Currently, many tissue banks such as the CPCTR, PCABC, caBIG, CBCTR, CHTN, CFR, SPOREs, and EDRN involve multiple institutions [ 4, 6- 8, 10- 15, 15, 19- 21].
Several tissue banks are involved.
Tissue banks aren't entirely to blame.
Of the estimated 150 tissue banks, half are members of the American Association of Tissue Banks, which accredits tissue banks that voluntarily follow its standards.
Two tissue banks have been implicated; one admitted that it had not fully sterilized the tissues.
Only two states, New York and Florida, license and inspect tissue banks.
Tissue banks aren't the only opponents of F.D.A. oversight.
"We have seed banks and tissue banks, so why not have a chemical bank?" he says.
The tissue bank froze and held back most of the other tissues until last March, said Bob Rigney, chief executive of the American Association of Tissue Banks in Alexandria, Va.
The American Association of Tissue Banks has drawn up technical guidelines for handling tissues and regularly inspects its members' operations.
