
undergoes further manufacturing steps to effectively remove or 
inactivate pathogens such as the malaria parasite, and licensed plasma 
derivatives manufactured from Source Plasma have not transmitted 
malaria.
    (Comment 94) Several comments agreed with our proposal to not 
require freedom from malaria risk for Source Plasma donors.
    (Response) We are finalizing this provision as proposed.
    (Comment 95) In response to our request for comments with 
supporting data concerning whether this provision should be expanded to 
donors of plasma for transfusion (72 FR 63416 at 63429), one comment 
supported not requiring an assessment of malaria risk, but did not 
provide supporting data. The comment stated that there is very low 
residual red blood cell contamination in a plasmapheresis product, and 
that the thawing process renders the malaria parasite non-viable. The 
comment also cited the lack of historical malaria transmission from 
Fresh Frozen Plasma.
    (Response) The malaria parasite resides in red blood cells, and we 
recognize most red blood cells are removed from plasma collected by 
apheresis. There are limited data on the viability of malaria parasites 
in plasma and the residual red blood cells contained in plasma. 
However, plasma intended for transfusion, unlike Source Plasma used to 
manufacture plasma derivatives, does not undergo further manufacturing 
steps to remove or inactivate pathogens. Absent data demonstrating that 
the risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria is eliminated with plasma 
products intended for transfusions as well as a licensed test for 
malaria, we require that all donors, except Source Plasma donors, be 
assessed for risk of malaria.
    (Comment 96) Two comments responded to our request for comments 
concerning whether Source Plasma donors should be screened for other 
parasitic diseases. The comments recommended that Source Plasma donors 
not be screened for other parasitic diseases, since, due to the nature 
of Source Plasma donation and the manufacturing process, these have no 
impact on product quality or safety. One comment urged FDA to 
distinguish between plasma collected for transfusion and plasma 
collected for further manufacture, and consider the intended final use 
of the products. The comment recommended that donors should not be 
screened for any pathogen that can be removed by filtration.
    (Response) We are not including in this final rule a specific 
exemption for assessing Source Plasma donors for risk of all parasitic 
diseases; nor are we eliminating donor screening for pathogens that can 
potentially be removed by filtration or other manufacturing methods. 
Insufficient data were submitted in support of these proposals. We 
intend to address recommendations for donor screening and testing for 
specific new diseases identified as relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections on a case by case basis. We recently chose not to recommend 
screening or testing of Source Plasma donors for Chagas disease, 
another parasitic infection (Ref. 24). We intend to continue such

[[Page 29876]]

individual assessments and issue appropriate recommendations in the 
future.

L. Exceptions for Certain Ineligible Donors (Sec.  630.20)

    Section 630.20 permits, under certain circumstances, the collection 
of blood and blood components from individuals who do not meet one or 
more of the eligibility requirements under Sec. Sec.  630.10 or 630.15, 
or are deferred under Sec.  610.41. In finalizing this provision, we 
made several changes. In the first sentence, we make clear a 
requirement that was implicit in the proposed rule: That collection 
authorized under this provision may proceed only after the 
establishment performs the required donor assessments and determines a 
donor to be ineligible under any provision of Sec. Sec.  630.10(e) and 
(f) or 630.15(a). We have not included the reference to donors deferred 
under Sec.  610.41 because of a reactive screening test for a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection in final Sec.  630.20. We determined 
that the provision was unnecessary to include here because Sec. Sec.  
610.40(h)(2)(i) and 610.41(a)(5) already authorize autologous 
collections from reactive donors, and Sec. Sec.  610.40(h)(2)(ii) and 
610.41(a)(2) and (3) authorize plasmapheresis collections under a 
special collection program. For a collection from a reactive donor 
outside these provisions, a blood establishment would first file a 
request under Sec.  640.120. We expect that such requests would occur 
only in extraordinary medical circumstances. We also reorganized the 
section and clarified the responsible physician's role and 
responsibilities for all collections authorized under Sec.  630.20.
    Final Sec.  630.20(a) permits establishments to collect from 
certain ineligible donors donating only for autologous use, as 
prescribed by the donor's physician. Autologous donors have long been 
permitted to donate blood for their own use even though they do not 
meet eligibility criteria, including a reactive result on a donor 
screening test. This section provides additional protections for an 
ineligible, autologous donor who may not be in good health: The donor 
must have a hemoglobin level no less than 11.0 grams of hemoglobin per 
deciliter of blood or a hematocrit value no less than 33 percent, and 
the responsible physician must determine and document before the 
collection that the health of the donor permits the collection. Under 
Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(ii), the responsible physician must not delegate the 
determination of the donor's health. Note that Sec.  630.20(c)(1) of 
the proposed rule stated that this exception would be available when 
``[t]he donation is for autologous use . . . and is not for allogeneic 
transfusion or for further manufacturing use.'' Final Sec.  630.20(a) 
defines the scope of this exception in fewer words that are intended to 
have the same meaning, ``The donation is for autologous use only'' 
(emphasis added).
    Also consistent with the proposed rule, final Sec.  630.20(b) 
permits the collection of plasma from donors participating in an 
approved Source Plasma program to collect plasma for further 
manufacturing use into in vitro products for which there are no 
alternative sources. One example of such products is plasma collected 
from donors with relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s) or other 
diseases; the plasma may be used to develop positive controls for 
infectious disease test kits. The collection must take place under the 
medical oversight specified in the approved plasmapheresis program, and 
for each collection the donor must meet the criteria in Sec.  
630.10(f)(1) through (6) and the responsible physician must determine 
and document that the donor's health permits the collection procedure. 
Under Sec.  630.5(c)(1)(i)(A)(2), the responsible physician must not 
delegate the determination that the donor's health permits the 
collection procedure.
    Final Sec.  630.20(c) provides an exception when the donation is 
restricted for use solely by a specific transfusion recipient based on 
documented exceptional medical need, and the responsible physician 
determines and documents that the donor's health permits the collection 
procedure, and that the donation presents no undue risk to the 
transfusion recipient. This is similar to proposed Sec.  630.20(c)(3), 
but we have clarified that this applies to the collection of blood 
components for transfusion (not further manufacturing use), and that 
the medical need of the transfusion recipient must be exceptional. 
Consistent with final Sec.  630.15(a)(1)(ii)(B), we added the term 
``exceptional'' to clarify that this exception to donor eligibility 
should apply only in those rare situations where the recipient's need 
for a component from a donor with particular characteristics is 
exceptional.
    (Comment 97) Two comments recommended that the language throughout 
this section refer to ``responsible physician or physician substitute'' 
instead of to ``responsible physician.''
    (Response) We decline to add the extra words requested here. 
Section 630.5 addresses the activities which the responsible physician 
may delegate.
    (Comment 98) Two comments asserted that it was unnecessary and 
burdensome to require the responsible physician to examine and certify 
the good health of an autologous donor before allowing a collection 
under this exception. The comments noted that autologous donors are 
under the care of their personal physicians, and these collections take 
place pursuant to prescription or physician's order. Autologous donors 
may wish to donate at facilities geographically distant from the 
facility where the blood establishment's responsible physician is 
located. The comments stated that the rule should therefore not require 
examination by the responsible physician. Some comments also criticized 
the proposed requirements that the responsible physician examine the 
donor and certify in writing that the donor's health permits the 
collection procedure for special collection programs and directed 
donations.
    (Response) We have revised proposed Sec.  630.20. For collections 
under these exceptions, the final rule requires that the responsible 
physician determine and document that the donor's health permits the 
collection procedure, and additionally for directed donations under 
Sec.  630.20(c), that the donation presents no undue medical risk to 
the transfusion recipient. We note that this determination will be made 
after the applicable donor eligibility assessments required under Sec.  
630.10 and Sec.  630.15 are performed. The responsible physician can 
make these determinations based on information developed during the 
donor eligibility assessments, rather than during an additional 
examination of the donor, and, consistent with Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i)(B) 
through (b)(1)(i)(C) and (c)(1)(i)(A)(2) through (c)(1)(i)(A)(3), can 
make this determination from another geographic location. The 
responsible physician's determination must be documented. In accordance 
with Sec.  606.100, blood establishments must have written standard 
operating procedures for collections under these provisions.
    We also note that establishments must have prior written approval 
from the Director, CBER for special collections under Sec.  630.20(b). 
FDA will review donor selection criteria for these programs, as well as 
the provision for medical oversight of collections, and must approve 
the procedures before such collections may proceed. In some 
circumstances, FDA may require additional donor protections to be in 
place. For example, FDA may determine that collections from donors with

[[Page 29877]]

clotting factor deficiencies may proceed only if the responsible 
physician examines the donor before each donation and is present to 
oversee the collection. These terms would be addressed in FDA's review 
and approval of the special collection program. In additional, final 
Sec.  630.20(b) requires that ineligible donors who are permitted to 
donate under this section must meet the criteria in Sec.  630.10(f)(1) 
through (6).
    For collections under Sec.  630.20(c), the responsible physician is 
not authorized to delegate the determination that the donor's health 
permits the collection procedure, or that the donation presents no 
undue medical risk to the transfusion recipient. Because the collection 
and transfusion of blood and blood components from such collections may 
present risks to both the donor and the transfusion recipient, we have 
determined that these determinations must be made by the responsible 
physician, who may make these determinations from an offsite location.
    (Comment 99) One comment emphasized the importance of directed 
platelet donations, and urged FDA to rely on the blood establishment to 
determine whether to collect platelets from a donor with a hematocrit 
value of 37 percent (just below the value of 38 percent referenced in 
current regulations) when the collection is intended for a specific 
recipient based on documented medical need.
    (Response) We agree that dedicated platelet donations are 
important. Final Sec.  630.20(c) would permit dedicated donations based 
on documented exceptional medical need, provided that the responsible 
physician determines and documents that the donor's health permits the 
collection procedure, and that the donation presents no undue medical 
risk to the transfusion recipient.

M. Exceptions From Certain Donor Eligibility Requirements for 
Infrequent Plasma Donors (Sec.  630.25)

    We are finalizing this provision largely as proposed. For greater 
clarity, we have included a definition of ``infrequent plasma donor'' 
in new Sec.  630.3(e), and we use that defined term in this section. An 
infrequent plasma donor is a donor who has not donated plasma by 
plasmapheresis or a co-collection of plasma with another blood 
component in the preceding 4 weeks, and who has not donated more than 
12.0 liters of plasma (14.4 liters of plasma for donors weighing more 
than 175 pounds) in the past year. Final Sec.  630.25 provides 
exceptions for collections from infrequent plasma donors who are not 
participating in an immunization program. This reflects our 
determination that, for these collections, it is not necessary for 
establishments to assess infrequent plasma donors using the medical 
history and physical examination required in Sec.  630.15(b)(1); to 
perform the test for total protein required to be performed prior to 
collection under Sec.  630.15(b)(4) and periodically under Sec.  
640.65(b)(1)(i); or to perform a plasma or serum protein 
electrophoresis or quantitative immuno-diffusion test or an equivalent 
test to determine immunoglobulin composition of the plasma or serum, as 
required under Sec.  640.65(b)(1)(i). Further, it is not necessary for 
the responsible physician to review the laboratory data as required in 
Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i).
    We have added the term ``medical history'' in the first sentence of 
final Sec.  630.25(a), to make clear that this provision may provide an 
exception to the requirements in Sec.  630.15(b)(1) to conduct both the 
medical history and physical examination required for Source Plasma or 
frequent plasma collection. However, blood establishments are still 
required to perform the medical history and physical assessment 
required under Sec.  630.10. In addition, as discussed in response to 
comment 102, we have directly addressed the applicability of this 
exception to donors who previously donated a co-collection of plasma 
and another blood component by apheresis.
    (Comment 100) One comment stated that the donor eligibility 
requirements for frequent plasma donors are unnecessary for infrequent 
donors.
    (Response) Our regulations have long provided additional donor 
eligibility requirements for Source Plasma donors (see current Sec.  
640.63) to address potential risks associated with frequent 
plasmapheresis donation, and this rule incorporates those long-standing 
provisions. However, we agree that infrequent plasma donors are not 
exposed to the same risks as frequent donors. In final Sec.  630.25, we 
provide exceptions from certain donor eligibility requirements for 
infrequent plasma donors.
    (Comment 101) One comment recommended that the exceptions in Sec.  
630.25 should be applicable to donors who donate plasma more frequently 
than once in 4 weeks if the donor's physician determines the donor to 
be in good health.
    (Response) We decline to accept this comment. The conduct of a 
medical history and physical exam, the pre-collection review of total 
protein levels, and the periodic review of protein composition and 
other laboratory data as required by Sec. Sec.  630.15(b)(1), (b)(4), 
and 640.65(b) are necessary to protect the health of plasma donors who 
are not infrequent plasma donors, as defined in Sec.  630.3(e) (Refs. 
65, 66).
    (Comment 102) One comment requested clarification concerning 
whether the exceptions proposed in Sec.  630.25 should be available 
when a donor made a recent platelet donation by apheresis. Another 
comment stated that this provision would unnecessarily restrict 
infrequent plasma collections after red blood cell loss. The comment 
noted that proposed Sec.  630.25 did not address the applicability of 
this exception after recent donation of platelets by apheresis. The 
comment noted that most of the plasma collected by apheresis from 
volunteer blood donors is plasma collected at the same time as 
apheresis platelets. The comment stated that the criteria for the 
collection of plasma at the same time as collection of platelets by 
apheresis should be similar.
    (Response) Final Sec.  630.25 provides exceptions for infrequent 
plasma donors, as defined in Sec.  630.3(e), who are not participating 
in an immunization program. In response to the comment, we have not 
included in final Sec.  630.25 the references to red blood cell loss 
due to apheresis and Whole Blood collections, which we included in 
proposed Sec.  630.25(a). Instead, final Sec.  630.25 provides for more 
narrow exceptions to the provisions that relate to the risks of 
frequent plasmapheresis. We address the deferral of plasma donors for 
red blood cell loss in Sec.  630.15(b)(6) and (7), and the deferral of 
platelet donors for red blood cell loss in Sec.  640.21(f).
    We agree with the comment that the effects of a recent co-
collection of plasma with platelets or another blood component by 
apheresis should be considered in determining whether the exceptions in 
Sec.  630.25 are available. Accordingly, Sec.  630.25 applies only to 
infrequent plasma donors, and Sec.  630.3(e) excludes from the 
definition of infrequent plasma donor a donor who has donated a co-
collection of plasma with another blood component by apheresis in the 
preceding 4 weeks. This reflects our determination that, like donations 
of plasma by plasmapheresis, co-collections of plasma and platelets or 
another blood component by apheresis during the previous 4 weeks should 
not be subject to these exceptions. In this way, FDA provides 
protection to donors from the risks associated with frequent donation 
of plasma by apheresis (Ref. 64).

[[Page 29878]]

N. Donation Suitability Requirements (Sec.  630.30)

    We have finalized requirements in Sec.  630.30(a) to define when a 
donation is suitable, and in Sec.  630.30(b) to state what an 
establishment must do when a donation is not suitable.
    Under final Sec.  630.30(a)(1) through (4), a donation is suitable 
when: (1) The establishment determines that the donor is not currently 
deferred from donation as determined by review of the records of 
deferred donors described in Sec.  606.160(e); (2) the results in 
accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 through 630.25 indicate that the 
donor is in good health and procedures were followed to ensure that the 
donation would not adversely affect the health of the donor; (3) the 
results in accordance with Sec.  630.10(e) indicate that the donor is 
free from risk factors for, or evidence of, relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections and other factors that make the donor ineligible 
to donate; (4) the donor's blood has been tested in accordance with 
Sec.  610.40 and, unless an exception applies, is negative or 
nonreactive; and (5) the donation meets other requirements in 
subchapter F. The final rule now specifies in Sec.  630.30(a)(1) that 
an establishment must determine that the donor is not currently 
deferred from donation by reviewing the donor records described in 
Sec.  606.160(e). Final Sec.  630.30(a)(2) clarifies that the 
determination of the donor's good health must also include a finding 
that procedures were followed to ensure that the donation would not 
adversely affect the health of the donor.
    Proposed Sec.  630.30(a)(5) would have required an establishment to 
determine as part of its review of the suitability of platelet 
components that ``you have taken adequate steps to assure that the 
donation is tested for bacterial contamination and found negative.'' 
After further consideration we have determined that this provision, 
which concerns a current good manufacturing practice, should be 
codified in part 606, which is titled ``Current Good Manufacturing 
Practice for Blood and Blood Components.'' Accordingly, we discuss 
comments to proposed Sec.  630.30(a)(5) at comments 13 through 24 
(discussing final Sec.  606.145). Consistent with proposed Sec.  
630.30(a)(6), Sec.  630.30(a)(5) in the final rule states that a 
donation is suitable when the donation meets other requirements in 
subchapter F.
    We have made several changes from the proposal in finalizing Sec.  
630.30(b), titled ``What must you do when the donation is not 
suitable?'' Final Sec.  630.30(b)(1) now provides ``You must not 
release the donation for transfusion or further manufacturing use 
unless it is an autologous donation, or an exception is provided in 
this chapter.'' This provision is revised to state more explicitly a 
clear consequence of finding that a donation is not suitable.
    Final Sec.  630.30(b)(2), consistent with the proposed rule, 
requires a blood establishment to defer the donor of an unsuitable 
donation. However, although the proposed rule would have required 
deferral of all donors of platelets found to be bacterially 
contaminated, Sec.  630.30(b)(2) of the final rule requires deferral 
only when the establishment determines in accordance with new Sec.  
606.145 that the bacterial contamination is likely to be associated 
with a bacterial infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the 
donor. We made this change in response to comments, which are discussed 
at comment 103. In addition, we discuss the requirement to determine 
whether contaminating bacteria are likely to be associated with a 
bacterial infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor 
at comment 103.
    We are not finalizing the provision (proposed Sec.  630.30(b)(3)) 
that would have required establishments to enter information about 
deferred donors into the cumulative record of deferred donors. As 
discussed at comments 25 through 28, we are finalizing the requirements 
related to the cumulative record of deferred donors more narrowly and 
new Sec.  606.160(e)(2), not this section, specifies the information 
required to be included in that record.
    Consistent with the proposed rule, we require establishments to 
notify deferred donors in accordance with final Sec.  630.40. However, 
although we reiterated the reasons for deferral and notification in the 
language of proposed Sec.  630.30(b)(4), in final Sec.  630.30(b)(4) we 
are taking the simpler approach of cross-referencing the donor 
notification requirements in Sec.  630.40. This is not a substantive 
change.
    (Comment 103) Several comments opposed a broad requirement to defer 
and notify donors when their platelet component is identified as 
bacterially contaminated. Some comments observed that the presence of 
bacteria on a donor's skin is expected and typically is not an 
indication of illness in the donor. Most instances of bacterial 
contamination of platelets occur due to the limitations of collection 
facility practices, which may permit the introduction of skin flora or 
other contaminants into the collection. On the other hand, in some 
instances, the presence of certain bacterial contaminants in a platelet 
component could indicate an underlying bacteremia, and potentially a 
serious illness in the donor. One comment also asserted that donor 
deferral based on a bacterial culture positive result may be 
appropriate if: (1) The positive culture is an indication of an 
underlying donor pathology that may be cause for deferral (for example, 
a donor who cultured positive for Streptococcus bovis who later was 
found to have colonic pathology) or (2) the positive culture may 
indicate a higher risk of future contaminated collections.
    One comment would support notification only when a local 
investigation completely ruled out collection facility practices as the 
source of contamination. Another comment asserted that while 
identification of the bacterial contaminant is likely to be performed 
to aid the medical director in evaluating the potential risk to 
transfusion recipient or donor, the extent of this identification may 
be limited to ``coagulase negative Staphylococcus'' or ``Bacillus 
species, not anthracis.'' The comment went on to state that further 
identification of the species of the bacterial contaminant should not 
be required.
    (Response) We agree that most instances of bacterial contamination 
of platelets occur because of limitations to aseptic methods of 
collection. If we were to require deferral and notification of all 
donors who donated platelets that subsequently tested positive for 
bacterial contamination, we would unnecessarily alarm many fully 
qualified donors. We further agree with the comments noting that a 
subset of the findings of contamination are linked to bacteria-
associated illness in the donor, such as a colonic malignancy which may 
be signaled by the presence of Streptococcus bovis in the donated 
platelets (Ref. 19). Accordingly, we have narrowed the proposal related 
to donor deferral and notification. Under Sec.  630.30(b)(3), a 
collection establishment must defer the donor of bacterially 
contaminated platelets when the contaminating organism is identified in 
accordance with Sec.  606.145 as likely to be associated with a 
bacterial infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor. 
This reference to endogenous infection is intended to refer to bacteria 
that originate from the bloodstream of an asymptomatic donor, and not 
to bacteria that are typically found on the surface of the skin.
    This rule does not require donor deferral when the presence of 
bacteria is due to contamination with the skin flora, or other 
contamination at the collection site. We have similarly limited donor 
notifications related to

[[Page 29879]]

platelet contamination. Final Sec.  630.30(b)(4) requires 
establishments to notify donors in accordance with Sec.  630.40. As 
noted at comment 107, Sec.  630.40(a) now requires an establishment to 
make reasonable attempts to notify any donor whose donated platelets 
have been determined under Sec.  606.145(d) to be contaminated with an 
organism that is identified as likely to be associated with a bacterial 
infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor.
    (Comment 104) Several comments stated that they consider the 
decision whether to defer and notify the donor to fall within the 
purview of the collection facility's medical director. They stated that 
regulation is not required in this area. Another comment stated that 
blood establishments already have a defined policy for how to 
investigate situations where a blood component contains a contaminant 
in the unit that might suggest the presence of a systemic infection in 
the donor, and that the donor should be notified and then investigated, 
counseled and/or treated as appropriate by a knowledgeable physician. 
The comment asserted that AABB has in place a logical and medically 
sound approach to these issues and that current procedures set forth by 
the industry organization and establishments are sufficient.
    (Response) We recognize that numerous blood establishments already 
defer and notify donors in accordance with the policies embodied in 
this regulation. However, others do not, and donors at those facilities 
may not receive information that is important to their health. In order 
to protect these donors, we are requiring donor deferral and 
notification when the responsible physician for the collection 
establishment determines that the contaminating organism is likely to 
be associated with bacterial infection that is endogenous to the 
bloodstream of the donor.
    (Comment 105) Another comment recommended that FDA not finalize 
these donor deferral and notification provisions. The comment urged FDA 
to instead provide separate guidance after FDA approves a bacterial 
release test. The comment asserted that guidance was needed to address 
the deferral period and the reason for deferral.
    (Response) Since the proposed rule was published, the tools for 
bacterial testing of platelets have improved and notification practices 
have evolved. FDA has cleared several devices for quality control 
testing of platelets, including two culture-based systems and two non-
culture-based rapid tests. One test has also been cleared as a safety 
measure following testing with an early culture. In the United States, 
culture of apheresis platelets by collection centers is virtually 
universal. Approximately 65 percent of Whole Blood-derived platelets 
are pooled early in storage (pre-storage pooling) at the collection 
center and are all cultured; the remaining 35 percent are pooled just 
prior to transfusion by the transfusion service and are typically 
tested with a rapid test (information obtained at the AABB July 2012 
workshop) (Ref. 20). In addition, AABB published industry standards 
requiring follow-up of positive samples to identify the organism (Ref. 
17). A practice of notifying donors after finding endogenous bacteria 
with clinical consequences, such as Streptococcus bovis, has been 
reported by the American Red Cross, among others (Refs. 18, 19). These 
circumstances support even more strongly the donor deferral and 
notification provisions we proposed. Accordingly, we decline the 
comments' request that we delay finalizing these provisions. We will 
issue additional guidance as appropriate.
    (Comment 106) Another comment stated that a lookback procedure with 
respect to all cases of bacterial contamination would not be 
appropriate; rather, reasonable medical judgment should be applied in 
these instances.
    (Response) We are not requiring a lookback procedure in this rule.

O. Requalification of Previously Deferred Donors (Sec.  630.35)

    We received no comments on proposed Sec.  630.35. On our own 
initiative, we have restructured this provision to more clearly 
identify situations where a prior deferral will not prevent future 
donations by an eligible donor. This section continues to provide that 
a previously deferred donor may donate again if that donor meets donor 
eligibility criteria at the time of the current collection, and if the 
collecting establishment determines that the basis for the previous 
deferral is no longer applicable.
    In final Sec.  630.35(a), we make clear that the basis for a 
previous deferral is no longer applicable if the deferral was for a 
defined period of time and that time period has passed, or if the 
deferral was otherwise temporary, such as those deferrals based on 
eligibility criteria described in final Sec.  630.10(f)(1) through (5) 
or Sec.  630.15(b)(4). These sections require deferral for individual 
donor conditions that may change over time: temperature, blood 
pressure, hemoglobin or hematocrit, pulse, weight, and for 
plasmapheresis donors, total protein levels.
    Final Sec.  630.35(b) makes clear that when the basis for the 
deferral is no longer applicable, donors who were deferred for reasons 
other than under Sec.  610.41(a) may be found to be eligible to donate 
under a requalification method or process found acceptable for such 
purpose by FDA. For example, donors who were deferred under Sec.  
630.10(e)(1)(vi) for tattooing involving nonsterile percutaneous skin 
inoculation could be requalified after 12 months if they meet all other 
donor eligibility criteria (Ref. 67). FDA intends to recognize 
additional methods and processes in guidance documents issued in 
accordance with good guidance practices. In addition, to respond to 
individual requests or a public health need, FDA may also authorize 
alternative procedures related to donor requalification under Sec.  
640.120. We note that reentry of donors deferred under Sec.  610.41(a) 
is already addressed in current Sec.  610.41(b), which remains in 
effect.

P. Requirements for Notifying Deferred Donors (Sec.  630.40)

    We have finalized Sec.  630.40(a) consistently with the proposed 
rule, in which we proposed to move the existing donor notification 
provision from Sec. Sec.  630.6 to 630.40, and to add a requirement for 
notifying donors whose platelet component has tested positive for a 
bacterial contamination that is likely due to an infection endogenous 
to the bloodstream of the donor. In addition, the proposed and final 
rules incorporate updated references to notification after deferral due 
to ineligibility under new Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. While existing 
Sec.  630.6(a) requires notification of a donor determined not to be 
suitable based on suitability criteria under Sec.  640.3 or Sec.  
640.63, those provisions are being replaced by the donor eligibility 
criteria in Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. Throughout final Sec.  
630.40, we also made conforming changes to certain terminology to be 
consistent with terms used elsewhere in this final rule.
    (Comment 107) Several comments, discussed at comments 104 through 
106, raised concerns about deferral and notification of donors whose 
platelet component has tested positive for bacterial contamination that 
is likely due to an infection endogenous to the bloodstream of the 
donor. A few comments stated that it would be difficult to notify 
donors whose platelets indicate evidence of bacterial infection in the 
donor because FDA has

[[Page 29880]]

not issued guidance regarding how to identify such situations.
    (Response) As noted at Comment 20, we now require in Sec.  
606.145(d) that the responsible physician for the collection 
establishment determine whether the contaminating organism is likely to 
be associated with a bacterial infection that is endogenous to the 
bloodstream of the donor. Donor deferral and notification are required 
only after the responsible physician has made this determination, based 
on medical judgment, in accordance with the blood collection 
establishment's SOP.

Q. Platelets: Eligibility of Donors (Sec.  640.21)

    In this final rule, we have revised requirements for collection of 
Platelets based on comments. We published the proposed rule in November 
2007 and subsequently in December 2007 issued the 2007 Guidance (Ref. 
64), as we discussed in comment 91. Many of the comments criticized 
provisions of the proposed rule, while supporting recommendations made 
in the 2007 Guidance. We have finalized this section to be more 
consistent with our recommendations in the 2007 Guidance document.
    Consistent with proposed Sec.  640.21(a)(1), final Sec.  640.21(a) 
requires establishments to determine the eligibility of platelet donors 
in accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15, except as expressly 
modified in Sec.  640.21. We received no comments on this provision and 
are finalizing it as proposed.
    Proposed Sec.  640.21(b) stated that a donor must not serve as the 
source of Platelets for transfusion if the donor has recently ingested 
a drug that adversely affects platelet function. We have finalized this 
provision in two sections. Final Sec.  640.21(b) states that a 
plateletpheresis donor must not serve as the source of Platelets for 
transfusion if the donor has recently ingested a drug that adversely 
affects platelet function. This is because a donor of platelets 
collected by plateletpheresis will typically be the sole source of 
platelets provided in a therapeutic transfusion, and the effects of any 
drugs on platelet function will not be mitigated by pooling the 
affected platelets with platelets from other donors who have not taken 
the drug. Final Sec.  640.21(c) states that a Whole Blood donor must 
not serve as the source of Platelets for transfusion if the donor has 
recently ingested a drug that adversely affects platelet function, 
unless the platelet unit is labeled to identify the ingested drug. We 
made this change because we recognize that establishments frequently 
pool multiple units of Whole Blood platelets in order to mitigate the 
effects of a single unit collected from a donor who ingested a drug 
that adversely affects platelet function.
    In final Sec.  640.21(d), we require establishments to assess and 
monitor the donor's platelet count. Establishments: (1) Must take 
adequate and appropriate steps to assure that the donor's platelet 
count is at least 150,000 platelets/[micro]L before plateletpheresis 
begins. If an establishment does not have records of a donor's platelet 
count from prior donations and is not able to assess the donor's 
platelet count either prior to or immediately following the initiation 
of the collection procedure, the establishment must not collect 9.0 x 
10\11\ or more platelets in that donation; (2) must defer from platelet 
donation a donor whose pre-donation platelet count is less than 150,000 
platelets/[micro]L until a subsequent pre-donation platelet count 
indicates that the donor's platelet count is at least 150,000 
platelets/[micro]L; and (3) must take appropriate steps to assure that 
the donor's intended post-donation platelet count will be no less than 
100,000 platelets/[micro]L. We revised these provisions in response to 
comments that proposed Sec.  640.21(c) was too prescriptive.
    Final Sec.  640.21(e) addresses frequency of plateletpheresis 
collection in a manner that is largely consistent with the proposed 
rule. Consistent with proposed Sec.  640.21(c)(4)(i), final Sec.  
640.21(e)(1) provides that a donor may donate no more than a total of 
24 plateletpheresis collections during a 12-month rolling period. 
Proposed Sec.  640.21(c)(4)(ii) authorized no more than 2 single 
component collections of platelets by plateletpheresis within a 7 
calendar day period, with a minimum of 2 calendar days between 
procedures, and proposed Sec.  640.21(c)(4)(iii) would have authorized 
no more than one double or triple component collection procedure within 
a 7 calendar day period. However, the proposed rule did not provide 
numerical values to distinguish among single, double, and triple 
collections. Final Sec.  640.21 provides one value, 6 x 10\11\ 
platelets, to identify collections that warrant a longer deferral 
period between donations. Final Sec.  640.21(e)(2) provides that when 
an establishment collects fewer than 6 x 10\11\ platelets, the 
establishment must wait at least 2 days before any subsequent 
plateletpheresis collection. The establishment must not attempt to 
collect more than 2 collections within a 7 day period. Final Sec.  
640.21(e)(3) provides that when an establishment collects 6 x 10\11\ or 
more platelets, the establishment must wait at least 7 days before any 
subsequent plateletpheresis collection (proposed Sec.  
640.21(c)(4)(iii)).
    Consistent with proposed Sec.  640.21(d), final Sec.  640.21(e)(4) 
provides an exception to these limits. For a period not to exceed 30 
days, a donor may serve as a dedicated plateletpheresis donor for a 
single recipient as often as is medically necessary, provided that the 
donor is in good health, as determined and documented by the 
responsible physician, and the donor's platelet count is at least 
150,000 platelets/[micro]L, as measured at the conclusion of the 
previous donation or before initiating plateletpheresis for the current 
donation. Current Sec.  610.40(c)(1) addresses the frequency of donor 
testing for such dedicated plateletpheresis donors.
    Final Sec.  640.21(f) addresses the deferral of plateletpheresis 
donors due to red blood cell loss in a manner that is generally 
consistent with proposed Sec.  640.21(e). Proposed Sec.  640.21(e) 
referred to deferral ``for a period of 8 weeks after donating a unit of 
Whole Blood or after losing a volume of whole blood equal to or greater 
than 450 mL, or red blood cells equal to or greater than 200 mL, 
cumulatively over an 8 week period; or . . . for a period of 16 weeks 
after donating a double Red Blood Cells unit collection.'' Final Sec.  
640.21(f)(1) finalizes a requirement to defer a donor from donating 
plateletpheresis or a co-collection of platelets and plasma by 
apheresis for 8 weeks following donation of a unit of Whole Blood or a 
single unit of Red Blood Cells by apheresis. Consistent with proposed 
Sec.  640.21(e), and in recognition that certain apheresis collection 
devices limit potential losses of red blood cells and whole blood, the 
rule provides an exception to this 8 week deferral, this section 
permits such apheresis collections 2 calendar days after a donation of 
Whole Blood or a single unit of Red Blood Cells, provided that the 
extracorporeal volume of the device is less than 100 mL. While proposed 
Sec.  640.21(e) did not reference the collection of Platelets with 
Plasma in this exception, we are responding to comments by addressing 
that collection in final Sec.  640.21(f)(1). Final Sec.  640.21(f)(2) 
finalizes a 16 week deferral after a donation of a double Red Blood 
Cells collection. We have not finalized the proposed requirement to 
defer a donor based on cumulative loss of whole blood or red blood 
cells over an 8 week period, because it may be difficult for the 
establishment to assess cumulative blood loss. Instead, final Sec.  
640.21(f)(3) requires an establishment to defer a donor for 8 weeks or 
more if

[[Page 29881]]

the cumulative red blood cell loss in any 8 week period could adversely 
affect donor health.
    Proposed Sec.  640.21(a)(2) would have required blood collection 
establishments to include a statement that the ``long-term effects of 
frequent apheresis are unknown'' in the platelet donor's statement of 
understanding (finalized as the donor acknowledgement in Sec.  
630.10(g)(2)). Instead of finalizing that provision, we have 
incorporated the informed consent requirements found in current Sec.  
640.21(c), into final Sec.  640.21(g). As with Source Plasma donation, 
the responsible physician must obtain the informed consent of a 
plateletpheresis donor on the first day of donation, and at subsequent 
intervals no longer than 1 year. Informed consent for plateletpheresis 
would involve a dialogue between the plateletpheresis donor and the 
responsible physician. The responsible physician must explain the risks 
and hazards of the procedure to the donor; that explanation must be 
made in such a manner that the donor may give consent, but also has a 
clear opportunity to refuse the procedure. Authorization to delegate 
this task to a trained person is addressed in Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(iv). 
This requirement is different from and is in addition to the 
requirement in Sec.  630.10(g) to obtain a donor's acknowledgement at 
every donation.
    (Comment 108) One comment suggested that we use the term ``platelet 
apheresis'' throughout this provision.
    (Response) We use the term ``plateletpheresis'' in this rule to 
describe the process of using automated methods to collect Platelets 
while returning other blood components to the donor. The use of this 
term is consistent with our current regulations and the 2007 Guidance.
    (Comment 109) Two comments stated that proposed Sec.  640.21(b) 
should be finalized consistently with the recommendations on deferring 
donors of apheresis platelets who have ingested drugs that inhibit 
platelet function.
    (Response) The recommendations for deferring plateletpheresis 
donors for ingesting platelet-inhibiting drugs that are contained in 
the 2007 Guidance are consistent with this final rule (Ref. 64).
    (Comment 110) One comment stated that donors of Whole Blood-derived 
platelets should not be deferred for ingesting platelet-inhibiting 
drugs. The comment stated that a Whole Blood-derived platelet component 
collected from a donor who has ingested platelet inhibitory drugs would 
not be given as a single unit dose, and platelet-inhibiting effects of 
the ingested drugs would be very limited.
    (Response) Final Sec.  640.21(b) states that a plateletpheresis 
donor must not serve as a source of platelets for transfusion if the 
donor has recently ingested drugs that adversely affect platelet 
function. Final Sec.  640.21(c) now states that a Whole Blood donor 
must not serve as the source of Platelets for transfusion if the donor 
has recently ingested a drug that adversely affects platelet function 
unless the labeling of the unit identifies the ingested drug that 
adversely affects platelet function. This information will enable the 
transfusion service to make an informed decision when selecting a 
single unit of Whole Blood platelets for a small dose transfusion (for 
example, to a neonate), and will provide useful information to 
collection establishments and transfusion services when selecting units 
to pool for a standard dose for the transfusion of platelets. We are 
not prescribing a specific method for labeling these units. Currently 
available methods include providing the information on the unit label, 
as a sticker placed on the unit, or in labeling such as a tie-tag 
attached to the unit.
    (Comment 111) Several comments observed that the proposal in Sec.  
640.21(c)(1) applicable to frequent platelet collections, which would 
require a platelet count before commencing a collection by apheresis, 
is not consistent with the 2007 Guidance, which recommended that 
historic averages or default counts may be used in lieu of an actual 
platelet count. The comments supported those alternatives to a 
requirement to obtain an actual platelet count, which might not be 
available at mobile collection sites. Other comments suggested that the 
regulation should permit reliance on platelet counts taken at other 
times, including an average of the donor's last three venous platelet 
counts, the donor's last post-donation platelet count, the platelet 
count obtained from a pre-collection venous blood sample from the 
donor's previous donations, the average pre-platelet counts for local 
donor populations, and the default count for the collection equipment 
being used. One comment noted that first time donors at mobile 
collection sites would not have a record of previous platelet counts, 
but should still be permitted to donate.
    (Response) Although we recommend that blood establishments obtain a 
pre-donation sample from a donor for a platelet count when feasible, we 
agree that under some conditions it may not be possible to measure a 
donor's platelet count before commencing the collection of platelets by 
apheresis. We have revised the final rule accordingly. Final Sec.  
640.21(d) requires the collecting establishment to assess and monitor 
the donor's platelet count for all collections of Platelets by 
plateletpheresis. However, we do not require an actual measurement of 
the donor's platelet count before initiating an apheresis collection of 
Platelets, unless the establishment suspects that the donor's platelet 
count is less than 150,000 platelets/[mu]L. Instead, Sec.  640.21(d)(1) 
requires establishments to take adequate and appropriate steps to 
assure that the donor's platelet count is at least 150,000 platelets/
[mu]L before initiating plateletpheresis collection. We believe that 
the recommendations in the 2007 guidance (Ref. 64), which address the 
use of historic values or the default machine setting when an actual 
platelet count cannot be obtained in advance of a donation, would 
currently satisfy the requirement in Sec.  640.21(d)(1) to take such 
adequate and appropriate steps. If an establishment does not have 
records of a donor's platelet count from prior donations and is not 
able to assess the donor's platelet count either prior to or 
immediately following the initiation of the collection procedure, the 
establishment may collect platelets by plateletpheresis, but must not 
collect 9.0 x 10\11\ or more platelets from that platelet donor. Final 
Sec.  640.21(d)(2) requires establishments to defer a donor whose pre-
donation platelet count is less than 150,000 platelets/[mu]L until a 
subsequent pre-donation count indicates that the donor's platelet count 
is at least 150,000 platelets/[mu]L. This provision requires an actual 
measurement of the donor's platelet count before initiating another 
collection of platelets.
    (Comment 112) One comment asked whether the proposal that the post- 
donation count be no less that 100,000 platelets/[mu]L would require 
blood centers to perform a post-donation platelet count. The comment 
stated that performing a post-donation count is burdensome. Another 
comment said that post-collection counts should never be required. The 
comment stated that apheresis collection device settings can be 
validated to reliably avoid post-collection counts below 100,000 
platelets/[mu]L.
    (Response) Final Sec.  640.21(d)(3) requires a collecting 
establishment to take appropriate steps to assure that the donor's 
intended post-donation platelet count will be no less than 100,000 
platelets/[mu]L. We expect that establishments will implement this 
requirement by validating the settings on their apheresis collection 
devices to

[[Page 29882]]

avoid post-collection counts below 100,000 platelets/[mu]L.
    (Comment 113) One comment suggested that FDA specify that in the 
event the donor's post-donation platelet count is less than 100,000 
platelets/[mu]L, the donation should be reviewed by the Medical 
Director, who, based on the donor's history, may deem the donor to be 
eligible for future donations.
    (Response) Because Sec.  640.21(d)(3) requires establishments to 
take appropriate steps to assure that a platelet donor's intended post-
donation platelet count will be no less than 100,000 platelets/[mu]L, 
we believe that this situation will occur rarely. If the donor returns 
to donate platelets, Sec.  640.21(d) would require the establishment to 
assess and monitor the donor's platelet count, and, under Sec.  
640.21(d)(1), would require the establishment to take adequate and 
appropriate steps to assure that the donor's platelet count is at least 
150,000 platelets/[mu]L before initiating plateletpheresis collection. 
A donor whose pre-donation count is less than 150,000 platelets/[mu]L 
must be deferred under Sec.  640.21(d)(2).
    (Comment 114) Several comments suggested that limitations on 
frequency of plateletpheresis collections should not be finalized. They 
criticized as unnecessary the limitations to 24 collections in a 1 year 
period and the requirement for a 2 day interval between each 
collection. Some comments stated that there is no evidence to support a 
requirement for a 7 day donation interval following the donation of a 
double or triple component. One comment asserted that other protections 
(such as following instructions for use on apheresis collection 
devices) are adequate to protect the donor.
    (Response) We have finalized these requirements in Sec.  640.21(e). 
Some studies have demonstrated a higher incidence of iron deficiency in 
frequent plateletpheresis donors. In a United Kingdom study of serum 
ferritin levels of frequent plateletpheresis donors, there was a direct 
correlation between plateletpheresis donation frequency and iron 
depletion. The authors suggested that the iron depletion in these 
donors is due to blood loss that can occur with each plateletpheresis 
donation (Ref. 68). In addition, frequency of donation may affect the 
donor's ability to replace platelets adequately (Ref. 69). For this 
reason, in order to protect the health of the donor, we have finalized 
limits on the frequency of platelet donation in Sec.  640.21(e). We 
agree that collection of more than a single replacement dose of 
platelets is generally safe. However, the specified interdonation 
intervals are prescribed to assure that plateletpheresis donors have 
time to recover their platelet counts between collections.
    We also note that Sec.  640.21(e)(4) provides an exception that may 
be available when a donor serves as a dedicated plateletpheresis donor 
for a single recipient. Under this exception a healthy donor may donate 
more frequently during a 30 day period, in order to provide platelets 
for a recipient in need of multiple transfusions of platelets.
    (Comment 115) One comment noted that the proposed deferrals of 
plasma donors for red blood cell loss contained in proposed Sec.  
630.15(b)(5) were different from the deferrals for platelet donors for 
red blood cell loss in proposed Sec.  640.21(e).
    (Response) We have harmonized the deferrals for red blood cell loss 
in final Sec.  640.21(f) based on comments regarding co-collection of 
Platelets and Plasma by apheresis, discussed at comment 92.
    (Comment 116) One comment recommended that a Whole Blood donor 
should have to wait 8 weeks before donating by plateletpheresis, unless 
the instrument used is designed to collect less than 100 mL of red 
blood cells, regardless of the donor's hematocrit, when the donor is 
not fully re-infused. The comment stated that there is a potential for 
plateletpheresis donors to lose more than 100 mL of red blood cells 
based on the type of machine used and the donor's hematocrit, and 
identified one apheresis device with an extracorporeal blood volume 
greater than 200 mL.
    (Response) Final Sec.  640.21(f)(1) allows an establishment to 
collect either platelets by apheresis or platelets with Plasma by 
apheresis 48 hours after a donation of Whole Blood or Red Blood Cells, 
only if the extracorporeal volume of the apheresis collection device is 
less than 100 mL. An establishment could not collect platelets by 
apheresis using the device with an extracorporeal volume greater than 
200 mL identified by the comment under this provision.
    (Comment 117) Two comments criticized proposed Sec.  640.21(a)(2), 
which would have required the statement of understanding to include a 
statement that the long-term effects of frequent apheresis are unknown. 
One comment suggested that there is adequate published literature that 
would indicate that the effects of long-term frequent apheresis are 
known. Another similar comment asserted that no long-term adverse 
effects have been reported with frequent apheresis, and it is not 
necessary to include a statement with information provided to the 
donor.
    (Response) Final Sec.  640.21(g) requires the responsible physician 
to explain the risks and hazards of the procedure to the donor as part 
of the informed consent process. In addition, Sec.  630.10(g)(2)(ii)(E) 
requires that, at every donation, the donor acknowledge that the donor 
has been provided and reviewed information regarding the risks and 
hazards of the specific donation procedure. These regulations do not 
require that the donor be informed that the long term effects of 
frequent apheresis are unknown; we recognize that, as knowledge 
improves, such a statement may no longer be accurate. However, even 
though the current literature does not answer all questions concerning 
the long term consequences of frequent plateletpheresis (Ref. 70), the 
informed consent must address long term risks and hazards associated 
with frequent apheresis, such as iron depletion (Refs. 71, 72). The 
donor's informed consent is required before the first plateletpheresis 
donation, and at least yearly thereafter.

R. Source Plasma: Plasmapheresis (Sec.  640.65(b))

    We have finalized these sections largely as proposed. Final Sec.  
640.65(b)(1)(i) and (b)(2)(i) now reference Sec.  630.25, incorporating 
those exceptions related to collections from infrequent plasma donors. 
This reflects our determination, as described in the section addressing 
Sec.  630.25, certain provisions are not necessary for these 
collections. Final Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) also requires that 
plasmapheresis donors be tested every 4 months to assure that they have 
a total protein of no less than 6.0 grams per deciliter, and no more 
than 9.0 grams per deciliter in a plasma sample or a serum sample. We 
received comments on this protein standard, which is also incorporated 
in Sec.  630.15(b)(4). We discuss those comments at comment 89. Final 
Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) further requires the responsible physician to 
review the accumulated laboratory data, including any tracings of the 
plasma or serum protein electrophoresis pattern, the calculated values 
of the protein composition of each component, and the collection 
records to determine if the donor should be deferred from further 
donation. This section further requires that if the review is not 
completed within 14 calendar days after the sample is drawn, the 
collection establishment must defer the donor pending the review. This 
will assure that establishments do not take additional collections from 
an ineligible

[[Page 29883]]

donor in the event that this review is delayed.
    (Comment 118) A few comments to proposed Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) 
recommended that the review time for determining whether a donor would 
be deferred from further donation should remain at 21 days, not 14 days 
as proposed. The comment stated that the current 21 day allowance is 
needed to ensure adequate time for testing, return of test results to 
the laboratory and medical review. The comment stated that FDA should 
note that Canadian health authorities recently changed their 
requirement to 21 days.
    (Response) We decline to provide a 21 day timeframe for review. 
This change from 21 days to 14 days reflects changes on how samples are 
submitted for testing, and how test results are transmitted. These 
changes permit faster receipt and review of test results. As we noted 
in the proposed rule, current Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) requires this 
review to take place within 21 days; we are reducing the time period to 
14 calendar days because results are typically transmitted and recorded 
electronically, permitting faster access. Requiring medical review of 
these laboratory test results within 14 days is one of the important 
protections this rule provides to Source Plasma donors.

S. Source Plasma: General Requirements (Sec.  640.69)

    We have finalized two sections as final Sec.  640.69(e) and (f). 
These provisions incorporate industry practices known as the Qualified 
Donor Standard and Inventory Hold. Final Sec.  640.69(e) provides that 
establishments must ensure that Source Plasma donated by paid donors is 
not used for further manufacturing into injectable products until the 
donor has a record of being found eligible to donate in accordance with 
Sec.  630.10, and a record of negative test results on all tests 
required under Sec.  610.40(a), on at least two occasions in the past 6 
months. Because the regulation requires the establishment to determine 
a paid donor to be eligible on at least two occasions, but does not 
require that a unit be collected at the time of the initial eligibility 
determination, the regulation permits establishments that prefer to 
establish a donor's qualification by screening the donor and collecting 
a blood sample, but not a full donation, for testing in accordance with 
Sec.  610.40(a).
    We have finalized the inventory hold provision proposed in Sec.  
640.69(f) to require establishments to hold Source Plasma donated by 
paid donors in quarantine for a minimum of 60 days before it is 
released for further manufacturing use to make an injectable product. 
In addition, we now state explicitly the conditions that would prevent 
an establishment from distributing Source Plasma from quarantine. Under 
final Sec.  640.69(f), an establishment must not distribute quarantined 
donations if the donor is subsequently deferred under Sec.  610.41 
because of a reactive screening test for evidence of infection due to a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, or if the establishment 
subsequently determines the donor to be ineligible under Sec.  630.10 
due to risk factors closely associated with exposure to, or clinical 
evidence of, infection due to a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection. Since Source Plasma would be placed in quarantine under this 
section after the donation has been determined to be suitable under 
Sec.  630.30, this section describes the information, typically 
obtained in connection with a subsequent Source Plasma donation by the 
donor, which would disallow the distribution from quarantine of that 
donor's prior donations. We added this language so that establishments 
would understand that, under this section, post-donation information 
would prevent the distribution of quarantined donations if that 
information consisted of a reactive screening test on a subsequent 
donation or a subsequent donor deferral due to risk factors associated 
with relevant transfusion-transmitted infection. Other donor 
information would not prevent distribution of previously quarantined 
units, even if it led to deferral of the donor from current 
collections. For example, information related to a donor's health on 
the day of a future donation (see, for example, Sec.  630.10(f)(1) 
through (f)(6)) would not affect the distribution from quarantine of 
previously collected units.
    (Comment 119) Two comments noted that proposed Sec.  640.69(e) and 
(f) would codify existing, voluntary practices used in Source Plasma 
establishments. The comments urged FDA not to mandate voluntary 
industry standards. The comments noted that the Qualified Donor 
Standard and Inventory Hold were developed before nucleic acid testing 
was available to identify HIV as well as certain other relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections, and that the use of nucleic acid 
testing significantly improves the identification of recent infections 
in the donor. According to the comments, incorporating these industry 
standards in regulation could inhibit the development of new practices 
based on new technology, and otherwise limit flexibility in the future.
    (Response) As we explained in the proposed rule, these provisions 
are intended to provide additional mitigations of the risk of 
infectious disease transmission presented by collections from paid 
Source Plasma donors. Since the 1970s, it has been documented that paid 
Source Plasma donors are at higher risk than volunteer blood donors for 
certain relevant transfusion-transmitted infections (Ref. 73). In a 
1998 report, the General Accounting Office (GAO) compared the incidence 
rates (positives per 100,000 person years) between paid and volunteer 
plasma donors, reporting ``we found that the incidence rates for HIV, 
HBV, and HCV were much higher for paid donors. HIV incidence rates were 
19 times higher among paid donors (61.8 versus 3.3 for volunteer 
donors), while HBV and HCV rates were 31 times (245.5 versus 8.0) and 4 
times higher (63.5 versus 14.9), respectively.'' The GAO concluded, 
``there is a consistent pattern of higher marker rates among paid 
donors than among volunteer donors.'' The GAO further recognized the 
Qualified Donor Standard and Inventory Hold help to mitigate the risks 
of infection from plasma pools used for manufacturing plasma derivative 
products. Accordingly, in consideration of the additional risks 
presented by the paid Source Plasma donors, both industry and the GAO 
have recognized the importance of these practices in increasing the 
safety of products manufactured from Source Plasma. Although donor 
testing has improved with the advent of nucleic acid testing, Source 
Plasma collectors have continued to incorporate the Qualified Donor 
Standard and Inventory Hold into their quality standards, as reflected, 
for example, by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, Quality 
Standards of Excellence, Assurance and Leadership (QSEAL) Certification 
Program (Ref. 74).
    We solicited comments and supporting data in the proposed rule on 
whether other requirements would achieve the same results as these 
practices. We did not receive responsive comments and data. FDA 
appreciates that, in the future, new standards and practices may 
develop, which could replace the Qualified Donor Standard and Inventory 
Hold. However, such alternatives have not yet been identified. If 
appropriate alternative standards become available in the future, FDA 
could allow the use of those appropriate alternative standards as 
alternative procedures under Sec.  640.120,

[[Page 29884]]

as well as revise this regulation when warranted.
    (Comment 120) One comment asked that the wording in Sec.  640.69(e) 
be revised to state that Source Plasma may be released once a donor has 
two sets of negative/non-reactive/not implicated viral marker test 
results. The comment further asserted that it should not be a 
requirement that the samples sent for testing be drawn at the same time 
the donor donates Source Plasma.
    (Response) Under the final rule, an establishment may draw samples 
for testing under Sec.  610.40(a) without collecting Source Plasma at 
the same time.
    (Comment 121) One comment questioned the requirements in Sec.  
640.69(f), asserting that a proposal to require Source Plasma 
collectors to store the plasma at the collection center during the 60-
day Inventory Hold would be unduly burdensome. The comment noted that 
the voluntary industry standard for the 60-day hold gives the 
manufacturer the flexibility to determine the most appropriate place 
for storage. Moreover, the comment stated that a requirement to use 
interim ``quarantine'' labeling on individual Source Plasma collections 
would add cost. The comment also stated that the term ``Quarantine'' 
should not be used because it implies that the plasma being placed in 
the 60-day hold is violative, when the product is simply held in 
inventory as part of the standard routine process.
    (Response) The language of the proposed rule would not have 
required that Source Plasma be stored at the collection site, nor did 
it require establishments to label individual collections of Source 
Plasma as ``Quarantined.'' Rather the proposed rule simply required 
that the product be ``held in quarantine.'' The final rule requires 
that Source Plasma be held for a minimum of 60 days and prohibits 
distribution of certain units ``after placing a donation in 
quarantine.'' Final Sec.  640.69(f) does not specify where an 
establishment must store the product. The establishment is not required 
to store the product at the collection site, and an establishment may 
store the product at an appropriate off site facility during the 60-day 
Inventory Hold. Nor does this provision require individual labeling of 
units. Instead, it simply requires that the establishment be able to 
identify any units that may not be distributed because of post-donation 
information received during the 60-day hold, and to identify when the 
60-day hold has expired for a unit. We believe that establishments can 
meet these requirements by employing a variety of methods, including 
physical segregation, labeling (units, cases, or other packing units), 
or by electronic means (such as by computerized inventory). Finally, we 
disagree that the use of the term ``quarantine'' in this context 
suggests that the product subject to the Inventory Hold is violative. 
Rather, the term merely implies that the establishment is restricted 
from distributing the quarantined product while it is subject to the 
Inventory Hold.
    (Comment 122) One comment objected to the use of ``paid'' to 
describe donors of Source Plasma subject to this provision. The comment 
asserted that paid Source Plasma donors are compensated for the time it 
takes to fulfill their commitment to donate. The comment stated that 
donating blood and plasma should be encouraged and that it is often 
necessary to reward donors for their donation.
    (Response) We have finalized the rule incorporating the term ``paid 
donor.'' This usage is consistent with current Sec.  
606.121(c)(8)(v)(A), which is applicable to transfusable blood and 
blood components. That section defines a paid donor as a person who 
receives monetary payment for a blood donation.

T. Source Plasma: Records (Sec.  640.72)

    In proposed Sec.  640.72(a)(2) through (a)(4), we proposed several 
changes to current Sec.  640.72 in order to conform to changes in this 
rule. We have finalized this section largely as proposed.
    (Comment 123) One comment asked FDA to authorize establishments 
under Sec.  640.72(a)(3) to maintain as an electronic record the 
records of the plasma donor's informed consent to participate in the 
plasmapheresis program, and where applicable, to participate as an 
immunized donor. This informed consent is required under Sec.  
630.15(b)(2). The comment stated that informed consent requirements 
should be consistent with proposed Sec.  630.10(i)(2), which allows for 
a ``signature or acceptable substitute for a signature to indicate that 
understanding''.
    (Response) We note that the donor acknowledgement, which the 
establishment is required under final Sec.  630.10(g)(2) to obtain at 
each donation, requires a signature or other documented 
acknowledgement. The donor acknowledgement record is required to be 
maintained in accordance with Sec.  606.160(a). For informed consent, 
obtained at the intervals specified in Sec.  630.15(b)(2), final Sec.  
640.72(a)(3) now requires establishments to maintain the original or a 
clear copy or other durable record which may be electronic, of the 
donor's consent for participation in the plasmapheresis program or 
immunization.
    (Comment 124) Several comments questioned the reference in proposed 
Sec.  640.72(a)(4) to documentation by the responsible physician that 
the donor is in good health under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 on the 
day of examination. The comments stated that trained persons would be 
capable of making assessments under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15.
    (Response) We agree with the comment that reference to Sec. Sec.  
630.10 and 630.15 in proposed Sec.  640.72(a)(4) was misplaced. 
Instead, under final Sec.  640.72(a)(4) we require that records of the 
medical history and physical examination of the donor, conducted in 
accordance with Sec.  630.15(b)(1) and, where applicable, Sec.  
630.15(b)(5), must address the eligibility of the donor as a 
plasmapheresis donor and, if applicable, an immunized donor. Delegation 
of this examination and determination is addressed in Sec.  
630.5(c)(3).

U. Source Plasma: Reporting of Donor Reactions (Sec.  640.73)

    We are not finalizing Sec.  640.73 in this rule. Instead, FDA 
intends to finalize this section when FDA finalizes the proposed rule, 
``Safety Reporting Requirements for Human Drug and Biologicals'' (68 FR 
12406, March 14, 2003) (Ref. 75). We will address in that final rule 
the comments received on proposed Sec.  640.73 in this docket. By doing 
so, we intend to consolidate the safety and reporting requirements of 
all human drugs and biologicals under this chapter into one 
comprehensive regulation.

V. Alternative Procedures (Sec.  640.120)

    We are finalizing proposed Sec.  640.120 which separates and 
revises current Sec.  640.120(a) into proposed Sec.  640.120(a) and 
(b), and revises and redesignates current Sec.  640.120(b) as Sec.  
640.120(c). Under proposed Sec.  640.120(a), a blood establishment 
could request that the Director, CBER, approve a proposed exception or 
alternative to any requirement in Title 21 of the CFR, Chapter I, 
subchapter C (21 CFR parts 200 through 299; these include drug 
regulations, such as current good manufacturing practice regulations, 
that are applicable to blood products) and F (21 CFR parts 600 through 
680), regarding blood, blood components, or blood products. Current 
Sec.  640.120(a) authorizes exceptions or alternatives to regulations 
in subchapter F but omits reference to subchapter C; proposed Sec.  
640.120(a) addressed this omission. Under proposed Sec.  640.120(a)(1), 
an establishment could request an

[[Page 29885]]

exception or alternative in writing, or, if there are difficult 
circumstances and submission of a written request is not feasible, as 
an oral request under proposed Sec.  640.120(a)(2). We also proposed in 
Sec.  640.120(b) to permit the CBER Director to issue an exception or 
alternative to these regulations in the event of a public health 
emergency which impacts blood and blood product establishments or blood 
availability. We proposed to redesignate current Sec.  640.120(b) as 
Sec.  640.120(c), and to revise it to state that FDA would publish 
alternative procedures and exceptions periodically on the CBER Web site 
rather than in the Federal Register, as our current regulations 
provide.
    We are finalizing this provision largely as proposed, while making 
some clarifying changes. In final Sec.  640.120(a), we no longer refer 
to our approval of an exception or alternative procedure. Instead, we 
refer to issuing an exception or alternative. This is consistent with 
the use of the term ``issue'' in proposed Sec.  640.120(b).
    In Sec.  640.120(b), we proposed that the Director be authorized 
``in a public health emergency'' to issue exceptions or alternatives if 
``necessary to assure that blood, blood components, or blood products 
will be available in a specified location to respond to an 
unanticipated immediate need for blood, blood components or blood 
products.'' Final Sec.  640.120(b) authorizes the Director ``to respond 
to a public health need'' by issuing a notice of exception or 
alternative if an exception or alternative is ``necessary to assure 
that blood, blood components, or blood products will be available in a 
specified location or locations to address an urgent and immediate need 
for blood, blood components, or blood products or to provide for 
appropriate donor screening and testing.'' We made these two changes to 
emphasize that this authority will be available to address urgent and 
immediate needs for blood, blood components, and blood products. The 
use of this provision is not contingent on whether that need could have 
been anticipated. In addition, we made explicit the Director's 
authority to issue exceptions or alternatives to provide for 
appropriate donor screening and testing. In recent years, we have 
confronted shortages and near-shortages of important donor tests. These 
situations have caused us to recognize the importance of being able to 
protect donors and recipients by permitting the use of alternative, but 
adequate, testing algorithms.
    (Comment 125) FDA received two comments on proposed Sec.  640.120. 
Both comments concerned Sec.  640.120(b), relating to alternative 
procedures during a public health emergency. The comments urged FDA to 
be more specific about which regulatory provisions in subchapters C and 
F of Title 21 of the CFR would potentially be the subject of exceptions 
or alternative procedures during a public health emergency. One comment 
further indicated that blood establishments would be better able to 
prepare facilities and train staff if CBER provided more specific 
information about exceptions and alternative procedures which may be 
used during a public health emergency.
    (Response) The Agency does not agree that potential variances 
should be listed within the regulation. Whether or not an exception or 
alternative is appropriate will depend on the specific situation. The 
scope, duration, and nature of a specific situation, how it impacts 
blood establishments, and the extent to which blood and blood products 
continue to be available, will determine whether a particular provision 
in subchapter F of title 21 of the CFR would be an appropriate subject 
for an exception or alternative procedure to address the public health 
need. Current Sec.  610.40(g) authorizes release or shipment of blood 
or blood components prior to testing in appropriately documented 
medical emergency situations. Moreover, CBER has posted on its Web site 
a document entitled ``Exceptions and Alternative Procedures Approved 
Under 21 CFR 640.120'' (Ref. 76), which provides examples of exceptions 
and alternatives permitted under current Sec.  640.120(a). Blood 
establishments may find this information to be useful for emergency 
planning purposes. In addition, FDA intends to continue to work with 
stakeholders on how to assure the continued availability of safe, pure, 
and potent blood and blood products during emergencies and other 
situations that may warrant a variance under this section.

W. Reagent Red Blood Cells (Sec. Sec.  660.31, 660.32)

    We are not finalizing proposed Sec.  660.31, which proposed that 
donors of peripheral blood for Reagent Red Blood Cells, used as 
diagnostic substances for laboratory tests, must meet all the criteria 
for donor eligibility under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15, and we are 
deleting current Sec.  660.31. We are also deleting Sec.  660.32, which 
addressed the collection of blood for Reagent Red Blood Cells from 
donors of peripheral blood. We are taking this action because blood 
collection establishments in the United States are fully subject to the 
requirements for donor eligibility, testing, and donation suitability 
discussed at length in this rulemaking, and these requirements are 
duplicative for such collections. Moreover, Reagent Red Blood Cells are 
licensed products subject to licensing standards to assure that the 
product is safe, pure, and potent. FDA assures that all licensed 
Reagent Red Blood Cells meet standards for safety, purity, and potency.
    (Comment 126) One comment asked FDA not to reference in Sec.  
660.31 the criteria for donor eligibility in Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 
630.15. The comment stated that Reagent Red Blood Cells are not used 
for transfusion and are further processed for reagent use only; it is 
not necessary for donors of these products to meet the criteria in 
Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15.
    (Response) We do not agree that donor eligibility provisions should 
not apply to donors of Red Blood Cells to be manufactured into Reagent 
Red Blood Cells. Blood collection establishments in the United States 
must comply with Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15, and we will require 
manufacturers of licensed Reagent Red Blood Cells to comply with 
applicable standards. However, we are deleting Sec. Sec.  660.31 and 
660.32 from the final rule as duplicative.

X. Quality System Regulation: Scope (Sec.  820.1)

    We did not receive any comments on this section and we are 
finalizing the section as proposed.

Y. Technical Amendments

    As has been noted elsewhere in this document, we are making a 
number of technical changes. These include changes in terminology in 
certain provisions as follows:
     We are removing the terms ``communicable disease agent'', 
``communicable disease agents'', and ``communicable disease agent(s)'' 
wherever they appear and adding in their place ``relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection'', ``relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections'', and ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s)'' to 
be consistent with the new definition of ``relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection'' in Sec.  630.3(h). These changes occur 
throughout 21 CFR part 610 subpart E, as well as in the following 
provisions: Sec. Sec.  606.121(c)(11), (c)(12), and (i)(5), 606.122(e), 
630.40(b)(3), (d)(1), (d)(1)(i), (d)(1)(iii), 640.5(f), and 640.67;
     We are removing the terms ``qualified licensed 
physician'', ``licensed physician'', and ``physician on the premises'' 
and adding in their place ``responsible physician'' to be consistent 
with the new definition of

[[Page 29886]]

``responsible physician'' in Sec.  630.3(i). These changes occur in the 
following provisions: Sec. Sec.  606.110(a), 640.65(b)(1)(i), 
(b)(1)(ii), (b)(2)(i), (b)(2)(iii), and (b)(2)(iv), 640.66, and 
640.71(b)(1);
     We are removing the terms ``suitable'' or ``suitability'' 
and adding in their place ``eligible'' or ``eligibility'' to be 
consistent with the new definition of ``eligibility of a donor'' in 
Sec.  630.3(d). These changes occur in the following provisions: 
Sec. Sec.  606.40(a)(1), 606.100(b)(1), 606.121(i)(5), 
606.160(b)(1)(x), 610.40(h)(2)(iv)(A), 610.41(a)(3), (a)(4), and (b), 
630.40(a), (b), (b)(1), and (c), 640.12, 640.31, and 640.51;
     We also are removing ``supplemental test'' and 
``supplemental (additional, more specific) test'', or similar wording, 
and adding in their place ``further testing'' to be consistent with the 
further testing requirements in Sec.  610.40(e). These changes occur in 
the following provisions: Sec. Sec.  610.40(e)(2), 610.46(a)(2), 
(a)(3), (a)(4), (b)(2), and (b)(3), 610.47(a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), 
(b)(2), and (b)(3), 630.40(a), (b)(3), and (d)(1)(iii);
     We are removing the term ``certified in writing'' and 
adding in its place ``determined and documented'' to be consistent with 
the requirement to determine and document in Sec.  640.21(e)(4). This 
change occurs in Sec.  606.110(a); and
     We are removing the reference to ``Health Care Financing 
Administration'' and replacing the reference with this Federal Agency's 
current name, ``Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services'' in Sec.  
610.40(f).
    As part of this final rule, we also are removing certain provisions 
from the CFR because the provisions are superseded or replaced by 
provisions in the final rule. These include: Sec. Sec.  610.40(c)(2) 
and (i), 640.3, 640.27, 640.61, 640.62, and 640.63. For the same 
reasons, we are removing and reserving Sec. Sec.  640.4(a), 640.5(a), 
and 640.64(a). With these changes, we need to make conforming changes 
when these removed provisions are referenced elsewhere in the CFR.
     Sec.  610.40(i): The final rule removes from the CFR 
610.40(i), which addresses syphilis testing, because syphilis testing 
is now addressed in Sec.  610.40(a). Accordingly, as part of this final 
rule, we are removing references to Sec.  610.40(i) that appear in: 
Sec. Sec.  610.40(d), (g), and (h)(1), 610.41(a) and (a)(5), and 
610.42(a). In removing the reference to Sec.  610.40(i) from Sec. Sec.  
610.40(d), 610.41(a) and (a)(5), and 610.42(a), we are also removing 
the text ``or by a serological test for syphilis'', which modifies the 
reference to Sec.  610.40(i). In removing the reference to Sec.  
610.40(i) in Sec.  610.40(h)(2)(vi), we are adding in its place a 
reference to Sec.  610.40(a), and, because of the changes to Sec.  
640.5, we are removing the related reference to performing syphilis 
testing under Sec.  640.5. In Sec.  610.40(h)(2)(vii), we are removing 
the reference to Sec.  610.40(i), and replacing it with references to 
Sec. Sec.  640.65(a)(2)(ii) and(b)(1)(i), which address syphilis 
testing for Source Plasma donors. We are also removing Sec.  
640.65(b)(2), and replacing it with the more precise citation to Sec.  
640.65(b)(2)(ii) through (b)(2)(iv).
     Sec.  640.3: The final rule removes from the CFR 640.3, 
which addresses suitability requirements for Whole Blood donors. This 
subject is now addressed in part 630. Accordingly, as part of this 
final rule, we are removing the reference to Sec.  640.3 that appears 
in Sec.  606.121(i)(5) and adding in its place a reference to Sec.  
630.10. We are removing the reference to Sec.  640.3 that appears in 
Sec.  640.4(e) and adding in its place a reference to Sec.  630.10. We 
are removing the references to Sec.  640.3 that appear in Sec. Sec.  
640.12, 640.31(a) and 640.51(a), and substituting references to 
Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. We are removing the reference to Sec.  
640.3 as part of our changes to newly designated Sec.  630.40(a), and 
adding in its place the reference to Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15.
     Sec.  640.62: The final rule removes from the CFR 640.62, 
which addresses medical supervision in Source Plasma situations. This 
subject is now addressed in part 630. Accordingly, as part of this 
final rule, we are removing references to Sec.  640.62 that appear in 
Sec. Sec.  640.22(c), 640.32(b), and 640.52(b). To clarify that Sec.  
630.5 applies to medical supervision for the collection of Source 
Plasma and other collections addressed in part 640, we have added Sec.  
640.130 in new subpart M. This section states that the requirements for 
medical supervision established in Sec.  630.5 supplement the 
regulations in part 640.
     Sec.  640.63: The final rule removes from the CFR 640.63, 
which addresses suitability requirements for Source Plasma donors. This 
subject is now addressed in part 630. Accordingly, as part of this 
final rule, we are removing the reference to Sec.  640.63 that appears 
in Sec.  606.110(b) and adding in its place a reference to Sec. Sec.  
630.10 and 630.15. We also are removing the reference to Sec.  640.63 
as part of our revisions to newly designated Sec.  630.40(a), and 
adding in its place a reference to Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. As 
part of our changes to Sec. Sec.  640.31(b) and 640.51(b), we also are 
removing references to Sec.  640.63 and adding in their place a 
references to Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. Similarly, as part of our 
revisions to Sec.  640.72, we are removing the reference to Sec.  
640.63 in Sec.  640.72(a)(2) and adding in its place a reference to 
Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. We also are removing the reference to 
Sec.  640.63(b)(3) in Sec.  640.72(a)(4) and adding in its place 
references to Sec.  630.15(b)(1) and (b)(5), among other changes.

III. Legal Authority

    FDA is issuing this rule under the authority of sections 351 and 
361 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 262 and 264), 
and certain provisions of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
    The establishment of these criteria for determining the eligibility 
of a donor of blood and blood components and the suitability of blood 
and blood components for transfusion or for further manufacturing is 
intended to assure that donations are safe, pure, and potent including 
preventing unsafe units of blood or blood components that may transmit 
a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection from entering the blood 
supply, while safeguarding the health of donors.
    FDA has been delegated authority under section 361 of the PHS Act 
to make and enforce regulations necessary to prevent the introduction, 
transmission, or spread of communicable disease from foreign countries 
into the States or possessions, or from one State or possession into 
any other State or possession. Intrastate transactions affecting 
communicable disease transmission may also be regulated under section 
361 of the PHS Act (Independent Turtle Farmers of Louisiana, Inc. v. 
United States, 703 F.Supp.2d 604, 620-21 (W.D. La. 2010); Louisiana v. 
Mathews, 427 F. Supp. 174, 176 (E.D. La. 1977)).
    It is important to recognize that, in the past, blood transfusion 
and manufacturing of blood derivatives presented significant risks of 
transmission of communicable diseases such as HBV and HIV. Risks of 
transmission of infectious diseases still remain from emerging 
infectious agents. As FDA has previously noted, section 361 of the PHS 
Act, ``is designated to eliminate the introduction of communicable 
disease, such as hepatitis, from one state to another. Of necessity, 
therefore, this authority must be exercised upon the disease causing 
substance within the state where it is collected, manufactured, or 
otherwise found. Thus, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs may 
promulgate current good manufacturing practice regulations for

[[Page 29887]]

intrastate blood banking, pursuant to the [PHS Act], as hepatitis is a 
communicable disease. Without proper controls, it is likely to spread 
on an interstate basis.'' (39 FR 18614, May 28, 1974). These statements 
are equally true today, where the spectrum of diseases transmitted by 
blood has increased to include, for example, HIV agents that cause 
AIDS, and HCV, an additional cause of hepatitis as well as emerging 
infectious agents. We understand communicable diseases to include those 
transmitted by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and transmissible 
spongiform encephalopathy agents. Preventing the spread of communicable 
disease is the important purpose underlying the comprehensive 
regulations for blood establishments now in place, which this final 
rule modifies and modernizes.
    Under section 361 of the PHS Act, FDA is authorized to enforce the 
regulations it issues to prevent the introduction, transmission, or 
spread of communicable disease interstate through such means as 
inspection, disinfection, sanitation, destruction of animals or 
articles found to be so infected or contaminated as to be sources of 
dangerous infection in human beings, and other measures that may be 
necessary. In addition, under section 368(a) of the PHS Act, any person 
who violates a regulation prescribed under section 361 of the PHS Act 
may be punished by imprisonment for up to 1 year. Individuals may also 
be punished for violating such a regulation by a fine of up to $100,000 
if death has not resulted from the violation or up to $250,000 if death 
has resulted. For organizational defendants, fines range up to $200,000 
and $500,000. Individuals and organizations also face possible 
alternative fines based on the amount of gain or loss (18 U.S.C. 3559 
and 3571(b) through (d)). Federal District Courts also have 
jurisdiction to enjoin individuals and organizations from violating 
regulations implementing section 361 of the PHS Act. (See Califano v. 
Yamasaki, 442 U.S. 682, 704-05 (1979); United States v. Beatrice Foods 
Co., 493 F.2d 1259, 1271-72 (8th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 961 
(1975).)
    Blood and blood components introduced or delivered for introduction 
into interstate commerce are subject to section 351 of the PHS Act, 
which requires that such products be licensed (42 U.S.C. 262). Section 
351 of the PHS Act further authorizes FDA, by delegation, to establish 
requirements for such biologics licenses (42 U.S.C. 262(a)(2)(A)). In 
addition to its authority under section 361 of the PHS Act, FDA relies 
on this authority when the final regulations are applied to products 
subject to biologics license. To obtain a license, applicants must show 
that the biological product is safe, pure, and potent and that the 
manufacturing establishment meets all applicable standards designed to 
assure the continued safety, purity, and potency of the blood and blood 
components. FDA license revocation regulations provide for the 
initiation of revocation proceedings if, among other reasons, the 
establishment or the product fails to conform to the standards in the 
license application or in the regulations designed to ensure the 
continued safety, purity, or potency of the product (Sec.  601.5).
    Violations of section 351 are punishable by a 1-year term of 
imprisonment, a fine as described in the preceding paragraph, or both 
(42 U.S.C. 262(f), 18 U.S.C. 3571). Blood and blood components are also 
drugs or devices, as those terms are defined in sections 201(g)(1) and 
(h) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1) and (h); see United States v. 
Calise, 217 F. Supp. 705, 708-09 (S.D.N.Y. 1962)); 42 U.S.C. 262(j) 
(``The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) 
applies to a biological product subject to regulation under this 
section, except that a product for which a license has been approved . 
. . shall not be required to have an approved [new drug] application . 
. . .''). Since blood and blood components are drugs or devices 
generally subject to the FD&C Act, in issuing these regulations, FDA 
relies on the FD&C Act's grant of authority to issue regulations for 
the efficient enforcement of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 371(a)). The FD&C 
Act requires blood establishments to comply with the FD&C Act's current 
good manufacturing practice provisions and related regulatory scheme. 
Under section 501 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 351), drugs, including 
blood and blood components, are deemed ``adulterated'' if the methods 
used in their manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding do not 
conform with current good manufacturing practice (21 U.S.C. 
351(a)(2)(B)). Devices are deemed ``adulterated'' if the methods used 
in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, 
storage, or installation are not in conformity with current good 
manufacturing practice requirements established by FDA in regulations 
(21 U.S.C. 351(h) and 360j(f)(1)). The provisions of this rule are 
critical aspects of current good manufacturing practice. The regulation 
requires collection establishments to assure that donors of blood and 
blood components meet the essential criteria for eligibility, and that 
blood and blood components are suitable for transfusion or further 
manufacturing. Blood and blood components not manufactured in 
accordance with current good manufacturing practice, including the 
provisions of this rule, and other provisions in the CFR, would be 
considered adulterated under 21 U.S.C. 351(a)(2)(B) or 21 U.S.C. 351(h) 
and 360j(f)(1), and collection establishments and blood and blood 
components would be subject to the FD&C Act's enforcement provisions 
for violations of the FD&C Act. These include seizure of violative 
products (21 U.S.C. 332), injunction against ongoing and future 
violations, and criminal penalties (21 U.S.C. 333 and 18 U.S.C. 3571). 
The FD&C Act punishes both misdemeanor and felony violations of the 
FD&C Act. Misdemeanor violations are punishable by a term of 
imprisonment of up to 1 year, a fine as described previously, or both. 
(21 U.S.C. 333(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. 3571). Individuals convicted of felony 
violations may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to 3 years, 
a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Organizations convicted of felony 
violations may be sentenced to a fine of up to $500,000. Individuals 
and organizations also face possible alternative fines based on the 
amount of gain or loss (18 U.S.C. 3571(b) through (d)).

IV. Analysis of Impacts

    FDA has examined the impacts of the final rule under Executive 
Order 12866, Executive Order 13563, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612) and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-4). Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct Agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and 
equity). The Agency believes that this final rule is not a significant 
regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires Agencies to analyze 
regulatory options that would minimize any significant impact of a rule 
on small entities. Because the costs associated with this rule are 
expected to be minimal, the Agency certifies that this rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 
that Agencies prepare a written statement, which includes an

[[Page 29888]]

assessment of anticipated costs and benefits, before proposing ``any 
rule that includes any Federal mandate that may result in the 
expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, 
or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted annually 
for inflation) in any one year.'' The current threshold after 
adjustment for inflation is $141 million, using the most current (2013) 
Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product. FDA does not 
expect this final rule to result in a 1-year expenditure that would 
meet or exceed this amount.
    This rule sets forth requirements for donor eligibility and 
donation suitability to ensure the safety, purity, and potency of the 
blood and blood components used for transfusion or for further 
manufacture. Costs estimated in this analysis include costs related to 
the SOPs and bacterial testing requirements for blood collection 
establishments and transfusion services. The total upfront costs are 
$16,042,628, and include costs related to the review, modification, and 
creation of standard operation procedures. The mean annual costs of 
$892,233 include costs related to the bacterial testing and speciation 
of platelets. We anticipate that this final rule will preserve the 
safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood components by preventing 
unsafe units of blood or blood components from entering the blood 
supply, and by providing recipients with increased protection against 
communicable disease transmission. The requirements set forth in this 
rule will also help to decrease the number of blood transfusion related 
fatalities that are associated with the bacterial contamination of 
platelets. The annual value of additional fatalities averted related by 
testing of Whole Blood-derived platelets is estimated to be 
approximately $27 million to $90 million and the annual value of 
averted nonfatal sepsis infections is estimated to be $3.19 million to 
$4.91 million.
    The full discussion of economic impacts is available in Docket No. 
FDA-2006-N-0040 (formerly Docket No. 2006N-0221) and at http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ReportsManualsForms/Reports/EconomicAnalyses/default.htm (Ref. 77).

V. Environmental Impact

    FDA has determined under 21 CFR 25.30(h) that this action is of a 
type that does not individually or cumulatively have a significant 
effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental 
assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

VI. Federalism

    FDA has analyzed this final rule in accordance with the principles 
set forth in Executive Order 13132. FDA has determined that the final 
rule does not contain policies that have substantial direct effect on 
the States, on the relationship between the National Government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Accordingly, FDA has concluded that the 
final rule does not contain policies that have federalism implications 
as defined in the Executive Order and, consequently, a federalism 
summary impact statement is not required.

VII. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This final rule contains information collection provisions that are 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The title, 
description, and respondent description of the information collection 
provisions are shown in the following paragraphs with an estimate of 
the annual reporting, recordkeeping, and disclosure burdens. Included 
in the estimate is the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
completing and reviewing each collection of information.
    Title: Requirements for Blood and Blood Components Intended for 
Transfusion or for Further Manufacturing Use.
    Description: FDA is amending the regulations applicable to blood 
and blood components, including Source Plasma, to make donor 
eligibility and testing requirements more consistent with current 
practices in the blood industry, to more closely align the regulations 
with current FDA recommendations, and to provide flexibility to 
accommodate advancing technology. The following information collection 
provisions are for recordkeeping, and third party disclosure.
    In this final rule, under Sec.  606.100(b), FDA requires 
establishments to establish, maintain, and follow written SOPs for all 
steps in the collection, processing, compatibility testing, storage, 
and distribution of blood and blood components for allogeneic 
transfusion, autologous transfusion, and further manufacturing 
purposes. Under this provision, FDA also clarifies that establishments 
must establish, maintain, and follow written SOPs for all steps in the 
investigation of product deviations related to Sec.  606.171; and for 
all steps in recordkeeping related to current good manufacturing 
practice and other applicable requirements and standards. FDA has 
separated the requirements for procedures for donor deferral and donor 
notification, previously provided under Sec.  606.100(b)(20), into the 
requirement for procedures for donor deferral under Sec.  
606.100(b)(20) and the procedures for donor notification under Sec.  
606.100(b)(21). In addition, under Sec.  606.100(b)(22), blood 
collection establishments and transfusion services must have procedures 
to control the risk of bacterial contamination of platelets, including 
all steps required under Sec.  606.145.
    FDA continues to require, under Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(i), collection 
establishments to maintain donor records that include donor selection, 
including medical interview and examination and where applicable, 
informed consent. The regulations in this final rule that pertain to 
the requirements to maintain donor records under Sec.  
606.160(b)(1)(i), are as follows:
     Sec.  606.110(a)(2) allows for the use of plateletpheresis 
and leukapheresis procedures provided that the procedure is performed 
under the supervision of a responsible physician who is aware of the 
health status of the donor, and the physician has determined and 
documented that the donor's health permits plateletpheresis or 
leukapheresis.
     Sec.  630.5(b)(1)(i) allows the responsible physician to 
delegate to a physician substitute or other trained person the activity 
of determining the eligibility of a donor and documenting assessments 
related to that determination (with certain specified exceptions).
     Sec.  630.10(f)(2) allows a donor with blood pressure 
measurements outside of the established limits to donate only when the 
responsible physician determines and documents that the health of the 
donor would not be adversely affected by donating.
     Sec.  630.10(f)(4) allows a donor with an irregular pulse 
or measurements outside of the established limits to donate only when 
the responsible physician determines and documents that the health of 
the donor would not be adversely affected by donating.
     Sec.  630.10(g)(2)(i) requires that prior to each 
donation, collection establishments must provide information to the 
donor addressing the elements specified in Sec.  630.10(g)(2)(ii)(A) 
through (g)(2)(ii)(E) and obtain the donor's

[[Page 29889]]

acknowledgement that the donor has reviewed the information.
     Sec.  630.15(a)(1)(ii)(A) requires that when a donation is 
for autologous use, the responsible physician must determine and 
document that the donation may proceed.
     Sec.  630.15(b)(2) requires that: (1) The responsible 
physician must obtain the informed consent of a plasma donor on the 
first day of donation or no more than 1 week before the first donation, 
and at subsequent intervals of no longer than 1 year; (2) the 
responsible physician must obtain the informed consent of a plasma 
donor who does not return within 6 months of the last donation; (3) the 
responsible physician must explain the risks and hazards of the 
procedure to the donor; (4) if a donor is enrolled in a new program, 
such as an immunization or special collection program, the responsible 
physician must again obtain an informed consent specific for that 
program.
     Sec.  630.15(b)(7)(i) requires that the responsible 
physician determines and documents that the donor is in good health and 
the donor's health permits the plasmapheresis.
     Sec.  630.15(b)(7)(iii) requires that special 
characteristics of the donor's plasma and the need for plasmapheresis 
of the donor under Sec.  630.20(b) are documented at the establishment.
     Sec.  630.20(a) allows for the collection of blood and 
blood components from a donor who is determined to be not eligible to 
donate under any provision of Sec.  630.10(e) and (f) or Sec.  
630.15(a), if the donation is for autologous use only as prescribed by 
the donor's physician, and the donor has a hemoglobin level no less 
than 11.0 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood or a hematocrit 
value no less than 33 percent, and the responsible physician determines 
and documents that the donor's health permits the collection procedure.
     Sec.  630.20(b) allows for plasma to be collected under a 
Source Plasma collection program for further manufacturing use into in 
vitro products for which there are no alternative sources from a donor 
who is determined to be not eligible to donate under any provision of 
Sec.  630.10(e) and (f) or Sec.  630.15(a), if the donor meets the 
criteria in Sec.  630.10(f)(1) through (6) and the responsible 
physician determines and documents for each donation that the donor's 
health permits the collection procedure, and the collection takes place 
under the medical oversight specified in the approved plasmapheresis 
program.
     Sec.  640.21(e)(4) allows, for a period not to exceed 30 
calendar days, a donor to serve as a dedicated plateletpheresis donor 
for a single recipient, in accordance with Sec.  610.40(c)(1), as often 
as is medically necessary, provided in part, that the donor is in good 
health, as determined and documented by the responsible physician.
    FDA redesignated Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(ix) to Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(x), 
and redesignated Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(x) to Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(ix). 
Also, FDA replaced previous cross-reference to Sec.  630.6 with new 
cross-reference to Sec.  630.40 in Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(x) and 
(b)(1)(xi).
    FDA revised Sec.  606.160(e) to require establishments to maintain 
two records to include the following sections: (1) A record of all 
donors found to be ineligible or deferred at that location; so that 
blood and blood components from an ineligible donor are not collected 
and/or released while the donor is ineligible or deferred and (2) 
establishments must maintain at all locations operating under the same 
license or under common management a cumulative record of donors 
deferred from donation were reactive for evidence of infection due to 
HIV, HBV, or HCV. In addition, establishments other than Source Plasma 
establishments must include in this cumulative record donors deferred 
for evidence of infection due to HTLV or Chagas disease; (3) the 
cumulative record must be updated at least monthly to add donors newly 
deferred for the reasons described herein; (4) in addition, 
establishments must revise the cumulative record to remove donors who 
have been requalified under Sec.  610.41(b).
    Under final Sec.  606.145(c), in the event a transfusion service 
identifies platelets as bacterially contaminated, the transfusion 
service must not release the product and must notify the blood 
collection establishment that provided the platelets. In addition, the 
transfusion service must take appropriate steps to identify the 
organism; these steps may include contracting with the collection 
establishment or a laboratory to identify the organism. The transfusion 
service must further notify the blood collection establishment either 
by providing information about the species of the contaminating 
organism when the transfusion service has been able to identify it, or 
by advising the blood collection establishment when the transfusion 
service has determined that the species cannot be identified.
    Under final Sec.  630.5(d), collection establishments must 
establish, maintain, and follow SOPs for obtaining rapid emergency 
medical services for donors when medically necessary. Under final Sec.  
630.10(b), collection establishments must provide educational material 
concerning relevant transfusion-transmitted infections to donors before 
donation when donor education about that relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection is necessary to assure the safety, purity, and 
potency of blood and blood components.
    Under Sec.  630.10(c)(1) and (2), collection establishments may 
perform certain activities, provided that these activities are 
addressed in their SOPs.
    FDA requires under Sec.  630.15(a)(1)(ii)(B), that for a dedicated 
donation based on the intended recipient's documented exceptional 
medical need, the responsible physician determines and documents that 
the health of the donor would not be adversely affected by donating.
    Under Sec.  630.15(a)(2) collection establishments may collect more 
frequently than once in 8 weeks for collections resulting in a single 
unit of Whole Blood or Red Blood Cells, or once in 16 weeks for 
apheresis collections resulting in two units of Red Blood Cells, when 
the donor is determined under Sec.  630.10 to be eligible to undergo a 
therapeutic phlebotomy, provided that the container label conspicuously 
states the disease or condition of the donor that necessitated 
phlebotomy. However, no disease state labeling is required when the 
conditions under Sec.  630.15(a)(2)(i) through (iii) are met.
    Under Sec.  630.20(c), a collection establishment may collect blood 
and blood components from a donor who is determined to be not eligible 
to donate under any provision of Sec.  630.10(e) and (f) or Sec.  
630.15(a), if the donation is restricted for use solely by a specific 
transfusion recipient based on documented exceptional medical need, and 
the responsible physician determines and documents that the donor's 
health permits the collection procedure, and that the donation presents 
no undue medical risk to the transfusion recipient.
    FDA redesignated Sec.  630.6 to Sec.  630.40, which requires 
collection establishments under Sec.  630.40(a) to make reasonable 
attempts to notify any donor, including an autologous donor, who has 
been deferred based on the results of tests for evidence of infection 
with a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s), as required under 
Sec.  610.41(a); or any donor who has been deferred as required under 
Sec.  630.30(b)(3) because their donated platelets have been determined 
under Sec.  606.145(d) to be contaminated with an organism that is 
identified as likely to be associated with a bacterial infection that 
is endogenous to the bloodstream of

[[Page 29890]]

the donor; and any donor who has been determined not to be eligible as 
a donor based on eligibility criteria under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 
630.15.
    Under Sec.  640.21(c), a Whole Blood donor must not serve as the 
source of platelets for transfusion if the donor has recently ingested 
a drug that adversely affects platelet function, unless the unit is 
labeled to identify the ingested drug that adversely affects platelet 
function.
    FDA separated Sec.  640.72(a)(2) into Sec.  640.72(a)(2)(i) and 
(ii), and redesignated the cross-reference previously provided in Sec.  
640.72(a)(2) from Sec.  640.63 to Sec.  630.10, and added cross-
reference to Sec.  630.15. Final Sec.  640.72(a)(2)(i) requires 
establishments that collect plasma to maintain records, including a 
separate and complete record of initial and periodic examinations, 
tests, laboratory data, and interviews etc., as required in Sec. Sec.  
630.10, 630.15, 640.65, 640.66, and 640.67, except as provided in Sec.  
640.72(a)(2)(ii). Final Sec.  640.72(a)(2)(ii) provides that negative 
results for testing for evidence of infection due to relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections required in Sec.  610.40, and the 
volume or weight of plasma withdrawn from a donor need not be recorded 
on the individual donor record if such information is maintained on the 
premises of the plasmapheresis center where the donor's plasma has been 
collected.
    Under Sec.  640.72(a)(4), collection establishments must maintain 
records of the medical history and physical examination of the donor 
conducted in accordance with Sec.  630.15(b)(1) and, where applicable, 
Sec.  630.15(b)(5), and must document the eligibility of the donor as a 
plasmapheresis donor, and, when applicable, as an immunized donor.
    Description of Respondents: Licensed and unlicensed, registered 
blood establishments that collect blood and blood components for 
transfusion, licensed blood establishments that collect Source Plasma, 
and registered and unregistered transfusion services.
    As required by section 3506(c)(2)(B) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act, FDA provided an opportunity for public comment on the information 
collection requirements of the proposed rule (72 FR 63416 at 63434).
    Based on information received from FDA's database systems, there 
are approximately 1,265 licensed blood collection establishments and 
approximately 416 licensed Source Plasma establishments, for a total of 
1,681 licensed blood collection establishments. Also, there are 
approximately 680 total unlicensed, registered blood collection 
establishments. The approximate total of 2,361 collection 
establishments, includes the 1,265 licensed blood collection 
establishments, 416 licensed Source Plasma establishments, and 680 
total unlicensed, registered blood collection establishments. FDA 
estimates that there are 4,961 total transfusion services. Most of 
these transfusion services are not required to register with FDA.
    The recordkeeping and third party disclosure estimates are based on 
information provided by industry, CMS, GAO, HHS, and FDA experience. 
Based on this information, FDA estimates that collection establishments 
annually collect approximately 40 million units of Whole Blood and 
blood components, which includes approximately 25 million donations of 
Source Plasma from approximately 2 million donors, and approximately 15 
million \1\ donations of Whole Blood and apheresis Red Blood Cell 
donations from approximately 10.9 million donors, including 
approximately 225,000 (1.5 percent of 15 million) autologous donations. 
Assuming each autologous donor makes an average of 2 donations, FDA 
estimates that there are approximately 112,500 autologous donors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ These estimates are based on the 2011 National Blood 
Collection and Utilization Survey Report, which estimated that a 
total of 15,721,000 Whole Blood and Red Blood Cell units were 
collected in 2011. The 2011 report noted a decline in the numbers of 
Whole Blood and Red Blood Cell units collected and transfused.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FDA estimates the information collection burden as follows:

                               Table 1--Estimated Annual Recordkeeping Burden \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Number of                       Average
          21 CFR section              Number of      records per    Total annual     burden per     Total hours
                                    recordkeepers   recordkeeper       records     recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
606.100(b) (Maintenance of SOPs)            2,361               1           2,361          24             56,664
 \2\.............................
606.100(b) (Maintenance of SOPs)            4,961               1           4,961          10             49,610
 \3\.............................
606.160(b)(1)(i) \4\.............           2,361          16,942      40,000,000           0.17       6,800,000
630.15(a)(1)(ii)(B)..............           1,945               1           1,945           1              1,945
630.20(c)........................           1,945               1           1,945           1              1,945
640.72(a)(4).....................             416           4,808       2,000,000           0.08         160,000
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total........................  ..............  ..............  ..............  .............       7,070,164
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of
  information.
\2\ The recordkeeping requirements in Sec.  Sec.   606.171, 630.5(d), and 630.10(c)(1) and (2) are included in
  the estimate for Sec.   606.100(b).
\3\ The recordkeeping requirements in Sec.   606.100(b)(22) is included in the estimate for Sec.   606.100(b).
\4\ The recordkeeping requirements in Sec.  Sec.   606.110(a)(2); 606.160(e); 630.5(b)(1)(i); 630.10(f)(2) and
  (4); 630.10(g)(2)(i); 630.15(a)(1)(ii)(A) and (a)(1)(ii)(B); 630.15(b)(2), (b)(7)(i) and (b)(7)(iii);
  630.20(a) and (b); and 640.21(e)(4), are included in the estimate for Sec.   606.160(b)(1)(i).


                              Table 2--Estimated One-Time Recordkeeping Burden \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of
         21 CFR section              Number of      records per    Total annual      Hours per      Total hours
                                   recordkeepers   recordkeeper       records         record
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
606.100(b) (Review and Modify              1,574               1           1,574              40          62,960
 SOPs) \2\......................
606.100(b) (Review and Modify                787               1             787              60          47,220
 SOPs) \2\......................
606.100(b) (Review and Modify              4,961               1           4,961              16          79,376
 SOPs)..........................
606.100(b)(22) (Establish SOPs).           1,488               1           1,488              16          23,808
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 29891]]

 
    Total.......................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............         213,364
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of
  information.
\2\ The recordkeeping requirements in Sec.  Sec.   606.171; 630.5(d); and 630.10(c)(1) and (2), are included in
  the estimate for Sec.   606.100(b).


                                               Table 3--Estimated Annual Third-Party Disclosure Burden \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Number of                       Average burden
                           21 CFR section                               Number of     disclosures per    Total annual    per disclosure    Total hours
                                                                       respondents       respondent      disclosures       (in hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
606.145(c).........................................................           4,961             0.28            1,400             0.02               28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.

    Recordkeeping: As shown in table 1, under Sec.  606.100(b), FDA 
estimates that for the 2,361 recordkeepers, which includes 
approximately 1,265 licensed blood collection establishments, 
approximately 416 licensed Source Plasma establishments, and 
approximately 680 total unlicensed, registered blood collection 
establishments, it will take approximately 24 hours annually to review 
and maintain SOPs. The recordkeeping requirements in Sec. Sec.  
606.171, 630.5(d), and 630.10(c)(1) and (2) are included in the 
estimate for Sec.  606.100(b).
    In addition, the information collection burden under Sec.  
606.100(b)(22), for the transfusion services to maintain their SOPs is 
included in the information collection burden estimate under Sec.  
606.100(b).
    The information collection burden for Sec. Sec.  606.110(a)(2); 
606.160(e); 630.5(b)(1)(i); 630.10(f)(2) and (4); 630.10(g)(2)(i); 
630.15(a)(1)(ii)(A) and (B); 630.15(b)(2), (b)(7)(i) and (b)(7)(iii); 
630.20(a) and (b); and 640.21(e)(4), refer to the requirement to 
maintain records for donor selection under Sec.  606.160(b)(1) 
specifically Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(i) and are included in the information 
collection burden estimate under this regulation.
    In table 1, under Sec.  630.15(a)(1)(ii)(B) and Sec.  630.20(c), 
FDA calculates the information collection burden that for the 1,945 
recordkeepers, which includes approximately 1,265 licensed blood 
collection establishments and approximately 680 registered blood 
collection establishments. The donation would be used solely by a 
specified recipient based on documented medical need, and thus would 
occur rarely. Consequently, the burden to collection establishments is 
minimal.
    The revisions to Sec.  606.160(b)(1)(ix) through (xi) are technical 
amendments and do not result in any new information collection burden. 
The information collections for these sections have been approved under 
OMB control number 0910-0116.
    FDA is not calculating the information collection burden for final 
Sec.  606.100(b)(20) and (21) because these regulations have not been 
changed only redesignated. The information collection for final Sec.  
606.100(b)(20) and (21) have been approved under OMB control number 
0910-0116.
    Under Sec.  606.160(e), FDA is not calculating the information 
collection burden specifically for establishments to maintain donor 
records because there is either minimal or no additional burden 
associated with the final Sec.  606.160(e) because establishments have 
either been maintaining these records or providing access to these 
records at locations operating under the same license or under common 
management under current regulation(s) or guidance(s), or as part of 
their usual and customary business practice. In addition, the number of 
ineligible donors for which the establishments must maintain records 
has been decreased from the proposed rule in this final rule, which 
reduces the information collection burden for this requirement. The 
information collection for Sec.  606.160(e) have been approved as part 
of Sec.  606.160 under OMB control number 0910-0116.
    FDA is not calculating the information collection burden for Sec.  
640.72(a)(2)(i), because the information collection for maintaining a 
complete record of all initial and periodic examinations, tests, 
laboratory data, interviews, etc., for final Sec.  630.10 (redesignated 
from Sec.  640.63) and Sec. Sec.  640.65, 640.66, and 640.67 have been 
approved under OMB control number 0910-0116. In addition, the 
information collection cross-referenced under Sec.  630.15, is included 
in the information collection burden estimate for Sec.  
606.160(b)(1)(i). FDA is not calculating the information collection 
burden for Sec.  640.72(a)(2)(ii), because there is no additional 
burden and is covered under OMB control number 0910-0116.
    As shown in table 2, under Sec.  606.100(b), FDA estimates that for 
the 2,361 recordkeepers, two-thirds or 1,574 of the collection 
establishments will each expend, as a one-time burden, to reconcile 
their SOPs with the requirements. FDA estimates for the remaining one-
third or 787 of the collection establishments each will expend 
additional time to establish and reconcile their SOPs with the 
requirements. The one-time recordkeeping requirements in Sec. Sec.  
606.171, 630.5(d), and 630.10(c)(1) and (2) are included in the 
estimate for Sec.  606.100(b).
    In table 2, under Sec.  606.100(b)(22), FDA estimates that for the 
4,961 transfusion services potentially impacted by this rule, 40 
percent are following the voluntary standards for testing, speciation, 
and notifying the blood establishment, as usual and customary practice. 
For the remaining 60 percent (2,977) transfusion services, 
approximately one-half (1,488) would be impacted by the rule and each 
of these would expend, as a one-time burden, and to create SOPs 
consistent with the requirements.
    Third Party Disclosure: In table 3, under Sec.  606.145(c), FDA 
estimates that for the approximate 4,961 transfusion services, there 
would be 1,400 total notifications per year to blood collection 
establishments (700 notifications per year that platelets are 
bacterially contaminated and 700 notifications per year concerning the 
identity or non-identity of the species of the contaminating organism).
    The labeling requirements under Sec.  630.15(a)(2), are consistent 
with the

[[Page 29892]]

current requirement under Sec.  640.3(d) that donations from a donor 
``shall not be used as a source of Whole Blood unless the container 
label conspicuously indicates the donor's disease that necessitated 
withdrawal of blood.'' FDA is not calculating the information 
collection burden for Sec.  630.15(a)(2) because the burden is included 
in the calculation for Sec.  640.3(d). In addition, Sec.  630.15(a)(2) 
reduces the information collection burden by not requiring labeling 
under the conditions specified in the regulation. The information 
collection burden in Sec.  630.40(d) is approved under OMB control 
number 0910-0116.
    Under Sec.  630.10(b), FDA requires collection establishments to 
provide the donor with educational material. FDA is not calculating the 
information collection burden for this regulation because 
establishments collecting blood and blood components perform this 
activity as a usual and customary business practice and there is 
minimal new information collection burden for this requirement.
    The information collection burden in final Sec.  630.40 resulting 
from the redesignation of Sec.  630.6 has been approved under OMB 
control number 0910-0116. Under final Sec.  630.40, FDA considers the 
changes in text from ``communicable disease'' to ``relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection(s)'', ``suitable'' to ``eligible'', 
and ``suitability'' to ``eligibility'', to be technical amendments that 
do not confer any new burden. FDA is not calculating the information 
collection burden under Sec.  606.145(d) for the additional requirement 
that establishments that collect blood or blood components make 
reasonable attempts to notify any donor whose donated platelets have 
been determined to be contaminated with an organism that is identified 
as likely to be associated with a bacterial infection that is 
endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor, because establishments 
perform this activity as a usual and customary business practice and 
there is minimal new information collection burden for this 
requirement. The third party disclosure burden under Sec.  
630.30(b)(4), is covered under Sec.  630.40.
    Under Sec.  640.21(c), FDA requires the establishments to label 
donations received from platelet donors who have recently ingested a 
drug that adversely affects platelet function to identify the ingested 
drug. FDA is not calculating the information collection burden for this 
regulation as there is minimal additional burden for this requirement 
because establishments collecting blood and blood components perform 
this activity as a usual and customary business practice.
    The collections of information under Sec.  640.120 has been 
approved under OMB control number 0910-0338. FDA is not calculating 
information collection burden for Sec.  640.120, because the changes 
that were made will not have an impact on the current burden estimated 
for industry.
    The information collection provisions in this final rule have been 
submitted to OMB for review as required by section 3507(d) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    Before the effective date of this final rule, FDA will publish a 
notice in the Federal Register announcing OMB's decision to approve, 
modify, or disapprove the information collection provisions in this 
final rule. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

VIII. References

    The following references have been placed on display in the 
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) and may be seen by 
interested persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
(FDA has verified the Web site addresses, but FDA is not responsible 
for any subsequent changes to the Web site after this document 
publishes in the Federal Register.)

1. HHS, Blood Action Plan, FDA/CBER, July 1997.
2. U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight, Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental 
Relations, ``Protecting the Nation's Blood Supply from Infectious 
Agents: The Need for New Standards to Meet New Threats,'' August 2, 
1996, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-104hrpt746/html/CRPT-104hrpt746.htm.
3. U.S. General Accounting Office, ``Blood Supply: FDA Oversight and 
Remaining Issues of Safety,'' February 25, 1997, http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-97-1.
4. Stramer, S. L., F. B. Hollinger, L. Katz, et al., ``Emerging 
Infectious Disease Agents and Their Potential Threat to Transfusion 
Safety,'' Transfusion, August 2009; 49:1S-29S.
5. Stramer, S. L. and R. Y. Dodd, ``Transfusion-Transmitted Emerging 
Infectious Diseases: 30 Years of Challenges and Progress,'' 
Transfusion, October 2013, 53:2375-2383.
6. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Implementation of Acceptable Full-
Length Donor History Questionnaire and Accompanying Materials for 
Use in Screening Donors of Blood and Blood Components,'' October 
2006, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm073445.htm.
7. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Implementation of an Acceptable 
Full-Length and Abbreviated Donor History Questionnaires and 
Accompanying Materials for Use in Screening Donors of Source 
Plasma,'' February 2013, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/ApprovedProducts/LicensedProductsBLAs/BloodDonorScreening/UCM341088.pdf.
8. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Implementation of an Acceptable 
Abbreviated Donor History Questionnaire and Accompanying Materials 
for Use in Screening Frequent Donors of Blood and Blood 
Components,'' May 2013, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm351107.htm.
9. ``Transmission of HIV Possibly Associated with Exposure of Mucous 
Membrane to Contaminated Blood,'' Morbidity and Mortality Weekly 
Report, July 11, 1997; 46(27):620-623.
10. FDA Memorandum: ``Revised Recommendations for the Prevention of 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission by Blood and Blood 
Products,'' April 1992, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/OtherRecommendationsforManufacturers/MemorandumtoBloodEstablishments/UCM062834.pdf.
11. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Revised Preventive Measures to 
Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob 
Disease (CJD) and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) by Blood 
and Blood Products,'' May 2010, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM213415.pdf.
12. Dumont, L. J., S. Kleinman, J. R. Murphy, et al., ``Screening of 
Single-Donor Apheresis Platelets for Bacterial Contamination: The 
PASSPORT Study Results,'' Transfusion, March 2010; 50:589-599.
13. Yomtovian, R. A. and M. Brecher, ``pH and Glucose Testing of 
Single-Donor Apheresis Platelets Should be Discontinued in Favor of 
a More Sensitive Detection Method,'' Transfusion 2005; 4:646-648.
14. Jacobs, M. R., C. E. Good, H. M. Lazarus, et al., ``Relationship 
Between Bacterial Load, Species Virulence, and Transfusion Reaction 
with Transfusion of Bacterially Contaminated Platelets,'' Clinical 
Infectious Disease, 2008; 46:1214-1220.
15. FDA, ``Fatalities Reported to FDA Following Blood Collection and 
Transfusion: Annual Summary for Fiscal Year 2012,'' http://
www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/
ReportaProblem/

[[Page 29893]]

TransfusionDonationFatalities/ucm346639.htm.
16. College of American Pathologists, ``Commission on Laboratory 
Accreditation: Laboratory Accreditation Program, Transfusion 
Medicine Checklist,'' September 27, 2007.
17. AABB Association Bulletin #03-12, ``Further Guidance on Methods 
to Detect Bacterial Contamination of Platelet Components,'' October 
2003.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ There is a new version of this document that continues to 
implement this standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

18. Eder, A. F. and M. Goldman, ``How Do I Investigate Septic 
Transfusion Reactions and Blood Donors with Culture-Positive 
Platelet Donations?'' Transfusion, August 2011; 51:1662-1668.
19. Gold, J. S., S. Bayar, and R. R. Salem, ``Association of 
Streptococcus bovis Bacteremia with Colonic Neoplasia and 
Extracolonic Malignancy,'' Archives of Surgery, 2004; 139(7):760-
765.
20. AABB ``Public Conference: Secondary Bacterial Screening of 
Platelet Components,'' July 17, 2012.
21. Domen, R. E., I. D. Grewal, N. V. Hirschler, et al., ``An 
Evaluation of the Need for Shared Blood Donor Deferral Registries,'' 
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 1997; 9:35-41.
22. Ellis, F. R., L. I. Friedman, B. F. Wirak, et al., ``A 
Computerized National Blood Donor Deferral Register,'' The Journal 
of the American Medical Association, 1975; 232(7):722-724.
23. Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, ``National Donor 
Deferral Registry (NDDR)''
24. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Use of Serological Tests to Reduce 
the Risk of Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Whole 
Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion,'' December 
2010, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm235855.htm.
25. Blood Products Advisory Committee, 94th meeting, April 1, 2009, 
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/BloodVaccinesandOtherBiologics/BloodProductsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM155628.pdf.
26. Blood Products Advisory Committee, 67th meeting, September 15, 
2000, http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/00/agenda/3649a1.pdf.
27. Ortel, T. L., ``Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Laboratory Testing 
and Diagnostic Strategies,'' American Journal of Hematology, 2012; 
87:S75-S81.
28. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Donor Screening for Antibodies to 
HTLV-II,'' August 1997, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm170786.htm.
29. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Requalification Method for Reentry 
of Blood Donors Deferred Because of Reactive Test Results for 
Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen (Anti-HBc),'' May 2010, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/UCM210268.pdf.
30. FDA Memorandum: ``Recommendations to Decrease the Risk of 
Transmitting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from Blood 
Donors,'' March 24, 1983.
31. AABB Association Bulletin #03-14, ``Deferral for Risk of 
Leishmaniasis Exposure,'' October 10, 2003.
32. Bai, N., ``Donor Fatigue. The Red Cross Has Banned Chronic 
Fatigue Syndrome Sufferers from Giving Blood. But Does a Virus 
Really Cause the Disease?'' Scientific American, July 2011; 
305(1):26.
33. Young, S., A. Fink, S. Geiger, et al., ``Community Blood Donors' 
Knowledge of Anemia and Design of a Literacy-Appropriate Educational 
Intervention,'' Transfusion, January 2010; 50:75-79.
34. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for Blood 
Establishments: Training of Back-Up Personnel, Assessment of Blood 
Donor Suitability and Reporting Certain Changes to an Approved 
Application,'' November 2010, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/UCM190373.pdf.
35. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Assessing Donor Suitability and 
Blood and Blood Product Safety in Cases of Known or Suspected West 
Nile Virus Infection,'' June 2005, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm080286.pdf.
36. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Revised Recommendations for the 
Assessment of Donor Suitability and Blood Product Safety in Cases of 
Suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Exposure to 
SARS,'' September 2003, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm080301.pdf.
37. FDA, Draft ``Guidance for Industry: Precautionary Measures to 
Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Zoonoses by Blood and 
Blood Products from Xenotransplantation Product Recipients and Their 
Intimate Contacts,'' February 2002, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm080375.pdf.
38. FDA Memorandum: ``Deferral of Blood and Plasma Donors Based on 
Medications,'' July 28, 1993, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/OtherRecommendationsforManufacturers/MemorandumtoBloodEstablishments/UCM062813.pdf.
39. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for Assessment of 
Donor Suitability and Blood and Blood Product Safety in Cases of 
Possible Exposure to Anthrax,'' October 2001, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm062638.pdf.
40. HHS, NIH ``The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on 
Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood 
Pressure,'' August 2004.
41. Trouern-Trend, J. J., R. G. Cable, S. J. Badon, et al., ``A 
Case-Controlled Multicenter Study of Vasovagal Reactions in Blood 
Donors: Influence of Sex, Age, Donation Status, Weight, Blood 
Pressure, and Pulse,'' Transfusion, March 1999; 39:316-320.
42. Wiltbank, T. B., G. F. Giordano, H. Kamel, et al., ``Faint and 
Prefaint Reactions in Whole-Blood Donors: An Analysis of Predonation 
Measurements and Their Predictive Value,'' Transfusion, September 
2008; 48:1799-1808.
43. Blood Product Advisory Committee, 92nd meeting, September 10, 
2008, http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/08/agenda/2008-4379A(draft).pdf.
44. Blood Product Advisory Committee, 98th meeting, July 27, 2010, 
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/BloodVaccinesandOtherBiologics/BloodProductsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM218990.pdf.
45. HHS, U.S. Public Health Service, Advisory Committee on Blood 
Safety and Availability, 35th meeting, December 17, 2008, http://www.hhs.gov/ash/bloodsafety/advisorycommittee/minutes/dec2008_minutes.pdf.
46. FDA, ``Public Workshop: Hemoglobin Standards and Maintaining 
Adequate Iron Stores in Blood Donors,'' November 8-9, 2011, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/NewsEvents/WorkshopsMeetingsConferences/ucm268757.htm.
47. Weber, J. P., P. C. Walsh, C. A. Peters, et al., ``Effect of 
Reversible Androgen Deprivation on Hemoglobin and Serum 
Immunoreactive Erythropoietin in Men,'' American Journal of 
Hematology, March 1991; 36:190-194.
48. Ryan, D. H., Chapter 2. Examination of Blood Cells. In: Prachal, 
J. T., K. Kaushansky, M. A. Lichtman, T. J. Kipps, and U. Seligsohn, 
eds. Williams Hematology. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2010.
49. Cable, R. G., W. R. Steele, R. S. Melmed, et al., ``The 
Difference Between Fingerstick and Venous Hemoglobin and Hematocrit 
Varies by Sex and Iron Stores,'' NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor 
Study-II (REDS-II). Transfusion, May 2012; 52:1031-1040.
50. Cable, R. G., S. A. Glynn, J. E. Kiss, et al., ``Iron Deficiency 
in Blood Donors: the REDS-II Donor Iron Status Evaluation (RISE) 
Study,'' NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study-II (REDS-II). 
Transfusion, April 2012; 52:702-711.
51. LeBlond, R. F., D. D. Brown, and R. L. DeGowin, Chapter 4, 
``Vital Signs, Anthropometric Data, and Pain,'' DeGowin's Diagnostic 
Examination, 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009.

[[Page 29894]]

52. Blood Products Advisory Committee, 100th meeting, April 28-29, 
2011,  http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/BloodVaccinesandOtherBiologics/BloodProductsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM251509.pdf.
53. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for Collecting Red 
Blood Cells by Automated Apheresis Methods,'' January 2001. 
Technical Correction February 2001, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm076756.htm.
54. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Variances for Blood Collection 
From Individuals with Hereditary Hemochromatosis,'' August 2001, 
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm080393.pdf.
55. Tan, L., M. K. Khan, and J. C. Hawk III, ``Use of Blood 
Therapeutically Drawn From Hemochromatosis Patients,'' Transfusion, 
September 1999; 39:1018-1026.
56. HHS Memorandum: Summary of the Advisory Committee Meeting on 
Blood Safety and Availability Meeting, April 29-30, 1999, http://www.hhs.gov/ash/bloodsafety/summaries/sumapr99.html.
57. Jeffrey, G. and P. C. Adams, ``Blood from Patients with 
Hereditary Hemochromatosis-a Wasted Resource?'' Transfusion, June 
1999; 39:549-550.
58. Shaz, B. H., D. A. Kessler, C. A. Hillyer, et al., ``Evaluating 
the Role of Blood Collection Centers in Public Health: A Status 
Report,'' Transfusion Medicine Reviews, January 2012; 26:58-67.
59. Kessler, D. A., R. Davey, J. Wilson, et al., ``A Financial 
Analysis of Collecting Blood from Hereditary Hemochromatosis 
Patients under Variance,'' Transfusion, 2003; 43: Abstract 
Supplement, 167A:AP112.
60. McPherson, R. A., ``Specific Proteins'' Henry's Clinical 
Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 2007; (21): 31-242, 
and 1409.
61. Laubach, J., P. Richardson, and K. Anderson, ``Multiple 
Myeloma,'' Annual Reviews of Medicine, February 2011; 62:249-264.
62. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry: Informed Consent Recommendations 
for Source Plasma Donors Participating in Plasmapheresis and 
Immunization Programs,'' June 2007, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm062905.pdf.
63. FDA Memorandum: ``Donor Deferral Due to Red Blood Cell Loss 
During Collection of Source Plasma by Automated Plasmapheresis,'' 
December 4, 1995, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/OtherRecommendationsforManufacturers/MemorandumtoBloodEstablishments/UCM062626.pdf.
64. FDA, ``Guidance for Industry and FDA Review Staff: Collection of 
Platelets by Automated Methods,'' December 2007, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm073382.htm.
65. Laub, R., S. Baurin, D. Timmerman, et al., ``Specific Protein 
Content of Pools of Plasma for Fractionation from Different Sources: 
Impact of Frequency of Donations,'' Vox Sanguinis: The International 
Journal of Transfusion Medicine, October 2010; 99:220-231.
66. Lewis, S. L., S. G. Kutvirt, P. N. Bonner, et al., ``Plasma 
Proteins and Lymphocyte Phenotypes in Long-Term Plasma Donors,'' 
Transfusion, July 1994; 34:578-585.
67. FDA Memorandum: ``Revised Recommendations for Testing Whole 
Blood, Blood Components, Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes for 
Antibody to Hepatitis C Virus Encoded Antigen (Anti-HCV),'' August 
5, 1993, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/biologicsbloodvaccines/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/otherrecommendationsformanufacturers/memorandumtobloodestablishments/ucm062811.pdf.
68. Katz, L., K. Palmer, E. McDonnell, et al., ``Frequent 
Plateletpheresis Does Not Clinically Significantly Decrease Platelet 
Counts in Donors,'' Transfusion, September 2007; 47:1601-1606.
69. Lazarus, E. F., J. Browning, J. Norman, et al., ``Sustained 
Decreases in Platelet Count Associated with Multiple, Regular 
Plateletpheresis Donations,'' Transfusion, June 2001; 41:756-761.
70. Page, E. A., J. F. Harrison, E. J. Jadlow, et al., ``Impairment 
of Short-Term Memory Associated with Low Iron Stores in a Volunteer 
Multidose Plateletpheresis Donor,'' Transfusion Medicine, October 
2008; 18:312-314.
71. Page, E. A., J. E. Coppock, and J. F. Harrsion, ``Study of Iron 
Stores in Regular Plateletphereis Donors,'' Transfusion Medicine, 
February 2010; 20:22-29.
72. Macher, S., S. Sipurzynski-Budra[beta], K. Rosskopf, et al., 
``Influence of Multicomponent Apheresis on Donors' Haematological 
and Coagulation Parameters, Iron Storage and Platelet Function,'' 
Vox Sanguinis: The International Journal of Transfusion Medicine, 
October 2012; 103:194-200.
73. U.S. General Accounting Office, Report to Chairman, Subcommittee 
on Human Resources, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, 
House of Representatives, ``Blood Plasma Safety: Plasma Product 
Risks Are Low if Good Manufacturing Practices Are Followed,'' 
September 9, 1998, http://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/he98205.pdf.
74. Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, Quality Standards of 
Excellence, Assurance and Leadership (QSEAL), Certification Program.
75. FDA Proposed Rule: Safety Reporting Requirements for Human Drug 
and Biologicals (68 FR 12406, March 14, 2003), http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/03-5204.pdf.
76. FDA, Exceptions and Alternative Procedures Approved Under 21 CFR 
640.120, http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/RegulationoftheBloodSupply/ExceptionsandAlternativeProcedures/default.htm.
77. Final Regulatory Impact Analysis, Final Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis, and Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Analysis for Requirements 
for Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion or for 
Further Manufacturing Use, http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ReportsManualsForms/Reports/EconomicAnalyses/default.htm.

List of Subjects

21 CFR Part 606

    Blood, Labeling, Laboratories, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

21 CFR Parts 610 and 660

    Biologics, Labeling, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

21 CFR Part 630

    Blood, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

21 CFR Part 640

    Blood, Labeling, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

21 CFR Part 820

    Medical devices, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the 
Public Health Service Act, and under authority delegated to the 
Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR Chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 606--CURRENT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE FOR BLOOD AND BLOOD 
COMPONENTS

0
1. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 606 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 351, 352, 355, 360, 360j, 371, 
374; 42 U.S.C. 216, 262, 263a, 264.

0
2. In Sec.  606.3, revise paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  606.3  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (a) Blood means a product that is a fluid containing dissolved and 
suspended elements which was collected from the vascular system of a 
human.
* * * * *
    (c) Blood component means a product containing a part of human 
blood

[[Page 29895]]

separated by physical or mechanical means.
* * * * *


Sec.  606.40  [Amended]

0
3. In Sec.  606.40(a)(1), remove ``suitability'' and add in its place 
``eligibility''.
0
4. Amend Sec.  606.100 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (b) introductory text;
0
b. In paragraph (b)(1), remove ``suitability'' and add in its place 
``eligibility'';
0
c. Revise paragraph (b)(20); and
0
d. Add paragraphs (b)(21) and (b)(22).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  606.100  Standard operating procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) Establishments must establish, maintain, and follow written 
standard operating procedures for all steps in the collection, 
processing, compatibility testing, storage, and distribution of blood 
and blood components for allogeneic transfusion, autologous 
transfusion, and further manufacturing purposes; for all steps in the 
investigation of product deviations related to Sec.  606.171; and for 
all steps in recordkeeping related to current good manufacturing 
practice and other applicable requirements and standards. Such 
procedures must be available to the personnel for use in the areas 
where the procedures are performed. The written standard operating 
procedures must include, but are not limited to, descriptions of the 
following, when applicable:
* * * * *
    (20) Procedures for donor deferral as prescribed in Sec.  610.41 of 
this chapter.
    (21) Procedures for donor notification and notification of the 
referring physician of an autologous donor, including procedures for 
the appropriate followup if the initial attempt at notification fails, 
as prescribed in Sec.  630.40 of this chapter.
    (22) Procedures to control the risks of bacterial contamination of 
platelets, including all steps required under Sec.  606.145.
* * * * *


Sec.  606.110  [Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec.  606.110 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), remove ``qualified licensed physician'' and add in 
its place ``responsible physician'' and remove ``certified in writing'' 
and add in its place ``determined and documented''; and
0
b. In paragraph (b), remove ``640.63'' and add in its place ``630.10, 
630.15''.


Sec.  606.121  [Amended]

0
6. Amend Sec.  606.121 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (c)(11) remove ``communicable disease agents'' and add 
in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections''; and 
remove ``Sec. Sec.  610.40(i) and 640.65(b)'' and add in its place 
``Sec.  640.65(b)'';
0
b. In paragraph (c)(12) remove ``communicable disease agent(s)'' and 
add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s)'';
0
c. In paragraphs (h)(2) and (3), remove ``640.5(a), (b),'' and add in 
its place ``640.5(b)''; and
0
d. In paragraph (i)(5), remove ``suitability'' and add in its place 
``eligibility''; remove ``Sec.  640.3'' and add it its place ``Sec.  
630.10''; and remove ``communicable disease agents'' and add in its 
place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections''.


Sec.  606.122  [Amended]

0
7. In Sec.  606.122(e), remove ``communicable disease agents'' and add 
in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections''.
0
8. Add Sec.  606.145 to subpart H to read as follows:


Sec.  606.145  Control of bacterial contamination of platelets.

    (a) Blood collection establishments and transfusion services must 
assure that the risk of bacterial contamination of platelets is 
adequately controlled using FDA approved or cleared devices or other 
adequate and appropriate methods found acceptable for this purpose by 
FDA.
    (b) In the event that a blood collection establishment identifies 
platelets as bacterially contaminated, that establishment must not 
release for transfusion the product or any other component prepared 
from the same collection, and must take appropriate steps to identify 
the organism.
    (c) In the event that a transfusion service identifies platelets as 
bacterially contaminated, the transfusion service must not release the 
product and must notify the blood collection establishment that 
provided the platelets. The transfusion service must take appropriate 
steps to identify the organism; these steps may include contracting 
with the collection establishment or a laboratory to identify the 
organism. The transfusion service must further notify the blood 
collection establishment either by providing information about the 
species of the contaminating organism when the transfusion service has 
been able to identify it, or by advising the blood collection 
establishment when the transfusion service has determined that the 
species cannot be identified.
    (d) In the event that a contaminating organism is identified under 
paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, the collection establishment's 
responsible physician, as defined in Sec.  630.3(i) of this chapter, 
must determine whether the contaminating organism is likely to be 
associated with a bacterial infection that is endogenous to the 
bloodstream of the donor, in accordance with a standard operating 
procedure developed under Sec.  606.100(b)(22). This determination may 
not be further delegated.

0
9. In Sec.  606.160, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(ix) through (xi), and (e) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  606.160  Records.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ix) The donor's postal address provided at the time of donation 
where the donor may be contacted within 8 weeks after donation.
    (x) Records of notification of donors deferred or determined not to 
be eligible for donation, including appropriate followup if the initial 
attempt at notification fails, performed under Sec.  630.40 of this 
chapter.
    (xi) Records of notification of the referring physician of a 
deferred autologous donor, including appropriate followup if the 
initial attempt at notification fails, performed under Sec.  630.40 of 
this chapter.
* * * * *
    (e) Records of deferred donors. (1) Establishments must maintain at 
each location a record of all donors found to be ineligible or deferred 
at that location so that blood and blood components from an ineligible 
donor are not collected and/or released while the donor is ineligible 
or deferred; and
    (2) Establishments must maintain at all locations operating under 
the same license or under common management a cumulative record of 
donors deferred from donation under Sec.  610.41 of this chapter 
because their donation tested reactive under Sec.  610.40(a)(1) of this 
chapter for evidence of infection due to HIV, HBV, or HCV. In addition, 
establishments other than Source Plasma establishments must include in 
this cumulative record donors deferred from donation under Sec.  610.41 
of this chapter because their donation tested reactive under Sec.  
610.40(a)(2) of this chapter for evidence of infection due to HTLV or 
Chagas disease.
    (3) The cumulative record described in paragraph (e)(2) of this 
section must be updated at least monthly to add

[[Page 29896]]

donors newly deferred under Sec.  610.41 of this chapter due to 
reactive tests for evidence of infection due to HIV, HBV, or HCV, and, 
if applicable, HTLV or Chagas disease.
    (4) Establishments must revise the cumulative record described in 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section to remove donors who have been 
requalified under Sec.  610.41(b) of this chapter.

PART 610--GENERAL BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS STANDARDS

0
10. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 610 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 351, 352, 353, 355, 360, 360c, 
360d, 360h, 360i, 371, 372, 374, 381; 42 U.S.C. 216, 262, 263, 263a, 
264.

0
11. Revise the heading for subpart E to read as follows:

Subpart E--Testing Requirements for Relevant Transfusion-
Transmitted Infections

0
12. Add Sec.  610.39 to subpart E to read as follows:


Sec.  610.39  Definitions.

    The definitions set out in Sec.  630.3 of this chapter apply to 
this subpart.

0
13. Amend Sec.  610.40 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a);
0
b. Revise paragraph (b);
0
c. Revise paragraph (c) heading;
0
d. Remove paragraph (c)(2) and redesignate paragraphs (c)(3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (c)(2) and (3);
0
e. In redesignated paragraph (c)(2)(i), remove ``communicable disease 
agents listed in paragraphs (a)(5) and (a)(6) of this section'' and add 
in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections listed in 
Sec.  630.3(h)(iv) of this chapter'';
0
f. In paragraph (d), remove ``communicable disease agents'' and add in 
its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections''; and remove 
``or by a serological test for syphilis under paragraph (i) of this 
section'';
0
g. Revise paragraph (e);
0
h. In paragraph (f), remove ``Health Care Financing Administration'' 
and add in its place ``Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services'';
0
i. In paragraph (g) introductory text, remove ``communicable disease 
agents'' in both places it appears and add in each place ``relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections''; and remove ``paragraphs (a) and 
(i)'' and add in its place ``paragraph (a)'';
0
j. In paragraph (h)(1), remove ``a communicable disease agent(s) 
designated in paragraphs (a) and (i)'' in both places it appears and 
add in each place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s) 
designated in paragraph (a)'';
0
k. In paragraphs (h)(2)(ii) introductory text, (h)(2)(ii)(C), and 
(h)(2)(iv) introductory text, remove ``communicable disease agent(s)'' 
wherever it appears and add in its place ``relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection(s)'';
0
l. In paragraph (h)(2)(iv)(A), remove ``suitable'' and add in its place 
``eligible'';
0
m. In paragraph (h)(2)(vi), remove ``paragraph (i)'' and add in its 
place ``paragraph (a)''; and remove ``consistent with Sec.  640.5 of 
this chapter,'';
0
n. In paragraph (h)(2)(vii), remove ``Sec.  610.40(i)'' and add in its 
place ``Sec.  640.65(a)(2)(ii) and (b)(1)(i)''; and remove ``Sec.  
640.65(b)(2)'' and add in its place ``Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) through 
(b)(2)(iv)''; and
0
o. Remove paragraph (i).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  610.40  Test requirements.

    (a) Human blood and blood components. Except as specified in 
paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, you, an establishment that 
collects blood and blood components for transfusion or for use in 
manufacturing a product, including donations intended as a component 
of, or used to manufacture, a medical device, must comply with the 
following requirements:
    (1) Test each donation for evidence of infection due to the 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections described in Sec.  
630.3(h)(1)(i) through (iii) of this chapter (HIV, HBV, and HCV).
    (2) Test each donation for evidence of infection due to the 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections described in Sec.  
630.3(h)(1)(iv) through (vii) of this chapter (HTLV, syphilis, West 
Nile virus, and Chagas disease). The following exceptions apply:
    (i) To identify evidence of infection with syphilis in donors of 
Source Plasma, you must test donors for evidence of such infection in 
accordance with Sec.  640.65(b) of this chapter, and not under this 
section.
    (ii) You are not required to test donations of Source Plasma for 
evidence of infection due to the relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infections described in Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(iv), (vi), and (vii) of this 
chapter (HTLV, West Nile virus, and Chagas disease).
    (iii) For each of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infections 
described in Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(iv) through (vii) of this chapter (HTLV, 
syphilis, West Nile virus, and Chagas disease):
    (A) If, based on evidence related to the risk of transmission of 
that relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, testing each donation 
is not necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of such infection by blood or a blood component, you may 
adopt an adequate and appropriate alternative testing procedure that 
has been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.
    (B) If, based on evidence related to the risk of transmission of 
that relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, testing previously 
required for that infection is no longer necessary to reduce adequately 
and appropriately the risk of transmission of such infection by blood 
or a blood component, you may stop such testing in accordance with 
procedures found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.
    (3) For each of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infections 
described in Sec.  630.3(h)(1)(viii) through (x) of this chapter (CJD, 
vCJD, malaria) and Sec.  630.3(h)(2) of this chapter (other 
transfusion-transmitted infections):
    (i) You must test for evidence of infection when the following 
conditions are met:
    (A) A test(s) for the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection is 
licensed, approved or cleared by FDA for use as a donor screening test 
and is available for such use; and
    (B) Testing for the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection is 
necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection by 
blood, or blood component, or blood derivative product manufactured 
from the collected blood or blood component.
    (ii) You must perform this testing on each donation, unless one of 
the following exceptions applies:
    (A) Testing of each donation is not necessary to reduce adequately 
and appropriately the risk of transmission of such infection by blood, 
blood component, or blood derivative product manufactured from the 
collected blood or blood component. When evidence related to the risk 
of transmission of such infection supports this determination, you may 
adopt an adequate and appropriate alternative testing procedure that 
has been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.
    (B) Testing of each donation is not necessary to reduce adequately 
and appropriately the risk of transmission of such infection by blood, 
blood component, or blood derivative product manufactured from the 
collected blood or blood component. When evidence related to the risk 
of transmission of

[[Page 29897]]

such infection supports this determination, you may stop such testing 
in accordance with procedures found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.
    (4) Evidence related to the risk of transmission of a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection that would support a determination 
that testing is not necessary, or that testing of each donation is not 
necessary, to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of such infection by blood or blood component, as 
described in paragraphs (a)(2)(iii)(A) and (B) of this section, or by 
blood, blood component, or blood derivative, as described in paragraphs 
(a)(3)(ii)(A) and (B) of this section, includes epidemiological or 
other scientific evidence. It may include evidence related to the 
seasonality or geographic limitation of risk of transmission of such 
infection by blood or blood component, or other information related to 
when and how a donation is at risk of transmitting a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection. It may also include evidence related 
to the effectiveness of manufacturing steps (for example, the use of 
pathogen reduction technology) that reduce the risk of transmission of 
the relevant transfusion-transmitted infection by blood, blood 
components, or blood derivatives, as applicable.
    (b) Testing using one or more licensed, approved, or cleared 
screening tests. To perform testing for evidence of infection due to 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections as required in paragraph 
(a) of this section, you must use screening tests that FDA has 
licensed, approved, or cleared for such use, in accordance with the 
manufacturer's instructions. You must perform one or more such tests as 
necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of 
transmission of relevant transfusion-transmitted infections.
    (c) Exceptions to testing for dedicated donations, medical devices, 
and samples. * * *
* * * * *
    (e) Further testing. You must further test each donation, including 
autologous donations, found to be reactive by a donor screening test 
performed under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section using a 
licensed, approved, or cleared supplemental test, when available. If no 
such supplemental test is available, you must perform one or more 
licensed, approved, or cleared tests as adequate and appropriate to 
provide additional information concerning the reactive donor's 
infection status. Except:
    (1) For autologous donations:
    (i) You must further test under this section, at a minimum, the 
first reactive donation in each 30 calendar day period; or
    (ii) If you have a record for that donor of a positive result on 
further testing performed under this section, you do not have to 
further test an autologous donation.
    (2) You are not required to perform further testing of a donation 
found to be reactive by a treponemal donor screening test for syphilis.
* * * * *

0
14. Amend Sec.  610.41 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a) introductory text, remove ``communicable disease 
agent(s) listed in Sec.  610.40(a) or reactive for a serological test 
for syphilis under Sec.  610.40(i)'' and add in its place ``relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection(s) under Sec.  610.40(a)'';
0
b. Revise paragraph (a)(1);
0
c. In paragraph (a)(2), remove ``communicable disease agent(s) listed 
in'' and add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection(s) under'';
0
d. In paragraphs (a)(3) and (4), remove ``suitable'' and add in its 
place ``eligible'';
0
e. In paragraph (a)(5), remove ``communicable disease agent(s) 
described under Sec.  610.40(a) or reactive with a serological test for 
syphilis under Sec.  610.40(i)'' and add in its place ``relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections(s) under Sec.  610.40(a)''; and
0
f. In paragraph (b), remove ``suitable'' and add in its place 
``eligible''.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  610.41  Donor deferral.

    (a) * * *
    (1) You are not required to defer a donor who tests reactive for 
anti-HBc or anti-HTLV, types I and II, on only one occasion. However, 
you must defer the donor if further testing for HBV or HTLV has been 
performed under Sec.  610.40(e) and the donor is found to be positive, 
or if a second, licensed, cleared, or approved screening test for HBV 
or HTLV has been performed on the same donation under Sec.  610.40(a) 
and is reactive, or if the donor tests reactive for anti-HBc or anti-
HTLV, types I and II, on more than one occasion;
* * * * *


Sec.  610.42  [Amended]

0
15. In Sec.  610.42(a), remove ``or reactive for syphilis under Sec.  
610.40(i)''; and remove ``communicable disease agent(s)'' and add in 
its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s)''.


Sec.  610.44  [Amended]

0
16. In paragraph (a)(1) remove ``communicable disease agents listed 
in'' and add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections 
under''; and in paragraph (a)(2) remove ``communicable disease agent'' 
and add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection''.


Sec.  610.46  [Amended]

0
17. Amend Sec.  610.46 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a)(2), remove ``a supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test'' and add in its place ``further testing'';
0
b. In paragraph (a)(3), remove ``supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test results'' and add in its place ``results of further 
testing''; and remove ``there is no available supplemental test that is 
approved for such use by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing 
under paragraph (a)(2) of this section is not available'';
0
c. In paragraph (a)(4), remove ``supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test'' and add in its place ``further testing''; and remove 
``there is no available supplemental test that is approved for such use 
by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing is not available''; and
0
d. In paragraph (b)(2), remove ``supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test'' and add in its place ``further testing''; and remove 
``there is no available supplemental test that is approved for such use 
by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing is not available''; and
0
e. In paragraph (b)(3), remove in the first sentence ``the supplemental 
(additional, more specific) test'' and add in its place ``further 
testing''; remove in the first sentence ``there is no available 
supplemental test that is approved for such use by FDA,'' and add in 
its place ``further testing is not available''; remove in the last 
sentence ``supplemental (additional, more specific) test results'' and 
add in its place ``results of further testing''; and remove in the last 
sentence ``there is no available supplemental test that is approved for 
such use by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing is not 
available''.


Sec.  610.47  [Amended]

0
18. Amend 610.47 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a)(2), remove ``a supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test'' and add in its place ``further testing'';
0
b. In paragraph (a)(3), remove in the first sentence ``supplemental 
(additional, more specific) test results''

[[Page 29898]]

and add in its place ``results of further testing''; and remove in the 
first sentence ``there is no available supplemental test that is 
approved for such use by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing 
is not available'';
0
c. In paragraph (a)(4), remove ``supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test'' and add in its place ``further testing''; and remove 
``there is no available supplemental test that is approved for such use 
by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing is not available''; and
0
d. In paragraph (b)(2), remove ``supplemental (additional, more 
specific) test'' and add in its place ``further testing''; and remove 
``there is no available supplemental test that is approved for such use 
by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing is not available''; and
0
e. In paragraph (b)(3), remove in the first sentence ``supplemental 
(additional, more specific) test'' and add in its place ``further 
testing''; remove in the first sentence ``there is no available 
supplemental test that is approved for such use by FDA'' and add in its 
place ``further testing is not available''; remove in the last sentence 
``supplemental (additional, more specific) test results'' and add in 
its place ``results of further testing''; and remove in the last 
sentence ``there is no available supplemental test that is approved for 
such use by FDA'' and add in its place ``further testing is not 
available''.

PART 630--REQUIREMENTS FOR BLOOD AND BLOOD COMPONENTS INTENDED FOR 
TRANSFUSION OR FOR FURTHER MANUFACTURING USE

0
19. The authority citation for part 630 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 351, 352, 355, 360, 371; 42 
U.S.C. 216, 262, 264.


0
20. Revise the heading for part 630 to read as set forth above.
0
21. Add subpart C with the heading to read as follows:

Subpart C--Donor Notification

0
22. Redesignate Sec.  630.6 as Sec.  630.40, and further redesignate 
newly designated Sec.  630.40 to subpart C.
0
23. Amend newly designated Sec.  630.40 as follows:
0
a. Revise the section heading;
0
b. In paragraph (a), revise the first sentence; and remove the word 
``supplemental'' from the second and third sentences and add in its 
place ``further'';
0
c. In paragraphs (b) introductory text and (b)(1), remove ``suitable'' 
and add in its place ``eligible'';
0
d. In paragraph (b)(3), remove ``communicable disease agent(s)'' and 
add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s)''; and 
remove ``supplemental (i.e., additional, more specific) tests'' and add 
in its place ``further testing'';
0
e. In paragraph (c), remove ``suitable'' and add in its place 
``eligible'';
0
f. In paragraph (d)(1) introductory text, remove ``communicable disease 
agent(s)'' and add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection(s) or whose platelets indicate evidence of a bacterial 
infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor'';
0
g. In paragraph (d)(1)(i), remove ``communicable disease agent(s)'' and 
add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s)''; and
0
h. In paragraph (d)(1)(iii), remove ``communicable disease agent(s)'' 
and add in its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infection(s)''; 
and remove ``supplemental (i.e., additional, more specific) tests'' and 
add in its place ``further testing'';
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  630.40  Requirements for notifying deferred donors.

    (a) Notification of donors. You, an establishment that collects 
blood or blood components, must make reasonable attempts to notify any 
donor, including an autologous donor, who has been deferred based on 
the results of tests for evidence of infection with a relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infection(s) as required by Sec.  610.41(a) of 
this chapter; any donor who has been deferred as required under Sec.  
630.30(b)(3) because their donated platelets have been determined under 
Sec.  606.145(d) of this chapter to be contaminated with an organism 
that is identified as likely to be associated with a bacterial 
infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor; and any 
donor who has been determined not to be eligible as a donor based on 
eligibility criteria under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15. * * *
* * * * *

0
24. Add subparts A and B to part 630 to read as follows:
Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
630.1 Purpose and scope.
630.3 Definitions.
Subpart B--Donor Eligibility Requirements
Sec.
630.5 Medical supervision.
630.10 General donor eligibility requirements.
630.15 Donor eligibility requirements specific to Whole Blood, Red 
Blood Cells and Plasma collected by apheresis.
630.20 Exceptions for certain ineligible donors.
630.25 Exceptions from certain donor eligibility requirements for 
infrequent plasma donors.
630.30 Donation suitability requirements.
630.35 Requalification of previously deferred donors.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  630.1  Purpose and scope.

    (a) What is the purpose of subparts A, B, and C of this part? The 
purpose of these subparts, together with Sec. Sec.  610.40 and 610.41 
of this chapter, is to provide certain minimum criteria for each 
donation of blood and blood components, for:
    (1) Determining the eligibility of a donor of blood and blood 
components;
    (2) Determining the suitability of the donation of blood and blood 
components; and
    (3) Notifying a donor who is deferred from donation.
    (b) Who must comply with subparts A, B, and C of this part? Blood 
establishments that manufacture blood and blood components, as defined 
in Sec.  630.3(a) and (b), must comply with subparts A, B, and C of 
this part.


Sec.  630.3  Definitions.

    As used in this part and in part 610, subpart E, and part 640 of 
this chapter:
    (a) Blood means a product that is a fluid containing dissolved and 
suspended elements which was collected from the vascular system of a 
human.
    (b) Blood component means a product containing a part of blood 
separated by physical or mechanical means.
    (c) Donor means a person who: (1) Donates blood or blood components 
for transfusion or for further manufacturing use; or
    (2) Presents as a potential candidate for such donation.
    (d) Eligibility of a donor means the determination that the donor 
is qualified to donate blood and blood components.
    (e) Infrequent plasma donor means a donor who has:
    (1) Not donated plasma by plasmapheresis or a co-collection of 
plasma with another blood component in the preceding 4 weeks; and
    (2) Not donated more than 12.0 liters of plasma (14.4 liters of 
plasma for donors weighing more than 175 pounds) in the past year.
    (f) Intimate contact with risk for a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection means having engaged in an

[[Page 29899]]

activity that could result in the transfer of potentially infectious 
body fluids from one person to another.
    (g) Physician substitute means a trained and qualified person(s) 
who is:
    (1) A graduate of an education program for health care workers that 
includes clinical training;
    (2) Currently licensed or certified as a health care worker in the 
jurisdiction where the collection establishment is located;
    (3) Currently certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and
    (4) Trained and authorized under State law, and/or local law when 
applicable, to perform the specified functions under the direction of 
the responsible physician.
    (h) Relevant transfusion-transmitted infection means:
    (1) Any of the following transfusion-transmitted infections:
    (i) Human immunodeficiency virus, types 1 and 2 (referred to, 
collectively, as HIV);
    (ii) Hepatitis B virus (referred to as HBV);
    (iii) Hepatitis C virus (referred to as HCV);
    (iv) Human T-lymphotropic virus, types I and II (referred to, 
collectively, as HTLV);
    (v) Treponema pallidum (referred to as syphilis);
    (vi) West Nile virus;
    (vii) Trypanosoma cruzi (referred to as Chagas disease);
    (viii) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (referred to as CJD);
    (ix) Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (referred to as vCJD); and
    (x) Plasmodium species (referred to as malaria).
    (2) A transfusion-transmitted infection not listed in paragraph 
(h)(1) of this section when the following conditions are met:
    (i) Appropriate screening measures for the transfusion-transmitted 
infection have been developed and/or an appropriate screening test has 
been licensed, approved, or cleared for such use by FDA and is 
available; and
    (ii) The disease or disease agent:
    (A) May have sufficient incidence and/or prevalence to affect the 
potential donor population; or
    (B) May have been released accidentally or intentionally in a 
manner that could place potential donors at risk of infection.
    (i) Responsible physician means an individual who is:
    (1) Licensed to practice medicine in the jurisdiction where the 
collection establishment is located;
    (2) Adequately trained and qualified to direct and control 
personnel and relevant procedures concerning the determination of donor 
eligibility; collection of blood and blood components; the immunization 
of a donor; and the return of red blood cells or other blood components 
to the donor during collection of blood component(s) by apheresis; and
    (3) Designated by the collection establishment to perform the 
activities described in paragraph (i)(2) of this section.
    (j) Suitability of the donation means a determination of whether 
the donation is acceptable for transfusion or for further manufacturing 
use.
    (k) Trained person means an individual, including a physician 
substitute, who is authorized under State law, and/or local law when 
applicable, and adequately instructed and qualified to perform the 
specified functions under the direction of the responsible physician.
    (l) Transfusion-transmitted infection means a disease or disease 
agent:
    (1) That could be fatal or life-threatening, could result in 
permanent impairment of a body function or permanent damage to a body 
structure, or could necessitate medical or surgical intervention to 
preclude permanent impairment of body function or permanent damage to a 
body structure; and
    (2) For which there may be a risk of transmission by blood or blood 
components, or by a blood derivative product manufactured from blood or 
blood components, because the disease or disease agent is potentially 
transmissible by that blood, blood component, or blood derivative 
product.

Subpart B--Donor Eligibility Requirements


Sec.  630.5  Medical supervision.

    (a) Who must determine the eligibility of a donor? The responsible 
physician must determine the eligibility of a donor of blood or blood 
components in accordance with this subchapter.
    (b) Which activities related to the collection of blood and blood 
components, other than Source Plasma and plasma collected by 
plasmapheresis, may the responsible physician delegate?
    (1) The responsible physician may delegate the following activities 
to a physician substitute or other trained person:
    (i) Determining the eligibility of a donor and documenting 
assessments related to that determination, except the responsible 
physician must not delegate:
    (A) The examination and determination of the donor's health 
required in Sec.  630.10(f)(2) for donors with blood pressure 
measurements outside specified limits, or for certain more frequent 
donations under Sec.  630.15(a)(1)(ii);
    (B) The determination of the health of the donor required in 
Sec. Sec.  630.10(f)(4), 630.20(a), and 640.21(e)(4) of this chapter. 
The responsible physician may make this determination by telephonic or 
other offsite consultation; or
    (C) The determination of the health of the donor and the 
determination that the blood or blood component collected would present 
no undue medical risk to the transfusion recipient, as required in 
Sec.  630.20(c). The responsible physician may make these 
determinations by telephonic or other offsite consultation.
    (ii) Collecting blood or blood components;
    (iii) Returning red blood cells to the donor during apheresis;
    (iv) Obtaining the informed consent of a plateletpheresis donor as 
described in Sec.  640.21(g) of this chapter; or
    (v) Other activities provided that the Director, Center for 
Biologics Evaluation and Research, determines that delegating the 
activities would present no undue medical risk to the donor or to the 
transfusion recipient, and authorizes the delegation of such 
activities.
    (2) The responsible physician need not be present at the collection 
site when activities delegated under paragraph (b)(1) of this section 
are performed, provided that the responsible physician has delegated 
oversight of these activities to a trained person who is adequately 
trained and experienced in the performance of these activities and is 
also adequately trained and experienced in the recognition of and 
response to the known adverse responses associated with blood 
collection procedures.
    (c) Which activities related to the collection of Source Plasma and 
plasma collected by plasmapheresis may the responsible physician 
delegate?
    (1) Donor eligibility and blood component collection activities. 
(i) The responsible physician may delegate to a physician substitute or 
other trained person any of the activities described in paragraph 
(c)(1)(i)(A) of this section, provided that the responsible physician 
or a physician substitute is on the premises at the collection site:
    (A) The activities listed in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii) and 
(b)(1)(v) of this section, with respect to Source Plasma and plasma 
collected by plasmapheresis. However, the responsible physician must 
not delegate:

[[Page 29900]]

    (1) The examination and determination of the donor's health 
required in Sec.  630.10(f)(2) for donors with blood pressure 
measurements outside specified limits, or in Sec.  630.15(b)(7) for 
certain donors who have experienced red blood cell loss;
    (2) The determination of the health of the donor required in 
Sec. Sec.  630.10(f)(4) and 630.20(a) and (b). The responsible 
physician may make this determination by telephonic or other offsite 
consultation;
    (3) The determination of the health of the donor and the 
determination that the blood component would present no undue medical 
risk to the transfusion recipient, as required in Sec.  630.20(c). The 
responsible physician may make this determination by telephonic or 
other offsite consultation.
    (4) The determination related to a donor's false-positive reaction 
to a serologic test for syphilis in accordance with Sec.  
640.65(b)(2)(iii) of this chapter; and
    (5) The determination to permit plasmapheresis of a donor with a 
reactive serological test for syphilis in accordance with Sec.  
640.65(b)(2)(iv) of this chapter.
    (B) The collection of Source Plasma in an approved collection 
program from a donor who is otherwise determined to be ineligible.
    (C) The collection of a blood sample in accordance with Sec.  
640.65(b)(1)(i) of this chapter.
    (ii) The responsible physician, who may or may not be present when 
these activities are performed, may delegate to a physician substitute 
the following activities:
    (A) Approval and signature for a plasmapheresis procedure as 
provided in Sec.  640.65(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter; and
    (B) Review and signature for accumulated laboratory data, the 
calculated values of each component, and the collection records in 
accordance with Sec.  640.65(b)(2)(i) of this chapter. However, the 
responsible physician must not delegate the decision to reinstate the 
deferred donor in accordance with that provision.
    (2) Donor immunization. The responsible physician must not delegate 
activities performed in accordance with Sec.  640.66 of this chapter, 
except that:
    (i) The responsible physician may delegate to a physician 
substitute or other trained person the administration of an 
immunization other than red blood cells to a donor in an approved 
collection program, provided that the responsible physician or a 
physician substitute is on the premises at the collection site when the 
immunization is administered.
    (ii) The responsible physician may delegate to a physician 
substitute the administration of red blood cells to a donor in an 
approved collection program, provided that the responsible physician 
has approved the procedure and is on the premises at the collection 
site when the red blood cells are administered.
    (3) Medical history, physical examination, informed consent, and 
examination before immunization. Provided that such activities are 
performed under the supervision of the responsible physician, the 
responsible physician may delegate to a physician substitute the 
activities described in Sec.  630.15(b)(1), (2), and (5). The 
responsible physician is not required to be present at the collection 
site when the physician substitute performs these activities under 
supervision.
    (4) Infrequent plasma donors. (i) For infrequent plasma donors 
other than those described in paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section, the 
responsible physician may delegate to a trained person the activities 
listed in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii) and (b)(1)(v) of this 
section and the informed consent requirements described in Sec.  
630.15(b)(2). The responsible physician or a physician substitute need 
not be present at the collection site when any of these activities are 
performed, provided that the responsible physician has delegated 
oversight of these activities to a trained person who is not only 
adequately trained and experienced in the performance of these 
activities but also adequately trained and experienced in the 
recognition of and response to the known adverse responses associated 
with blood collection procedures. However, the responsible physician 
must not delegate:
    (A) The examination and determination of the donor's health 
required in Sec.  630.10(f)(2) for donors with blood pressure 
measurements outside specified limits, or in Sec.  630.15(b)(7) for 
certain donors who have experienced red blood cell loss; or
    (B) The determination of the health of the donor required in Sec.  
630.10(f)(4).
    (ii) For infrequent plasma donors who are otherwise ineligible or 
are participating in an approved immunization program, the responsible 
physician may delegate only in accordance with paragraphs (c)(1) 
through (3) of this section.
    (d) Must rapid emergency medical services be available? 
Establishments that collect blood or blood components must establish, 
maintain, and follow standard operating procedures for obtaining rapid 
emergency medical services for donors when medically necessary. In 
addition, establishments must assure that an individual (responsible 
physician, physician substitute, or trained person) who is currently 
certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation is located on the premises 
whenever collections of blood or blood components are performed.


Sec.  630.10  General donor eligibility requirements.

    (a) What factors determine the eligibility of a donor? You, an 
establishment that collects blood or blood components, must not collect 
blood or blood components before determining that the donor is eligible 
to donate or before determining that an exception to this provision 
applies. To be eligible, the donor must be in good health and free from 
transfusion-transmitted infections as can be determined by the 
processes in this subchapter. A donor is not eligible if the donor is 
not in good health or if you identify any factor(s) that may cause the 
donation to adversely affect:
    (1) The health of the donor; or
    (2) The safety, purity, or potency of the blood or blood component.
    (b) What educational material must you provide to the donor before 
determining eligibility? You must provide educational material 
concerning relevant transfusion-transmitted infections to donors before 
donation when donor education about that relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection, such as HIV, is necessary to assure the safety, 
purity, and potency of blood and blood components. The educational 
material must include an explanation of the readily identifiable risk 
factors closely associated with exposure to the relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection. You must present educational material in an 
appropriate form, such as oral, written or multimedia, and in a manner 
designed to be understood by the donor. The educational material must 
instruct the donor not to donate blood and blood components when a risk 
factor is present. When providing educational material to donors under 
this section, you may include in those materials the information 
required to be provided to donors under paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(E) of this 
section.
    (c) When must you determine the eligibility of a donor? You must 
determine donor eligibility on the day of donation, and before 
collection. Except:
    (1) When a donor is donating blood components that cannot be stored 
for more than 24 hours, you may determine the donor's eligibility and 
collect a sample for testing required under Sec.  610.40 of this 
chapter, no earlier than

[[Page 29901]]

2 calendar days before the day of donation, provided that your standard 
operating procedures address these activities.
    (2) In the event that, upon review, you find that a donor's 
responses to the donor questions before collection were incomplete, 
within 24 hours of the time of collection, you may clarify a donor's 
response or obtain omitted information required under paragraph (e) of 
this section, provided that your standard operating procedures address 
these activities.
    (d) How must you determine the eligibility of a donor? You must 
determine the donor's eligibility before collection of blood or blood 
components, by the following procedures:
    (1) You must consult the records of deferred donors maintained 
under Sec.  606.160(e)(1) and (2) of this chapter. Exception: If pre-
collection review of the record described in Sec.  606.160(e)(2) of 
this chapter is not feasible because you cannot consult the cumulative 
record at the collection site, you must consult the cumulative record 
prior to release of any blood or blood component prepared from the 
collection.
    (2) Assure that the interval since the donor's last donation is 
appropriate;
    (3) Assess the donor's medical history; and
    (4) Perform a physical assessment of the donor.
    (e) How do you assess the donor's medical history? Before 
collection you must conduct a medical history interview as described in 
this section to determine if the donor is in good health; to identify 
risk factors closely associated with exposure to, or clinical evidence 
of a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection; and to determine if 
there are other conditions that may adversely affect the health of the 
donor or the safety, purity, or potency of the blood or blood 
components or any product manufactured from the blood or blood 
components. Your assessment must include each of the following factors:
    (1) Factors that make the donor ineligible to donate because of an 
increased risk for, or evidence of, a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection. A donor is ineligible to donate when information provided by 
the donor or other reliable evidence indicates possible exposure to a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection if that risk of exposure is 
still applicable at the time of donation. Information and evidence 
indicating possible exposure to a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection include:
    (i) Behaviors associated with a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection;
    (ii) Receipt of blood or blood components or other medical 
treatments and procedures associated with possible exposure to a 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infection;
    (iii) Signs and/or symptoms of a relevant transfusion-transmitted 
infection;
    (iv) Institutionalization for 72 hours or more consecutively in the 
past 12 months in a correctional institution;
    (v) Intimate contact with risk for a relevant transfusion-
transmitted infection; and
    (vi) Nonsterile percutaneous inoculation.
    (2) Other factors that make the donor ineligible to donate. A donor 
is ineligible to donate when donating could adversely affect the health 
of the donor, or when the safety, purity, or potency of the blood or 
blood component could be affected adversely. Your assessment of the 
donor must include each of the following factors:
    (i) Symptoms of a recent or current illness;
    (ii) Certain medical treatments or medications;
    (iii) Travel to, or residence in, an area endemic for a 
transfusion-transmitted infection, when such screening is necessary to 
assure the safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood components 
due to the risks presented by donor travel and the risk of transmission 
of that transfusion-transmitted infection by such donors;
    (iv) Exposure or possible exposure to an accidentally or 
intentionally released disease or disease agent relating to a 
transfusion-transmitted infection, if you know or suspect that such a 
release has occurred;
    (v) Pregnancy at the time of, or within 6 weeks prior to, donation;
    (vi) Whether, in the opinion of the interviewer, the donor appears 
to be under the influence of any drug, alcohol or for any reason does 
not appear to be providing reliable answers to medical history 
questions, or if the donor says that the purpose of donating is to 
obtain test results for a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection; 
and
    (vii) The donor is a xenotransplantation product recipient.
    (f) How do you perform a physical assessment of the donor? You must 
determine on the day of donation, and before collection that the donor 
is in good health based on the following, at a minimum:
    (1) Temperature. The donor's oral body temperature must not exceed 
37.5 [deg]C (99.5[emsp14][deg]F), or the equivalent if measured at 
another body site;
    (2) Blood pressure. The donor's systolic blood pressure must not 
measure above 180 mm of mercury, or below 90 mm of mercury, and the 
diastolic blood pressure must not measure above 100 mm of mercury or 
below 50 mms of mercury. A donor with measurements outside these limits 
may be permitted to donate only when the responsible physician examines 
the donor and determines and documents that the health of the donor 
would not be adversely affected by donating.
    (3) Hemoglobin or hematocrit determination. You must determine the 
donor's hemoglobin level or hematocrit value by using a sample of blood 
obtained by fingerstick, venipuncture, or by a method that provides 
equivalent results. Blood obtained from the earlobe is not acceptable.
    (i) Allogeneic donors must have a hemoglobin level or hematocrit 
value that is adequate to assure donor safety and product potency. The 
following minimum standards apply.
    (A) Female allogeneic donors must have a hemoglobin level that is 
equal to or greater than 12.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of 
blood, or a hematocrit value that is equal to or greater than 38 
percent. Recognizing that lower levels are also within normal limits 
for female donors, you may collect blood from female allogeneic donors 
who have a hemoglobin level between 12.0 and 12.5 grams per deciliter 
of blood, or a hematocrit value between 36 and 38 percent, provided 
that you have taken additional steps to assure that this alternative 
standard is adequate to ensure that the health of the donor will not be 
adversely affected due to the donation, in accordance with a procedure 
that has been found acceptable for this purpose by FDA.
    (B) Male allogeneic donors must have a hemoglobin level that is 
equal to or greater than 13.0 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of 
blood, or a hematocrit value that is equal to or greater than 39 
percent.
    (ii) An autologous donor must have a hemoglobin level no less than 
11.0 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood, or a hematocrit value 
no less than 33 percent.
    (4) Pulse. The donor's pulse must be regular and between 50 and 100 
beats per minute. A donor with an irregular pulse or measurements 
outside these limits may be permitted to donate only when the 
responsible physician determines and documents that the health of the 
donor would not be adversely affected by donating.

[[Page 29902]]

    (5) Weight. The donor must weigh a minimum of 50 kilograms (110 
pounds).
    (6) Skin examination. (i) The donor's phlebotomy site must be free 
of infection, inflammation, and lesions; and
    (ii) The donor's arms and forearms must be free of punctures and 
scars indicative of injected drugs of abuse.
    (g) Are there additional requirements for determining the 
eligibility of the donor? You must obtain the following from the donor 
on the day of donation:
    (1) Proof of identity and postal address. You must obtain proof of 
identity of the donor and a postal address where the donor may be 
contacted for 8 weeks after donation; and
    (2) Donor's acknowledgement. (i) Prior to each donation, you must 
provide information to the donor addressing the elements specified in 
paragraphs (g)(2)(ii)(A) through (E) of this section and obtain the 
donor's acknowledgement that the donor has reviewed the information. 
You must establish procedures in accordance with Sec.  606.100 of this 
chapter to assure that the donor has reviewed this material, and 
provide for a signature or other documented acknowledgement.
    (ii) The donor acknowledgement must not include any exculpatory 
language through which the donor is made to waive or appear to waive 
any of the donor's legal rights. It must, at a minimum clearly address 
the following:
    (A) The donor has reviewed the educational material provided under 
paragraph (b) of this section regarding relevant transfusion-
transmitted infections;
    (B) The donor agrees not to donate if the donation could result in 
a potential risk to recipients as described in the educational 
material;
    (C) A sample of the donor's blood will be tested for specified 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections;
    (D) If the donation is determined to be not suitable under Sec.  
630.30(a) or if the donor is deferred from donation under Sec.  610.41 
of this chapter, the donor's record will identify the donor as 
ineligible to donate and the donor will be notified under Sec.  630.40 
of the basis for the deferral and the period of deferral;
    (E) The donor has been provided and reviewed information regarding 
the risks and hazards of the specific donation procedure; and
    (F) The donor has the opportunity to ask questions and withdraw 
from the donation procedure.
    (h) What must you do when a donor is not eligible? You must not 
collect blood or blood components from a donor found to be ineligible 
prior to collection based on criteria in Sec. Sec.  630.10 or 630.15, 
or deferred under Sec.  610.41 of this chapter or Sec.  630.30(b)(2), 
unless this subchapter provides an exception. You must defer donors 
found to be ineligible and you must notify the donor of their deferral 
under Sec.  630.40.


Sec.  630.15  Donor eligibility requirements specific to Whole Blood, 
Red Blood Cells and Plasma collected by apheresis.

    (a) What additional donor eligibility requirements apply when you, 
an establishment that collects blood or blood components, collect Whole 
Blood or Red Blood Cells by apheresis?
    (1) Donation frequency must be consistent with protecting the 
health of the donor.
    (i) For a collection resulting in a single unit of Whole Blood or 
Red Blood Cells collected by apheresis, donation frequency must be no 
more than once in 8 weeks, and for apheresis collections resulting in 
two units of Red Blood Cells, the donor must not donate more than once 
in 16 weeks.
    (ii) The limitations in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section apply 
unless the responsible physician examines the donor at the time of 
donation and one of the following conditions exists:
    (A) The donation is for autologous use as prescribed by the donor's 
physician and the responsible physician determines and documents that 
the donation may proceed; or
    (B) The donation is a dedicated donation based on the intended 
recipient's documented exceptional medical need and the responsible 
physician determines and documents that the health of the donor would 
not be adversely affected by donating.
    (2) Therapeutic phlebotomy. When a donor who is determined to be 
eligible under Sec.  630.10 undergoes a therapeutic phlebotomy under a 
prescription to promote the donor's health, you may collect from the 
donor more frequently than once in 8 weeks for collections resulting in 
a single unit of Whole Blood or Red Blood Cells, or once in 16 weeks 
for apheresis collections resulting in two units of Red Blood Cells, 
provided that the container label conspicuously states the disease or 
condition of the donor that necessitated phlebotomy. However, no 
labeling for the disease or condition is required under this section 
if:
    (i) The donor meets all eligibility criteria;
    (ii) The donor undergoes a therapeutic phlebotomy as prescribed by 
a licensed health care provider treating the donor for:
    (A) Hereditary hemochromatosis; or
    (B) Another disease or condition, when the health of a donor with 
that disease or condition will not be adversely affected by donating, 
and the donor's disease or condition will not adversely affect the 
safety, purity, and potency of the blood and blood components, or any 
products manufactured from them, and the collection is in accordance 
with a procedure that has been found acceptable for this purpose by 
FDA; and
    (iii) You perform without charge therapeutic phlebotomies for all 
individuals with that disease or condition.
    (b) What additional donor eligibility requirements apply when you, 
an establishment that collects blood or blood components, collect 
Source Plasma or plasma by plasmapheresis?
    (1) Medical history and physical examination. Except as provided in 
Sec.  630.25:
    (i) The responsible physician must conduct an appropriate medical 
history and physical examination of the donor on the day of the first 
donation or no more than 1 week before the first donation and at 
subsequent intervals of no longer than 1 year.
    (ii) The responsible physician must examine the donor for medical 
conditions that would place the donor at risk from plasmapheresis. If 
the donor is determined to be at risk, you must defer the donor from 
donating.
    (iii) The responsible physician must conduct a new medical history 
and physical examination of a donor who does not return for 6 months.
    (2) What requirements apply to obtaining informed consent?
    (i) The responsible physician must obtain the informed consent of a 
plasma donor on the first day of donation or no more than 1 week before 
the first donation, and at subsequent intervals of no longer than 1 
year.
    (ii) The responsible physician must obtain the informed consent of 
a plasma donor who does not return within 6 months of the last 
donation.
    (iii) The responsible physician must explain the risks and hazards 
of the procedure to the donor. The explanation must include the risks 
of a hemolytic transfusion reaction if the donor is given the cells of 
another donor and the risks involved if the donor is immunized. The 
explanation must be made in such a manner that the donor may give their 
consent and has a clear opportunity to refuse the procedure.
    (iv) If a donor is enrolled in a new program, such as an 
immunization or special collection program, the responsible physician 
must again obtain

[[Page 29903]]

an informed consent specific for that program.
    (3) Weight. You must weigh a donor at each donation.
    (4) Total protein level. You must determine the donor's total 
plasma protein level before each plasmapheresis procedure. The donor 
must have a total plasma protein level of no less than 6.0 grams per 
deciliter and no more than 9.0 grams per deciliter in a plasma sample 
or a serum sample.
    (5) Examination before immunization. (i) No more than 1 week before 
the first immunization injection for the production of high-titer 
antibody plasma, the responsible physician must conduct an appropriate 
medical history and physical examination, as described in paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section, in addition to assessing the general donor 
eligibility requirements under Sec.  630.10. It is not necessary to 
repeat the medical history and physical examination requirement in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section, if the immunized donor's plasma is 
collected within 3 weeks of the first immunization injection.
    (ii) You are not required to repeat the medical history and 
physical examination required under paragraph (b)(1) of this section 
for a donor currently participating in a plasmapheresis collection 
program and determined to be eligible under Sec.  630.10 unless the 
medical history and physical examination are due under paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) or (b)(1)(iii) of this section.
    (6) Deferral of donors due to red blood cell loss. (i) You must 
defer a donor from donating plasma by plasmapheresis for 8 weeks if the 
donor has donated a unit of Whole Blood, or a single unit of Red Blood 
Cells by apheresis. However, you may collect plasma by plasmapheresis 
after a donation of Whole Blood or a single unit of Red Blood Cells by 
apheresis after at least 2 calendar days have passed, provided that the 
extracorporeal volume of the apheresis device is less than 100 
milliliters.
    (ii) You must defer a donor from donating plasma by plasmapheresis 
for a period of 16 weeks if the donor donates two units of Red Blood 
Cells during a single apheresis procedure;
    (iii) You must defer a donor for 8 weeks or more if the cumulative 
red blood cell loss in any 8 week period could adversely affect donor 
health.
    (7) Exceptions to deferral due to red blood cell loss. You are not 
required to defer a Source Plasma donor from donating plasma by 
plasmapheresis due to red blood cell loss if the following conditions 
are met:
    (i) The responsible physician examines the donor at the time of the 
current donation and determines and documents that the donor is in good 
health and the donor's health permits the plasmapheresis;
    (ii) The donor's plasma possesses a property, such as an antibody, 
antigen, or protein deficiency that is transitory, of a highly unusual 
or infrequent specificity, or of an unusually high titer;
    (iii) The special characteristics of the donor's plasma and the 
need for plasmapheresis of the donor under Sec.  630.20(b) are 
documented at your establishment; and
    (iv) The extracorporeal volume of the apheresis device is less than 
100 milliliters.
    (8) Malaria. Freedom from risk of malaria is not required for a 
donor of Source Plasma.
    (9) You must comply with other requirements for collection of 
plasma in part 640 of this chapter and this part including restrictions 
on frequency of collection as specified in Sec. Sec.  640.32 and 640.65 
of this chapter.


Sec.  630.20  Exceptions for certain ineligible donors.

    After assessing donor eligibility under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 
630.15, an establishment may collect blood and blood components from a 
donor who is determined to be not eligible to donate under any 
provision of Sec.  630.10(e) and (f) or Sec.  630.15(a) if one of the 
following sets of conditions are met:
    (a) The donation is for autologous use only as prescribed by the 
donor's physician, the donor has a hemoglobin level no less than 11.0 
grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood or a hematocrit value no 
less than 33 percent, and the responsible physician determines and 
documents that the donor's health permits the collection procedure; or
    (b) The donation is collected under a Source Plasma collection 
program which has received prior written approval from the Director, 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, to collect plasma for 
further manufacturing use into in vitro products for which there are no 
alternative sources, the donor meets the criteria in Sec.  630.10(f)(1) 
through (6), and the responsible physician determines and documents for 
each donation that the donor's health permits the collection procedure, 
and the collection takes place under the medical oversight specified in 
the approved plasmapheresis program.
    (c) The donation is restricted for use solely by a specific 
transfusion recipient based on documented exceptional medical need, and 
the responsible physician determines and documents that the donor's 
health permits the collection procedure, and that the donation presents 
no undue medical risk to the transfusion recipient.


Sec.  630.25  Exceptions from certain donor eligibility requirements 
for infrequent plasma donors.

    For an infrequent plasma donor who is not participating in an 
immunization program, establishments are not required to:
    (a) Perform a medical history and physical examination of the donor 
under Sec.  630.15(b)(1);
    (b) Perform a test for total protein under Sec.  630.15(b)(4);
    (c) Determine the total plasma or serum protein and immunoglobulin 
composition under Sec.  640.65(b)(1)(i) of this chapter; or
    (d) Review the data and records as required in Sec.  
640.65(b)(2)(i) of this chapter.


Sec.  630.30  Donation suitability requirements.

    (a) When is a donation suitable? A donation is suitable when:
    (1) The donor is not currently deferred from donation as determined 
by review of the records of deferred donors required under Sec.  
606.160(e) of this chapter;
    (2) The results in accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 through 630.25 
indicate that the donor is in good health and procedures were followed 
to ensure that the donation would not adversely affect the health of 
the donor;
    (3) The results in accordance with Sec.  630.10(e) indicate that 
the donor is free from risk factors for, or evidence of, relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections and other factors that make the 
donor ineligible to donate;
    (4) The donor's blood is tested in accordance with Sec.  610.40 of 
this chapter, and is negative or nonreactive, unless an exception 
applies under Sec.  610.40(h) of this chapter; and
    (5) The donation meets other requirements in this subchapter.
    (b) What must you do when the donation is not suitable? (1) You 
must not release the donation for transfusion or further manufacturing 
use unless it is an autologous donation, or an exception is provided in 
this chapter.
    (2) You must defer the donor when a donation is determined to be 
unsuitable based on the criteria in paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of 
this section.
    (3) You must defer the donor of bacterially contaminated platelets 
when the contaminating organism is identified in accordance with Sec.  
606.145(d) of this chapter as likely to be associated with a bacterial 
infection that is endogenous to the bloodstream of the donor.

[[Page 29904]]

    (4) You must notify the deferred donor in accordance with the 
notification requirements in Sec.  630.40.


Sec.  630.35  Requalification of previously deferred donors.

    Establishments may determine a deferred donor to be eligible as a 
donor of blood and blood components if, at the time of the current 
collection, the donor meets the eligibility criteria in this part, 
except for the record of the previous deferral, and you determine that 
the criteria that were the basis for the previous deferral are no 
longer applicable. Criteria for the previous deferral are no longer 
applicable if the following conditions are met:
    (a) The previous deferral was for a defined period of time and that 
time period has passed, or the deferral was otherwise temporary, such 
as a deferral based on eligibility criteria described in Sec. Sec.  
630.10(f)(1) through (5) or 630.15(b)(4); or
    (b) For a donor deferred for reasons other than under Sec.  
610.41(a) of this chapter, you determine that the donor has met 
criteria for requalification by a method or process found acceptable 
for such purpose by FDA.

PART 640--ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR HUMAN BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS

0
25. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 640 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 351, 352, 353, 355, 360, 371; 42 
U.S.C. 216, 262, 263, 263a, 264.


Sec.  640.3  [Removed]

0
26. Remove Sec.  640.3.


Sec.  640.4  [Amended]

0
27. In Sec.  640.4, remove and reserve paragraph (a); and in paragraph 
(e), remove ``Sec.  640.3'' and add in its place ``Sec.  630.10 of this 
chapter''.


Sec.  640.5  [Amended]

0
28. Amend Sec.  640.5 as follows:
0
a. In the introductory text, remove ``at the time of collecting the 
unit of blood'';
0
b. Remove and reserve paragraph (a); and
0
c. In heading and text of paragraph (f), remove ``communicable disease 
agents'' wherever it appears and add in its place ``relevant 
transfusion-transmitted infections''.
0
29. Revise Sec.  640.12 to read as follows:


Sec.  640.12  Eligibility of donor.

    Establishments must determine the eligibility of donors of the 
source blood for Red Blood Cells in accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 
and 630.15 of this chapter.


Sec.  640.14  [Amended]

0
30. In 640.14, remove ``Sec.  640.5(a), (b),'' and add in its place 
``Sec.  640.5(b)''.
0
31. Revise Sec.  640.21 to read as follows:


Sec.  640.21  Eligibility of donors.

    (a) Establishments must determine the eligibility of donors of 
platelets derived from Whole Blood and donors of platelets collected by 
plateletpheresis in accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 of 
this chapter, except as provided in this section.
    (b) A plateletpheresis donor must not serve as the source of 
platelets for transfusion if the donor has recently ingested a drug 
that adversely affects platelet function.
    (c) A Whole Blood donor must not serve as the source of platelets 
for transfusion if the donor has recently ingested a drug that 
adversely affects platelet function unless the unit is labeled to 
identify the ingested drug that adversely affects platelet function.
    (d) If you are collecting platelets by plateletpheresis, you must 
assess and monitor the donor's platelet count.
    (1) You must take adequate and appropriate steps to assure that the 
donor's platelet count is at least 150,000 platelets per microliter (/
[mu]L) before plateletpheresis begins. Exception: If you do not have 
records of a donor's platelet count from prior donations and you are 
not able to assess the donor's platelet count either prior to or 
immediately following the initiation of the collection procedure, you 
may collect platelets by plateletpheresis, but you must not collect 9.0 
x 10\11\ or more platelets from that donor.
    (2) You must defer from platelet donation a donor whose pre-
donation platelet count is less than 150,000 platelets/[mu]L until a 
subsequent pre-donation platelet count indicates that the donor's 
platelet count is at least 150,000 platelets/[mu]L; and
    (3) You must take appropriate steps to assure that the donor's 
intended post-donation platelet count will be no less than 100,000 
platelets/[mu]L.
    (e) Frequency of plateletpheresis collection. (1) The donor may 
donate no more than a total of 24 plateletpheresis collections during a 
12-month rolling period.
    (2) When you collect fewer than 6 x 10\11\ platelets, you must wait 
at least 2 calendar days before any subsequent plateletpheresis 
collection. You must not attempt to collect more than 2 collections 
within a 7 calendar day period.
    (3) When you collect 6 x 10\11\ or more platelets, you must wait at 
least 7 calendar days before any subsequent plateletpheresis 
collection.
    (4) Exception. For a period not to exceed 30 calendar days, a donor 
may serve as a dedicated plateletpheresis donor for a single recipient, 
in accordance with Sec.  610.40(c)(1) of this chapter, as often as is 
medically necessary, provided that the donor is in good health, as 
determined and documented by the responsible physician, and the donor's 
platelet count is at least 150,000 platelets/[mu]L, measured at the 
conclusion of the previous donation or before initiating 
plateletpheresis for the current donation.
    (f) Deferral of plateletpheresis donors due to red blood cell loss. 
(1) You must defer a donor from donating platelets by plateletpheresis 
or a co-collection of platelets and plasma by apheresis for 8 weeks if 
the donor has donated a unit of Whole Blood, or a single unit of Red 
Blood Cells by apheresis unless at least 2 calendar days have passed 
and the extracorporeal volume of the apheresis device is less than 100 
milliliters.
    (2) You must defer a donor from donating platelets for a period of 
16 weeks if the donor donates two units of Red Blood Cells during a 
single apheresis procedure.
    (3) You must defer a donor for 8 weeks or more if the cumulative 
red blood cell loss in any 8 week period could adversely affect donor 
health.
    (g) The responsible physician must obtain the informed consent of a 
plateletpheresis donor on the first day of donation, and at subsequent 
intervals no longer than 1 year.
    (1) The responsible physician must explain the risks and hazards of 
the procedure to the donor; and
    (2) The explanation must be made in such a manner that the donor 
may give consent, and has a clear opportunity to refuse the procedure.

0
32. Revise Sec.  640.22(c) to read as follows:


Sec.  640.22  Collection of source material.

* * * * *
    (c) If plateletpheresis is used, the procedure for collection must 
be as prescribed in Sec. Sec.  640.21, 640.64 (except paragraph (c)), 
and 640.65, or as described in an approved biologics license 
application (BLA) or an approved supplement to a BLA.
* * * * *


Sec.  640.23  [Amended]

0
33. In Sec.  640.23(a), remove ``Sec.  640.5(a), (b),'' and add in its 
place ``Sec.  640.5(b)''.


Sec.  640.27  [Removed]

0
34. Remove Sec.  640.27.
0
35. Revise Sec.  640.31 to read as follows:

[[Page 29905]]

Sec.  640.31  Eligibility of donors.

    (a) Whole Blood donors must meet the criteria for donor eligibility 
prescribed in Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 of this chapter.
    (b) Collection establishments must determine the eligibility of 
plasmapheresis donors in accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 
of this chapter.


Sec.  640.32  [Amended]

0
36. In Sec.  640.32(b), remove ``Sec. Sec.  640.62, 640.64'' and add in 
its place ``Sec.  640.64''.


Sec.  640.33  [Amended]

0
37. In Sec.  640.33(a), remove ``Sec.  640.5(a), (b),'' and add in its 
place ``Sec.  640.5(b)''.
0
38. Revise Sec.  640.51 to read as follows:


Sec.  640.51  Eligibility of donors.

    (a) Whole blood donors must meet the criteria for eligibility 
prescribed in Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 of this chapter.
    (b) Collection establishments must determine the eligibility of 
plasmapheresis donors in accordance with Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 
of this chapter.


Sec.  640.52  [Amended]

0
39. In Sec.  640.52(b), remove ``Sec. Sec.  640.62, 640.64'' and add in 
its place ``Sec.  640.64''.


Sec.  640.53  [Amended]

0
40. In Sec.  640.53(a), remove ``Sec.  640.5(a), (b),'' and add in its 
place ``Sec.  640.5(b)''.


Sec.  640.61  [Removed]

0
41. Remove Sec.  640.61.


Sec.  640.62  [Removed]

0
42. Remove Sec.  640.62.


Sec.  640.63  [Removed]

0
43. Remove Sec.  640.63.


Sec.  640.64  [Amended]

0
44. In Sec.  640.64, remove and reserve paragraph (a).
0
45. Amend Sec.  640.65 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (b)(1)(i), revise the first sentence;
0
b. In paragraph (b)(1)(ii), remove ``physician on the premises'' and 
add its place ``responsible physician'';
0
c. Revise paragraph (b)(2)(i); and
0
d. In paragraphs (b)(2)(iii) and (iv) remove ``physician on the 
premises'' and add in its place ``responsible physician''.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  640.65  Plasmapheresis.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1)(i) Except as provided under Sec.  630.25 of this chapter, the 
responsible physician must draw a sample of blood from each donor on 
the day of the initial physical examination or plasmapheresis, 
whichever comes first, and at least every 4 months thereafter. * * *
* * * * *
    (2)(i) Except as provided under Sec.  630.25 of this chapter, the 
responsible physician must review the accumulated laboratory data, 
including any tracings of the plasma or serum protein electrophoresis 
pattern, the calculated values of the protein composition of each 
component, and the collection records within 14 calendar days after the 
sample is drawn to determine whether or not the donor should be 
deferred from further donation. If a determination is not made within 
14 calendar days, the donor must be deferred pending such a 
determination. The responsible physician must sign the review. If the 
protein composition is not within normal limits established by the 
testing laboratory, or if the total protein level is less than 6.0 
grams per deciliter or more than 9.0 grams per deciliter in a plasma 
sample or serum sample, the donor must be deferred from donation until 
the protein composition returns to acceptable levels. Reinstatement of 
the donor into the plasmapheresis program when the donor's protein 
composition values have returned to an acceptable level must first be 
approved by the responsible physician.
* * * * *

0
46. In Sec.  640.66, revise the first sentence and remove the second 
sentence. The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  640.66  Immunization of donors.

    If specific immunization of a donor is to be performed, the 
selection, scheduling and administration of the antigen, and the 
evaluation of each donor's clinical response, shall be by the 
responsible physician. * * *


Sec.  640.67  [Amended]

0
47. In Sec.  640.67, remove ``communicable disease agents'' and add in 
its place ``relevant transfusion-transmitted infections''.
0
48. In Sec.  640.69, add paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  640.69  General requirements.

* * * * *
    (e) Restrictions on distribution. Establishments must ensure that 
Source Plasma donated by paid donors not be used for further 
manufacturing into injectable products until the donor has a record of 
being found eligible to donate in accordance with Sec.  630.10 of this 
chapter and a record of negative test results on all tests required 
under Sec.  610.40(a) of this chapter on two occasions in the past 6 
months.
    (f) Hold. Source Plasma donated by paid donors determined to be 
suitable for further manufacturing into injectable products must be 
held in quarantine for a minimum of 60 calendar days before it is 
released for further manufacturing. If, after placing a donation in 
quarantine under this section, the donor is subsequently deferred under 
Sec.  610.41 of this chapter, or you subsequently determine a donor to 
be ineligible under Sec.  630.10 of this chapter due to risk factors 
closely associated with exposure to, or clinical evidence of, infection 
due to a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection, you must not 
distribute quarantined donations from that donor for further 
manufacturing use to make an injectable product.


Sec.  640.71  [Amended]

0
49. Amend Sec.  640.71 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a) introductory text, remove ``the following tests'' 
and add in its place ``testing performed in accordance with Sec.  
610.40 of this chapter and Sec.  640.65(b)'';
0
b. Remove paragraphs (a)(1) through (4); and
0
c. In paragraph (b)(1), remove ``licensed physician'' and add in its 
place ``responsible physician''.
0
50. In Sec.  640.72, revise paragraphs (a)(2) through (4) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  640.72  Records.

    (a) * * *
    (2)(i) For each donor, establishments must maintain records 
including a separate and complete record of initial and periodic 
examinations, tests, laboratory data, and interviews, etc., as required 
in Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 630.15 of this chapter and Sec. Sec.  640.65, 
640.66, and 640.67, except as provided in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this 
section.
    (ii) Negative results for testing for evidence of infection due to 
relevant transfusion-transmitted infections required in Sec.  610.40 of 
this chapter, and the volume or weight of plasma withdrawn from a donor 
need not be recorded on the individual donor record if such information 
is maintained on the premises of the plasmapheresis center where the 
donor's plasma has been collected.
    (3) The original or a clear copy or other durable record which may 
be electronic of the donor's consent for participation in the 
plasmapheresis program or for immunization.
    (4) Records of the medical history and physical examination of the 
donor conducted in accordance with Sec.  630.15(b)(1) of this chapter 
and, where applicable, Sec.  630.15(b)(5) of this chapter must document 
the eligibility of the donor as a plasmapheresis donor and,

[[Page 29906]]

when applicable, as an immunized donor.
* * * * *

0
51. Revise Sec.  640.120 to read as follows:


Sec.  640.120  Alternative procedures.

    (a) The Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, may 
issue an exception or alternative to any requirement in subchapter F of 
chapter I of title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding 
blood, blood components, or blood products. The Director may issue such 
an exception or alternative in response to:
    (1) A written request from an establishment. Licensed 
establishments must submit such requests in accordance with Sec.  
601.12 of this chapter;
    (2) An oral request from an establishment, if there are difficult 
circumstances and submission of a written request is not feasible. 
Establishments must follow up such oral request by submitting written 
requests under paragraph (a)(1) of this section within 5 working days.
    (b) To respond to a public health need, the Director may issue a 
notice of exception or alternative to any requirement in subchapter F 
of chapter I of title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding 
blood, blood components, or blood products, if a variance under this 
section is necessary to assure that blood, blood components, or blood 
products will be available in a specified location or locations to 
address an urgent and immediate need for blood, blood components, or 
blood products or to provide for appropriate donor screening and 
testing.
    (c) If the Director issues such an exception or alternative orally, 
the Director will follow up by issuing a written notice of the 
exception or alternative. Periodically, FDA will provide a list of 
approved exceptions and alternative procedures on the FDA Center for 
Biologics Evaluation and Research Web site.

0
52. Add subpart M, consisting of Sec. Sec.  640.125 and 640.130, to 
part 640 to read as follows:

Subpart M--Definitions and Medical Supervision
Sec.
640.125 Definitions.
640.130 Medical supervision.

Sec.  640.125  Definitions.

    The definitions set out in Sec.  630.3 of this chapter apply to the 
use of those defined terms in this part.


Sec.  640.130  Medical supervision.

    The requirements for medical supervision established in Sec.  630.5 
of this chapter supplement the regulations in this part.

PART 660--ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES FOR 
LABORATORY TESTS

0
53. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 660 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 351, 352, 353, 355, 360, 360c, 
360d, 360h, 360i, 371, 372; 42 U.S.C. 216, 262, 263, 263a, 264.

0
54. Revise Sec.  660.31 to read as follows:


Sec.  660.31  Eligibility of donor.

    Donors of peripheral blood for Reagent Red Blood Cells must meet 
all the criteria for donor eligibility under Sec. Sec.  630.10 and 
630.15 of this chapter.

PART 820--QUALITY SYSTEM REGULATION

0
55. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 820 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 351, 352, 360, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360h, 
360i, 360j, 360l, 371, 374, 381, 383; 42 U.S.C. 216, 262, 263a, 264.


Sec.  820.1  [Amended]

0
56. In Sec.  820.1(a)(1), remove ``Manufacturers of human blood and 
blood components are not subject to this part, but are subject to part 
606 of this chapter'' and add in its place ``Manufacturers of blood and 
blood components used for transfusion or for further manufacturing are 
not subject to this part, but are subject to subchapter F of this 
chapter''.

    Dated: May 15, 2015.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-12228 Filed 5-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P