AABB Issues Emergent Standards to 33rd Edition of BB/TS Standards

AABB issued emergent standards to the 33rd edition of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services (BB/TS Standards). The emergent standards, outlined in Association Bulletin #22-02, reflect the May 23 revisions to donor eligibility criteria recommended by the Food and Drug Administration through updated requirements to Reference Standards 5.4.1A, Donor Qualification, in the 33rd edition of the BB/TS Standards.

These updates adjust the deferral periods for several categories of prospective donors who were considered a risk of transfusion transmitted variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), donors with a familial genetic history of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and, finally, donors who have received human cadaveric pituitary growth hormone.

The changes to Reference Standards 5.4.1A may be implemented immediately. AABB-accredited facilities that wish to maintain stricter deferral periods may do so. The changes described in this Association Bulletin are reflected in the 33rd edition of the BB/TS Standards and in the Standards Portal. Members with questions or comments may contact the Standards Department at standards@aabb.org.