title: [The 2009 performance report of the German cornea banks].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Germany, human tissue for corneal and amniotic transplantation is supplied by 27 cornea banks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Section for Tissue Transplantation and Biotechnology of the German Ophthalmological Society records the cornea banks' activities by means of an annual questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2009, a total of 4,818 corneal grafts were processed by 21 responding cornea banks, and 57% were deemed suitable for transplantation. This ratio is slightly higher than the European average. In addition, German cornea banks released 1,257 amniotic grafts in 2009.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  German cornea banks are currently facing new regulatory issues due to updated legislation regarding tissue transplantation. Recent updates in European law have limited the cutoff time for postmortem blood sampling to 24 h, and this regulation may lead to a significant reduction in potential donors.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik Merheim, Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schrage
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Böhringer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reinshagen
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005125:Eye Banks / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data