E.U. Commission Proposes New Blood Safety Standards
The executive body of the European Union proposed new "harmonized" blood safety rules Wednesday to prevent contaminated blood from being used for transfusions, Reuters Health reports. The European Commission's regulations, which await the approval of E.U. governments, will cover the testing, collection, storage and distribution of blood and blood components in all member nations. The plans also outline conditions of eligibility for donation and rules for the tracking and monitoring of blood from collection to transfusion. "We need to learn from the experiences of those whose lives have been devastated by contaminated blood," David Byrne, E.U. health commissioner, said. "Our citizens expect to have access to blood and blood products which have passed through rigorous, agreed safety procedures" (Reuters Health, 12/13).
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