title: Response to article -- 'A critical assessment of the impact of the European Union Tissues and Cell Directive (2004) on laboratory practices in assisted conception' by David Mortimer.
abstract: The European Union's Tissues and Cell Directive and the US regulations for tissue banks, both produced in 2004, recognize the need to revise current tissue-processing activities and address related risks of infection. The principle behind these regulations and the Australian and New Zealand, Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC) Code of Practice, produced in 2005, are all similar with an underlying quality management theme. Each of these documents is based on the premise to safeguard public health in the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases via transplanted tissues and cells.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee, IVF Australia, Chatswood, New South Wales 2067, Australia. dms2000@bigpond.net.au
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Adrianne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pope
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000592:standards*; D014021:Tissue Preservation