FDA issues tissue, cell donation recommendations to reduce Zika virus risk

Editor's Note

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 1 released new guidelines to prevent the transmission of the Zika virus from human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products.

The guidance addresses both living and deceased donations of corneas, bone, skin, heart valves, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, gestational tissues such as umbilical cord blood and placentas, and reproductive tissues such as semen and oocytes.

Those diagnosed with Zika or who have traveled to Zika-infected areas in the past 6 months are not suitable for donation.

As an additional safety measure against the emerging Zika virus outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued new guidance for immediate implementation providing recommendations to reduce the potential transmission risk of Zika virus from human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps).