Comment Period Opens for Proposed 8th Edition of MT Standards, 12th Edition of Perioperative Standards

AABB is currently accepting public comments on two upcoming editions of AABB standards: the proposed eighth edition of Standards for Molecular Testing for Red Cell, Platelet, and Neutrophil Antigens, and the 12th edition of Standards for Perioperative Autologous Blood Collection and Administration.

Summary memos that accompany the MT Standards and Perioperative Standards provide a comprehensive description of the additions and edits in the drafts 

Some of these significant changes include:

• New Standards 1.9 and 1.9.1 require that accredited organizations contact AABB in cases where they are under organization by their competent authority.
• New Standard 3.5.4.1 clarifies that when a known piece of equipment is the root of a nonconformance, not all similar equipment has to be reviewed.
• New Standard 3.7 requires that laboratories monitor their critical technology infrastructure and that it functions as expected. This standard also requires that there are defined checks to monitor that technology is working as intended and expected.

The deadline to submit comments is May 12. AABB’s Molecular Testing Standards Committee and Perioperative Standards Committee encourage all interested individuals to submit comments during the 60-day comment period. 

AABB reminds members that the standards in the eighth edition and 12th edition are in the proposed phase and will be finalized after the comment period has concluded. The appropriate committee will review all comments submitted and provide a summary document that describes the committee’s rationale for its final decisions.