Tissue Banking: An Overview of Tissue Donation and Preservation Techniques

What is Tissue Banking?

Tissue banking refers to the process of collecting, preserving, and storing human tissues for future use in medical procedures such as reconstructive surgeries. Tissues that can be banked include bone, skin, heart valves, corneas, and tendons. The goal of tissue banking is to make donated tissues available for transplantation when needed. It allows tissues to be preserved and stored safely until the right recipient is identified.

Tissue Donation Process

When an individual signs up to be a tissue donor upon their death, their tissues are able to help others through transplantation even after they have passed away. Here is a brief overview of how the tissue donation process works:

– Upon death in a hospital, the next of kin is asked about tissue donation to see if the deceased indicated a wish to donate. With their consent, the recovery process can begin.

– A trained technician will recover only the Tissue Banking designated for donation, taking care to preserve the body for funeral purposes. Bones, skin and other tissues are removed carefully.

– The recovered tissues are labeled and transported swiftly to the local tissue bank which will process and preserve them. The bank screens tissues for infectious diseases.

– Tissues are stored in freezers or preservation mediums until needed for transplantation. They can be kept safely for decades in some cases.

– Surgeons can access the bank's tissue inventory and request specific grafts for patients as the need arises. The tissues are issued after all Disease testing is complete.

– The donation gives grafts to improve lives through reconstructive or restorative procedures. One tissue donor can potentially help over 50 other people.

Processing and Preservation Techniques

There are several methods used by tissue banks to process and store donated tissues long-term until they are transplanted into a recipient:

Cryopreservation – This involves freezing tissues at ultra-low temperatures using liquid nitrogen freezers, typically around -196°C. Cryopreservation inhibits chemical changes and prevents microbial growth, allowing long-term storage. Bones, heart valves and skin allografts are commonly cryopreserved.

Freeze-drying – Also called lyophilization, this involves freezing tissues and then reducing pressure to allow the ice to sublimate directly from the solid phase to vapor. The process removes water from tissues while keeping structure intact. Freeze-dried tissues like bone retain their shape well for transplantation.

Radiation – Low dose gamma irradiation can be used to sterilize tissues like corneas and bone while still preserving structure and function. The low energy radiation kills any microbes without damaging tissues.

Chemical agents – Tissues may also be preserved using antibiotics and antifungal solutions which inhibit microbial growth at refrigerated storage temperatures. Tendons and dermis can be stored this way for transplantation within 5 years.

Regulations and Safety Considerations

Tissue banking is tightly regulated in all developed countries to ensure safety and quality control of distributed tissues. Key regulations address:

– Infectious disease testing – All donors are screened for diseases like HIV, hepatitis and other pathogens transmissible through transplantation.

– Processing/handling standards – Facilities must adhere to sterilization, environmental monitoring and record-keeping practices as per regulatory guidelines.

– Traceability – Systems track tissues back to donor and ensure proper release and distribution to recipients.

– Adverse event reporting – Any transmissions of disease or complications with banked tissues are reported for review and QA purposes.

– Informed consent – Donors and recipients are made aware of any risks related to transplantation of banked tissues.

With strict adherence to current Good Tissue Practices and oversight from the FDA in the US or equivalent bodies worldwide, tissue banking offers a safer means to life-enhancing tissue grafts while respecting donor wishes even after death. It is transforming reconstructive and restorative care.

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