title: The impact of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) program on radiation and tissue banking in Mexico.
abstract: Tissue banking started in Mexico in 1948-1949, when two bone banks were established, one at the Infantile Hospital of Mexico and other at the Central Military Hospital. Mexico has benefited for the implementation of the IAEA program since through it has been able to settle down and to consolidate the Tissue Bank at the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares ININ (National Institute for Nuclear Research). This is the only bank in Latin America that has a Quality Management System in force, certified under ISO 9001:2000 since August 1, 2003. The first tissue processed was amnion. The main products of the BTR are amnion and pig skin. Both are biological tissues which their main use is as a wound dressing in patients with burns, scars, diabetic ulcers, epidermolysis bullosa, damaged ocular surface, etc. The General Health Law, published in 1984 and reformed in June 19, 2007, describes the procedure for the disposal of organs, tissues and human cadavers in its fourteenth title and in the Regulation for Sanitary Control. During the period 2001-2005, the ININ Tissue Bank produced 292 sterilised tissues (amnion, 86,668 cm(2), and frozen pig skin, 164,220 cm(2), at an estimated cost of 1,012,668 Mexican pesos. Until 2006, one hundred eighty five (185) patients have been treated with the use of sterilised tissues produced by the ININ Tissue Bank. The radiation source used for sterilisation of tissues is an industrial Cobalt-60 irradiator model JS-6500 AECL, which belongs to ININ. This equipment is located in other building, close to the BTR, in the Centro Nuclear de México "Dr. Nabor Carrillo Flores" (Nuclear Center of Mexico). Until 2006, six hospitals use in a routine way the sterilised tissues produced by the ININ Tissue Bank, for the treatment of burns originated by diverse agents like flame, electricity, liquids in boil, chemical reagents, as well as for the reconstruction of the ocular surface. Two of these hospitals treat patients of very low economic incomes, mainly needy individuals, who cannot afford to pay this type of treatments in other hospitals due to their high cost. The results obtained up to now are highly promising.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Apdo. postal 18-1027, Col. Escandón, 11801, México, D.F. México. memp@nuclear.inin.mx
authors.forename: María Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Martínez-Pardo
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales Pedraza
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sánchez Ramírez
mesh_terms: D004493:Education; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D008800:Mexico; D009678:Nuclear Energy; D011827:Radiation; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000639:trends