News

On behalf of the undersigned groups representing the nation’s blood collection establishments, transfusion services, and transfusion medicine professionals, we request that as you review the federal advisory committees as required by the Executive Order issued on June 14, 2019, you support the current structure of two distinct federal advisory committees charged with making recommendations related to the safety and availability of our nation’s blood supply.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced late today that they have extended the enforcement discretion period with respect to the laboratory date of service exception policy (14-Day rule for Advanced Laboratory Tests). The enforcement discretion is extended for 6 months until January 2, 2020. CMS’s announcement is accompanied by a questions and…

America’s Blood Centers has partnered with Facebook to bring a blood donation tool to the United States underscoring the ongoing need for additional blood donors across the country. The launch of the tool coincides with World Blood Donor Day on June 14, an international event to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their lifesaving gifts…

Congress has passed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPA) following approval in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The bill (S.1379) now awaits President Trump’s signature which is ex-pected in the near future. America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and its members have supported this broad legislation that drives the nation’s disaster…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a final guidance en-titled, “Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis.” The guidance recommends that babesiosis is a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection (RTTI) 21 CFR 630.3(h)(2)(i) and (ii) but does not recom-mend year-round antibody testing in Babesia endemic states at this time due to the lack…

The AABB Interorganizational Task Force and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has revised the blood prioritization letter last updated in 2007. The letter signed by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir, MD is a resource to be used by blood centers when working with state, territorial, tribal, and local emergency…