Xenotransplantation

According to the official document from 2001, (“PHS Guideline on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation,” www.fda.gov), xenotransplantation is “the use of live animal cells, tissues and organs in the treatment or mitigation of human disease.” AABB, in version 2.0 of the donor history questionnaire, has made xenotransplantation an indefinite deferral.

Examples of xenotransplants, per AABB, include “…any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation, or infusion into a human recipient of either (a) live cells, tissues, or organs from a nonhuman animal source or (b) human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that have had ex vivo contact with live nonhuman animal cells, tissues or organs.” (AABB Donor History Questionnaire v2.0, www.aabb.org, accessed 07/29/2019).

One of the common questions donor centers get about this is in regards to heart valves from animals (pigs, especially), but heart valves are specifically excluded from the deferral.

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