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ACBTSA Seeks Public Comments on Blood Supply Recommendations

October 04, 2023

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability (ACBTSA) is seeking public comments on recommendations related to the sustainability of the blood supply during national emergencies. The committee will vote on whether to adopt the recommendations at its next full meeting, which has not been scheduled.

In developing the recommendations, the committee considered its 2020 report on the adequacy of the blood supply, which warned that the U.S. blood supply is reaching a point of instability. Blood collectors’ experience during the COVID-19 pandemic also informed the recommendations, with the committee noting that “financial support for collecting and distributing COVID-19 convalescent plasma was essential for sustaining the system at that time.”

Summary of Recommendations

The committee’s recommendations, in brief, are as follows:

  1. ACBTSA recommends that during national and regional emergencies, government resources are made available to assist blood collection centers with the transport of blood samples and other key supplies that may be needed in affected areas of the country. The emergency support function (ESF) #8 planning document should specifically incorporate this provision into their planning function.
  2. The committee further recommends an analysis of all required blood supply functions with cross-reference to the ESF #8 planning document to ensure that all functions are appropriately covered with an annex to the ESF.
  3. ACBTSA recommends that “the Zika payment model” be used during long-term emergencies to support the collection and manufacture of blood components to allow for a minimum 10% increase over baseline usage during emergencies when surge capacity is required. A working group would develop a strategy and business case for surge capacity and recommend additional measures that would allow for smoother operations during emergency surges.
  4. Given the need for more younger and diverse blood donors, the committee recommends that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra fund additional public awareness campaigns, including funding for data analytics to increase the donor pool and determine the campaigns’ effectiveness.

AABB is preparing comments to submit to the ACBTSA and encourages members of the blood community share feedback to help shape this submission. Interested individuals may also submit comments directly to the committee via email.