vCJD and the transfused patient
The Joint UKBTS / NIBSC Professional Advisory Committee has produced a Position Statement on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
The position statement is available at: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease - JPAC Position Statement
HIV/Hepatitis C and the transfused patient
A position statement issued by the Joint UKBTS / NIBSC Professional Advisory Committee on the "Estimates of the frequency of HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV l infectious donations entering the blood supply per million donations (and 1 per million donations) tested, UK: 2005-2006"
The position statement is available here
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO)
The remit of this committee is to advise Ministers of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations as well as UK Health Departments on the most appropriate ways to ensure the safety of blood, cells, tissues and organs for transfusion / transplantation. The remit also includes providing independent advice on:
- the microbiological safety of gametes and stem cells, in liaison with the relevant regulatory authorities; and
- risk management options for Ministers and UK Health Departments to consider.
Further information on this committee can be found from the following link:
www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/acsbto/index.htm
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
The functions of the Agency are "to protect the community (or any part of the community) against infectious diseases and other dangers to health" (HPA Act 2004). In addition, it also provides support to, and works in partnership with others who have health protection responsibilities and advises, through the Department of Health, all government departments and devolved administrations throughout the UK.
Further information is available from the following link:
www.hpa.org.uk.
