A comprehensive tracking system is essential for adequate follow-up studies for the improvement of tissue banking and the identification of recipients in the event of a possible disease transmission. The ability to track tissue to the recipient is a critical part of the Tissue Services' overall program. Should a problem with packaging, a specific tissue, or a donor ever be suspected, retrospectively, the Tissue Services would need to be able to contact our client hospitals and notify surgeons and patients. Without feedback from client hospitals, the Tissue Services cannot know if a tissue is transplanted, discarded, or still in stock. The tracking each hospital does is truly of major significance for the long-term safety of its patients.

Methods

There are three main elements to the Northwest Tissue Services' tracking program. The primary instrument is the transplant record that is sent with each distributed tissue (see transplant record). Clients are requested to complete these accurately and to return them to the Tissue Services. Hospitals are also encouraged to include a copy of the completed transplant record in the patient's chart. Additionally, all new clients are supplied with a tissue tracking log. The tracking log centralizes information about a hospital's use of transplant tissue, allowing review without the need to return to the patient chart. It can provide an additional method of following up on tissues if a transplant record is not returned or if conflicting information is received. Quarterly, hospital reports are sent out that list all unreported tissues; transplant information can be entered on this report. Frequently, the tissue is still in stock, and that can be noted on this report as well.

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