Regulations and Standards
Northwest Tissue Services meets all of the considerations hospitals, surgeons and staff should evaluate when choosing their allograft tissue provider:
- We are fully accredited by AATB and comply with all FDA Good Tissue Practices.
- We thoroughly assess donor suitability by reviewing available medical records, discussion with medical staff and a next-of-kin interview using a standardized screening form.
- All tissue is recovered aseptically and processed by strict adherence to surgical principles and clean-room protocols. Recoveries are performed in a Class 100 operating room located in our facility.
- Prior to release of tissues for transplant, there is a final inspection of the donor chart for accuracy and completeness. All database information is cross-checked and reviewed against the original chart and all other documents, including processing records, incident reports and microbiological results.
- GraftTrack, our donor to recipient custodial process carefully documents all aspects of the recovery, testing, storing, and distribution and tracking of tissue.
If NWTS does not have a particular tissue in inventory, our Product Services staff will find the tissue at another tissue bank that meets the following minimum criteria:
- AATB accreditation - The distributor and all associated organizations must have achieved AATB accreditation.
- Aseptic procedures - All procedures from recovery through processing and packaging must have been performed using sterile techniques.
- Tracking system - The tissue bank must be able to accurately and quickly track tissue between donor and hospital, identifying, if necessary, all recipients of tissue from each donor.