There is still time for YOU to comment on the proposed rewrite of the OPTN/UNOS Histocompatibility Policies.

All the new proposed policies can be found on this page and you are encouraged to read and comment on any or all of them. In particular, the Histocompatibility Policies rewrite is number 2.

The ASHI National Clinical Affairs Committee and the Executive Board have prepared an official ASHI response. As promised, we are sharing it with you now. It can be found here.

We urge you to take a close look at this proposed new policy, especially the seven new requirements listed on page 4, and to submit your own comments. The NCAC and Executive Board members are particularly concerned about the apparent sanctioning of the virtual crossmatch, without prior CMS approval, and about the potential costs to labs of the proposed new requirement for saving all extra samples from all donors. It is important for ASHI members to also comment on these proposals because every comment, whether it comes from an individual or an organization, is counted equally.

The deadline for submission of comments is December 6, 2013.

Thank you for your continuing support of ASHI and its mission.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Pollack, PhD, D(ABHI)

President, ASHI