[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56802-56803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22527]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and
Availability
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Health, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that
the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability
(ACBTSA) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.
DATES: The meeting will take place Thursday, November 13, 2014, from
8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., and Friday, November 14, 2014, from 8:00 a.m.
to 3:45 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Veteran Health Administration National Conference Center,
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 150, Arlington, VA 22202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Berger, Designated Federal
Officer, ACBTSA, and Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Safety Policy,
Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human
Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone:
(240) 453-8803; Fax (240) 453-8456; Email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACBTSA shall provide advice to the
Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for Health. The Committee
advises on a range of policy issues to include: (1) Identification of
public health issues through surveillance of blood and tissue safety
issues with national biovigilance data tools; (2) identification of
public health issues that affect availability of blood, blood products,
and tissues; (3) broad public health, ethical, and legal issues related
to the safety of blood, blood products, and tissues; (4) the impact of
various economic factors (e.g., product cost and supply) on safety and
availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; (5) risk
communications related to blood transfusion and tissue transplantation;
and (6) identification of infectious disease transmission issues for
blood, organs, blood stem cells and tissues. The Advisory Committee has
met regularly since its establishment in 1997.
At the November 2014 meeting the ACBTSA will hear updates on recent
activities of the Department and its agencies in support of previous
Committee recommendations. Past recommendations made by the ACBTSA may
be viewed at www.hhs.gov/bloodsafety.
The focus of the meeting will be to address the implications of
hemoglobin S testing in blood donors. In particular, the Committee will
focus on the ethics of hemoglobin S testing as well as the perspective
of affected members of the blood collecting and using community. The
Committee will also continue its discussion of the current blood donor
policy for men who have sex with men. A portion of the meeting will
also be devoted to an emerging infectious disease, babesia, which could
potentially impact the blood supply.
The public will have opportunities to present their views to the
Committee during public comment sessions scheduled for November 13,
2014, and November 14, 2014. Comments regarding the men who have sex
with men blood donation policy should be presented on November 13,
2014. Comments regarding hemoglobin S testing and emerging infectious
disease testing should be presented on November 14, 2014. Comments will
be limited to five minutes per speaker and must be pertinent to the
discussion. Pre-registration is required for participation in the
public comment sessions. Any member of the public who would like to
participate in these sessions is encouraged to contact the Designated
Federal Officer at his/her earliest convenience to register for time
(limited to 5 minutes) and registration must be prior to close of
business on November 10, 2014. If it is not possible to provide 30
copies of the material to be distributed, then individuals are
requested to provide a minimum of one (1) copy of the document(s) to be
distributed prior to the close of business on November 10, 2014. It is
also requested that any member of the public
[[Page 56803]]
who wishes to provide comments to the Committee utilizing electronic
data projection submit the necessary material to the Designated Federal
Officer prior to the close of business on November 10, 2014.
Dated: September 17, 2014.
James J. Berger,
Designated Federal Officer and Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue
Safety Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-22527 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]
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