Bulletin #16-07
March 29, 2016
Tissue Banking News of Interest

The following information may be of interest to AATB's membership:
  • It was announced in mid-February at the "Final UDRAI Workshop - A New Era" that AATB has made available an online portal where suggestions for improvement can be submitted for the Uniform Donor Risk Assessment Interview (UDRAI) forms and tools. The portal can be accessed at "Submit your comments to UDRAI forms here!" but be aware that an update is pending for the AATB website which means current links may eventually change. 
  • This is a reminder to keep track of application deadlines for renewing a state tissue bank license. Two are highlighted. The procedure for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration is to send a reminder by e-mail to the address of record 90 days before the expiration of a license. If an email address is not on file, a postcard is mailed. Florida statute makes it mandatory for the application to be received at least 60 (but, no more than 120 days) before the license expiration date. Information about renewing a license online is available and application forms are available for downloadTo renew a tissue bank license in the State of California, the Department of Public Health's Tissue Bank Licensing Section of the Laboratory Field Services Branch issues an important notice as a reminder regarding license renewal. State law [CA H&S Code �1639.2(b)] requires the application for renewal of a tissue bank license to be filed with the department not less than 30 days prior to the expiration date of the license. In order to ensure the timely arrival of a renewed license, they request that a properly completed tissue bank renewal application packet be submitted 60 to 90 days prior to your tissue bank license expiration date. By following this timeline, a renewed license will be mailed approximately 30 days prior to the expiration date. The notice included a "2016 Tissue Bank License Renewal Document Check Off List" as well as a "2016 Operations Affirmation Letter." The latter should be completed and sent to the Laboratory Field Services Branch email address.
  • The New York State Department of Health website has been updated. The Wadsworth Center section contains a link to "Laws, Regulations and Standards" and to statute and regulations for Tissue Services.  Part 52, Title 10 of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations for TISSUE BANKS AND NONTRANSPLANT ANATOMIC BANKS has not changed. A previous version you might have with an effective date of February 24, 2007 can continue to be used.   
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American Association of Tissue Banks                           
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Phone: 703-827-9582   |   Fax: 703-356-2198   |   Email: [email protected]

The American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) -- a professional, non-profit, scientific and educational organization -- is the only national tissue banking organization in the United States. Founded in 1976, the AATB is dedicated to improving and saving lives by promoting and advancing the safety, quality and availability of donated human tissue. To fulfill that mission, 
the AATB publishes standards, accredits tissue banks and certifies personnel.