(a) General. This subpart sets out requirements for determining donor eligibility, including donor screening and testing. The requirements contained in this subpart are a component of current good tissue practice (CGTP) requirements. Other CGTP requirements are set out in subpart D of this part.

(b) Donor-eligibility determination required. A donor-eligibility determination, based on donor screening and testing for relevant communicable disease agents and diseases, is required for all donors of cells or tissue used in HCT/Ps, except as provided under § 1271.90. In the case of an embryo or of cells derived from an embryo, a donor-eligibility determination is required for both the oocyte donor and the semen donor.

(c) Prohibition on use. An HCT/P must not be implanted, transplanted, infused, or transferred until the donor has been determined to be eligible, except as provided under §§ 1271.60(d), 1271.65(b), and 1271.90 of this subpart.

(d) Applicability of requirements. If you are an establishment that performs any function described in this subpart, you must comply with the requirements contained in this subpart that are applicable to that function.

[69 FR 29830, May 25, 2004, as amended at 69 FR 68681, Nov. 24, 2004]

(a) General. You must establish and maintain procedures for all steps that you perform in testing, screening, determining donor eligibility, and complying with all other requirements of this subpart. Establish and maintain means define, document (in writing or electronically), and implement; then follow, review, and as needed, revise on an ongoing basis. You must design these procedures to ensure compliance with the requirements of this subpart.

(b) Review and approval. Before implementation, a responsible person must review and approve all procedures.

(c) Availability. Procedures must be readily available to the personnel in the area where the operations to which they relate are performed, or in a nearby area if such availability is impractical.

(d) Departures from procedures. You must record and justify any departure from a procedure relevant to preventing risks of communicable disease transmission at the time of its occurrence. You must not make available for distribution any HCT/P from a donor whose eligibility is determined under such a departure unless a responsible person has determined that the departure does not increase the risks of communicable disease transmission through the use of the HCT/P.

(e) Standard procedures. You may adopt current standard procedures, such as those in a technical manual prepared by another organization, provided that you have verified that the procedures are consistent with and at least as stringent as the requirements of this part and appropriate for your operations.

(a) Determination based on screening and testing. If you are the establishment responsible for making the donor-eligibility determination, you must determine whether a donor is eligible based upon the results of donor screening in accordance with § 1271.75 and donor testing in accordance with §§ 1271.80 and 1271.85. A responsible person, as defined in § 1271.3(t), must determine and document the eligibility of a cell or tissue donor.

(b) Eligible donor. A donor is eligible under these provisions only if:

(1) Donor screening in accordance with § 1271.75 indicates that the donor:

(i) Is free from risk factors for, and clinical evidence of, infection due to relevant communicable disease agents and diseases; and

(ii) Is free from communicable disease risks associated with xenotransplantation; and

(2) The results of donor testing for relevant communicable disease agents in accordance with §§ 1271.80 and 1271.85 are negative or nonreactive, except as provided in § 1271.80(d)(1).

(a) Accompanying records. Once a donor-eligibility determination has been made, the following must accompany the HCT/P at all times:

(1) A distinct identification code affixed to the HCT/P container, e.g., alphanumeric, that relates the HCT/P to the donor and to all records pertaining to the HCT/P and, except in the case of autologous donations, directed reproductive donations, or donations made by first-degree or second-degree blood relatives, does not include an individual's name, social security number, or medical record number;

(2) A statement whether, based on the results of screening and testing, the donor has been determined to be eligible or ineligible; and

(3) A summary of the records used to make the donor-eligibility determination.

(b) Summary of records. The summary of records required by paragraph (a)(3) of this section must contain the following information:

(1) A statement that the communicable disease testing was performed by a laboratory:

(i) Certified to perform such testing on human specimens under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 263a) and 42 CFR part 493; or

(ii) That has met equivalent requirements as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in accordance with those provisions;

(2) A listing and interpretation of the results of all communicable disease tests performed;

(3) The name and address of the establishment that made the donor-eligibility determination; and

(4) In the case of an HCT/P from a donor who is ineligible based on screening and released under paragraph (b) of § 1271.65, a statement noting the reason(s) for the determination of ineligibility.

(c) Deletion of personal information. The accompanying records required by this section must not contain the donor's name or other personal information that might identify the donor.

(d) Record retention requirements. (1) You must maintain documentation of:

(i) Results and interpretation of all testing for relevant communicable disease agents in compliance with §§ 1271.80 and 1271.85, as well as the name and address of the testing laboratory or laboratories;

(ii) Results and interpretation of all donor screening for communicable diseases in compliance with § 1271.75; and

(iii) The donor-eligibility determination, including the name of the responsible person who made the determination and the date of the determination.

(2) All records must be accurate, indelible, and legible. Information on the identity and relevant medical records of the donor, as defined in § 1271.3(s), must be in English or, if in another language, must be retained and translated to English and accompanied by a statement of authenticity by the translator that specifically identifies the translated document.

(3) You must retain required records and make them available for authorized inspection by or upon request from FDA. Records that can be readily retrieved from another location by electronic means are considered “retained.”

(4) You must retain the records pertaining to a particular HCT/P at least 10 years after the date of its administration, or if the date of administration is not known, then at least 10 years after the date of the HCT/P's distribution, disposition, or expiration, whichever is latest.

[69 FR 29830, May 25, 2004, as amended at 70 FR 29952, May 25, 2005]

(a) Quarantine. You must keep an HCT/P in quarantine, as defined in § 1271.3(q), until completion of the donor-eligibility determination required by § 1271.50. You must quarantine semen from anonymous donors until the retesting required under § 1271.85(d) is complete.

(b) Identification of HCT/Ps in quarantine. You must clearly identify as quarantined an HCT/P that is in quarantine pending completion of a donor-eligibility determination. The quarantined HCT/P must be easily distinguishable from HCT/Ps that are available for release and distribution.

(c) Shipping of HCT/Ps in quarantine. If you ship an HCT/P before completion of the donor-eligibility determination, you must keep it in quarantine during shipment. The HCT/P must be accompanied by records:

(1) Identifying the donor (e.g., by a distinct identification code affixed to the HCT/P container);

(2) Stating that the donor-eligibility determination has not been completed; and

(3) Stating that the product must not be implanted, transplanted, infused, or transferred until completion of the donor-eligibility determination, except under the terms of paragraph (d) of this section.

(d) Use in cases of urgent medical need. (1) This subpart C does not prohibit the implantation, transplantation, infusion, or transfer of an HCT/P from a donor for whom the donor-eligibility determination is not complete if there is a documented urgent medical need for the HCT/P, as defined in § 1271.3(u).

(2) If you make an HCT/P available for use under the provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, you must prominently label it “NOT EVALUATED FOR INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES,” and “ WARNING: Advise patient of communicable disease risks.” The following information must accompany the HCT/P:

(i) The results of any donor screening required under § 1271.75 that has been completed;

(ii) The results of any testing required under § 1271.80 or 1271.85 that has been completed; and

(iii) A list of any screening or testing required under § 1271.75, 1271.80 or 1271.85 that has not yet been completed.

(3) If you are the establishment that manufactured an HCT/P used under the provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, you must document that you notified the physician using the HCT/P that the testing and screening were not complete.

(4) In the case of an HCT/P used for an urgent medical need under the provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, you must complete the donor-eligibility determination during or after the use of the HCT/P, and you must inform the physician of the results of the determination.

(a) Storage. If you are the establishment that stores the HCT/P, you must store or identify HCT/Ps from donors who have been determined to be ineligible in a physically separate area clearly identified for such use, or follow other procedures, such as automated designation, that are adequate to prevent improper release until destruction or other disposition of the HCT/P in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.

(b) Limited uses of HCT/P from ineligible donor. (1) An HCT/P from a donor who has been determined to be ineligible, based on the results of required testing and/or screening, is not prohibited by subpart C of this part from use for implantation, transplantation, infusion, or transfer under the following circumstances:

(i) The HCT/P is for allogeneic use in a first-degree or second-degree blood relative;

(ii) The HCT/P consists of reproductive cells or tissue from a directed reproductive donor, as defined in § 1271.3(l); or

(iii) There is a documented urgent medical need as defined in § 1271.3(u).

(2) You must prominently label an HCT/P made available for use under the provisions of paragraph (b)(1) of this section with the Biohazard legend shown in § 1271.3(h) with the statement “WARNING: Advise patient of communicable disease risks,” and, in the case of reactive test results, “WARNING: Reactive test results for (name of disease agent or disease).” The HCT/P must be accompanied by the records required under § 1271.55.

(3) If you are the establishment that manufactured an HCT/P used under the provisions of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, you must document that you notified the physician using the HCT/P of the results of testing and screening.

(c) Nonclinical use. You may make available for nonclinical purposes an HCT/P from a donor who has been determined to be ineligible, based on the results of required testing and/or screening, provided that it is labeled:

(1) “For Nonclinical Use Only” and

(2) With the Biohazard legend shown in § 1271.3(h).

(a) All donors. Except as provided under § 1271.90, if you are the establishment that performs donor screening, you must screen a donor of cells or tissue by reviewing the donor's relevant medical records for:

(1) Risk factors for, and clinical evidence of, relevant communicable disease agents and diseases, including:

(i) Human immunodeficiency virus;

(ii) Hepatitis B virus;

(iii) Hepatitis C virus;

(iv) Human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease;

(v) Treponema pallidum; and

(2) Communicable disease risks associated with xenotransplantation.

(b) Donors of viable, leukocyte-rich cells or tissue. In addition to the relevant communicable disease agents and diseases for which screening is required under paragraph (a) of this section, and except as provided under § 1271.90, you must screen the donor of viable, leukocyte-rich cells or tissue by reviewing the donor's relevant medical records for risk factors for and clinical evidence of relevant cell-associated communicable disease agents and diseases, including Human T-lymphotropic virus.

(c) Donors of reproductive cells or tissue. In addition to the relevant communicable disease agents and diseases for which screening is required under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, as applicable, and except as provided under § 1271.90, you must screen the donor of reproductive cells or tissue by reviewing the donor's relevant medical records for risk factors for and clinical evidence of infection due to relevant communicable diseases of the genitourinary tract. Such screening must include screening for the communicable disease agents listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section. However, if the reproductive cells or tissues are recovered by a method that ensures freedom from contamination of the cells or tissue by infectious disease organisms that may be present in the genitourinary tract, then screening for the communicable disease agents listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section is not required. Communicable disease agents of the genitourinary tract for which you must screen include:

(1) Chlamydia trachomatis; and

(2) Neisseria gonorrhea.

(d) Ineligible donors. You must determine ineligible a donor who is identified as having either of the following:

(1) A risk factor for or clinical evidence of any of the relevant communicable disease agents or diseases for which screening is required under paragraphs (a)(1), (b), or (c) of this section; or

(2) Any communicable disease risk associated with xenotransplantation.

(e) Abbreviated procedure for repeat donors. If you have performed a complete donor screening procedure on a living donor within the previous 6 months, you may use an abbreviated donor screening procedure on repeat donations. The abbreviated procedure must determine and document any changes in the donor's medical history since the previous donation that would make the donor ineligible, including relevant social behavior.

[66 FR 5466, Jan. 19, 2001, as amended at 71 FR 14798, Mar. 24, 2006]

(a) Testing for relevant communicable diseases is required. To adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of relevant communicable diseases, and except as provided under § 1271.90, if you are the establishment that performs donor testing, you must test a donor specimen for evidence of infection due to communicable disease agents in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section. You must test for those communicable disease agents specified in § 1271.85. In the case of a donor 1 month of age or younger, you must test a specimen from the birth mother instead of a specimen from the donor.

(b) Timing of specimen collection. You must collect the donor specimen for testing at the time of recovery of cells or tissue from the donor; or up to 7 days before or after recovery, except:

(1) For donors of peripheral blood stem/progenitor cells, bone marrow (if not excepted under § 1271.3(d)(4)), or oocytes, you may collect the donor specimen for testing up to 30 days before recovery; or

(2) In the case of a repeat semen donor from whom a specimen has already been collected and tested, and for whom retesting is required under § 1271.85(d), you are not required to collect a donor specimen at the time of each donation.

(c) Tests. You must test using appropriate FDA-licensed, approved, or cleared donor screening tests, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, to adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of relevant communicable disease agents or diseases; however, until such time as appropriate FDA-licensed, approved, or cleared donor screening tests for Chlamydia trachomatis and for Neisseria gonorrhea are available, you must use FDA-licensed, approved, or cleared tests labeled for the detection of those organisms in an asymptomatic, low-prevalence population. You must use a test specifically labeled for cadaveric specimens instead of a more generally labeled test when applicable and when available. Required testing under this section must be performed by a laboratory that either is certified to perform such testing on human specimens under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 263a) and 42 CFR part 493, or has met equivalent requirements as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(d) Ineligible donors. You must determine the following donors to be ineligible:

(1) A donor whose specimen tests reactive on a screening test for a communicable disease agent in accordance with § 1271.85, except for a donor whose specimen tests reactive on a non-treponemal screening test for syphilis and negative on a specific treponemal confirmatory test;

(2)(i) A donor in whom plasma dilution sufficient to affect the results of communicable disease testing is suspected, unless:

(A) You test a specimen taken from the donor before transfusion or infusion and up to 7 days before recovery of cells or tissue; or

(B) You use an appropriate algorithm designed to evaluate volumes administered in the 48 hours before specimen collection, and the algorithm shows that plasma dilution sufficient to affect the results of communicable disease testing has not occurred.

(ii) Clinical situations in which you must suspect plasma dilution sufficient to affect the results of communicable disease testing include but are not limited to the following:

(A) Blood loss is known or suspected in a donor over 12 years of age, and the donor has received a transfusion or infusion of any of the following, alone or in combination:

(1) More than 2,000 milliliters (mL) of blood (e.g., whole blood, red blood cells) or colloids within 48 hours before death or specimen collection, whichever occurred earlier, or

(2) More than 2,000 mL of crystalloids within 1 hour before death or specimen collection, whichever occurred earlier.

(B) Regardless of the presence or absence of blood loss, the donor is 12 years of age or younger and has received a transfusion or infusion of any amount of any of the following, alone or in combination:

(1) Blood (e.g., whole blood, red blood cells) or colloids within 48 hours before death or specimen collection, whichever occurred earlier, or

(2) Crystalloids within 1 hour before death or specimen collection, whichever occurred earlier.

[69 FR 29830, May 25, 2004, as amended at 70 FR 29952, May 25, 2005]

(a) All donors. To adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of relevant communicable diseases, and except as provided under § 1271.90, you must test a specimen from the donor of cells or tissue, whether viable or nonviable, for evidence of infection due to relevant communicable disease agents, including:

(1) Human immunodeficiency virus, type 1;

(2) Human immunodeficiency virus, type 2;

(3) Hepatitis B virus;

(4) Hepatitis C virus; and

(5) Treponema pallidum.

(b) Donors of viable, leukocyte-rich cells or tissue. In addition to the relevant communicable disease agents for which testing is required under paragraph (a) of this section, and except as provided under § 1271.90,

(1) You must test a specimen from the donor of viable, leukocyte-rich cells or tissue to adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of relevant cell-associated communicable diseases, including:

(i) Human T-lymphotropic virus, type I; and

(ii) Human T-lymphotropic virus, type II.

(2) You must test a specimen from the donor of viable, leukocyte-rich cells or tissue for evidence of infection due to cytomegalovirus (CMV), to adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission. You must establish and maintain a standard operating procedure governing the release of an HCT/P from a donor whose specimen tests reactive for CMV.

(c) Donors of reproductive cells or tissue. In addition to the communicable disease agents for which testing is required under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, as applicable, and except as provided under § 1271.90, you must test a specimen from the donor of reproductive cells or tissue to adequately and appropriately reduce the risk of transmission of relevant communicable disease agents of the genitourinary tract. Such testing must include testing for the communicable disease agents listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section. However, if the reproductive cells or tissues are recovered by a method that ensures freedom from contamination of the cells or tissue by infectious disease organisms that may be present in the genitourinary tract, then testing for the communicable disease agents listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section is not required. Communicable disease agents of the genitourinary tract for which you must test include:

(1) Chlamydia trachomatis; and

(2) Neisseria gonorrhea.

(d) Retesting anonymous semen donors. Except as provided under § 1271.90 and except for directed reproductive donors as defined in § 1271.3(l), at least 6 months after the date of donation of semen from anonymous donors, you must collect a new specimen from the donor and test it for evidence of infection due to the communicable disease agents for which testing is required under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section.

(e) Dura mater. For donors of dura mater, you must perform an adequate assessment designed to detect evidence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

(a) Donor-eligibility determination not required. You are not required to make a donor-eligibility determination under § 1271.50 or to perform donor screening or testing under §§ 1271.75, 1271.80 and 1271.85 for:

(1) Cells and tissues for autologous use; or

(2) Reproductive cells or tissue donated by a sexually intimate partner of the recipient for reproductive use; or

(3) Cryopreserved cells or tissue for reproductive use, other than embryos, originally excepted under paragraphs (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section at the time of donation, that are subsequently intended for directed donation, provided that:

(i) Additional donations are unavailable, for example, due to the infertility or health of a donor of the cryopreserved reproductive cells or tissue; and

(ii) Appropriate measures are taken to screen and test the donor(s) before transfer to the recipient.

(4) A cryopreserved embryo, originally excepted under paragraph (a)(2) of this section at the time of recovery or cryopreservation, that is subsequently intended for directed or anonymous donation. When possible, appropriate measures should be taken to screen and test the semen and oocyte donors before transfer of the embryo to the recipient.

(b) Exceptions for reproductive use. An embryo originally intended for reproductive use for a specific individual or couple that is subsequently intended for directed or anonymous donation for reproductive use is excepted from the prohibition on use under § 1271.45(c) even when the applicable donor eligibility requirements under subpart C of this part are not met. Nothing in this paragraph creates an exception for deficiencies that occurred in making the donor eligibility determination for either the oocyte donor or the semen donor as required under § 1271.45(b), or for deficiencies in performing donor screening or testing, as required under §§ 1271.75, 1271.80, and 1271.85.

(c) Required labeling. As applicable, you must prominently label an HCT/P described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section as follows:

(1) “FOR AUTOLOGOUS USE ONLY,” if it is stored for autologous use.

(2) “NOT EVALUATED FOR INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES,” unless you have performed all otherwise applicable screening and testing under §§ 1271.75, 1271.80, and 1271.85. This paragraph does not apply to reproductive cells or tissue labeled in accordance with paragraph (c)(6) of this section.

(3) Unless the HCT/P is for autologous use only, “WARNING: Advise recipient of communicable disease risks,”

(i) When the donor-eligibility determination under § 1271.50(a) is not performed or is not completed; or

(ii) If the results of any screening or testing performed indicate:

(A) The presence of relevant communicable disease agents and/or

(B) Risk factors for or clinical evidence of relevant communicable disease agents or diseases.

(4) With the Biohazard legend shown in § 1271.3(h), if the results of any screening or testing performed indicate:

(i) The presence of relevant communicable disease agents and/or

(ii) Risk factors for or clinical evidence of relevant communicable disease agents or diseases.

(5) “WARNING: Reactive test results for (name of disease agent or disease),” in the case of reactive test results.

(6) “Advise recipient that screening and testing of the donor(s) were not performed at the time of recovery or cryopreservation of the reproductive cells or tissue, but have been performed subsequently,” for paragraphs (a)(3) or (a)(4) of this section.

[69 FR 29830, May 25, 2004, as amended at 70 FR 29952, May 25, 2005; 81 FR 40517, June 22, 2016]