Tissue archives to track blood borne pathogens in people receiving blood products.

Tissue banks for surveillance of pathogens, research and transplantation have been established in a variety of settings, and following a variety of guidelines. There are significant and changing ethical, moral, and legal issues in the development and use of such archives. The Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada has established an archive of blood samples to test for known and emerging blood borne pathogens, and known and emerging blood clotting genes. Key to the development of the tissue bank was the consent process for sample collection and handling, the establishment of standard operating procedures for the handling of samples and data, and the establishment of an oversight board.