Allograft safety begins at the point of tissue recovery. Here, knowledgeable and well-trained tissue recovery partners are key. The verification of donor medical and social history and a comprehensive initial donor physical assessment are critical screening steps.
Tissue recovery should be performed in a controlled environment by experienced and trained technicians using aseptic techniques. Procurement time constraints should be adhered to and documented, and microbial cultures should be taken. All donors must undergo rigorous and FDA approved screening serological tests for: Hepatitis B & C, HIV 1 & 2, and Syphilis (T. pallidum). Many processors have now added highly sensitive Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT), which is believed to reduce the window for determining HIV or HCV infection. If these evaluations determine the donor is eligible, a medical director should approve the tissue for processing.