[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40774-40775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17617]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


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

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

[[Page 40775]]


ACTION: Notice.

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

DATES: The meeting will take place on Thursday, September 13, 2018, 
from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET.

ADDRESSES: Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport, 1999 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Berger, Designated Federal 
Officer for the ACBTSA, Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW, Suite L100, 
Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 795-7697; Fax: (202) 691-2102; 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACBTSA provides advice to the Secretary 
through the Assistant Secretary for Health. The Committee advises on a 
range of policy issues to include: (1) Identification of public health 
issues through surveillance of blood and tissue safety issues with 
national biovigilance data tools; (2) identification of public health 
issues that affect availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; 
(3) broad public health, ethical, and legal issues related to the 
safety of blood, blood products, and tissues; (4) the impact of various 
economic factors (e.g., product cost and supply) on safety and 
availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; (5) risk 
communications related to blood transfusion and tissue transplantation; 
and (6) identification of infectious disease transmission issues for 
blood, organs, blood stem cells and tissues. The Committee has met 
regularly since its establishment in 1997. The Committee will meet on 
September 13, 2018 to receive presentations on material pertinent to 
exploring the topic of ``Defining a tolerable risk for infectious 
diseases from a patient's perspective.'' Historical aspects of 
combating infectious disease risks in the blood supply, ongoing 
national and global efforts towards mitigating those risks, and 
emerging considerations shall be presented to the Committee. The full 
Committee will receive an interim report from the ACBTSA Blood 
Sustainability subcommittee and additional topics that are pertinent to 
the mission of the Committee may be added to the agenda.
    The public will have an opportunity to present their views to the 
Committee during public comment session scheduled for the meeting. 
Comments will be limited to five minutes per speaker and must be 
pertinent to the discussion. Pre-registration is required for 
participation in the public comment session. Any member of the public 
who would like to participate in this session is required to submit 
their name, email, and comment summary prior to close of business on 
September 7, 2018. If it is not possible to provide 30 copies of the 
material to be distributed at the meeting, then individuals are 
requested to provide a minimum of one (1) copy of the document(s) to be 
distributed prior to the close of business on September 7, 2018. It is 
also requested that any member of the public who wishes to provide 
comments to the Committee utilizing electronic data projection submit 
the necessary material to the Designated Federal Officer prior to the 
close of business on September 7, 2018.

    Dated: August 9, 2018.
James J. Berger,
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-17617 Filed 8-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-41-P