Tissue banking: the role of the Regional Blood Centre: an American experience in Minnesota.

The clinical use of bone, cornea, skin, connective tissue and heart valve allografts has increased greatly in the past several years, with bone the most commonly transplanted tissue. Tissue allografts have been the vehicle to transmit infectious disease from donor to recipient. Provision of safe and effective tissue has gradually developed and improved as regional tissue banks have organized, and standards of practice evolved. Regional Blood Centres have the special capabilities and experience to provide the expertise required in tissue banking. Consequent to these community needs, regional bone and tissue banks have been established in blood banks and the experience of the American Red Cross in St Paul, Minnesota is described.