title: Eye banking and corneal transplantation communicable adverse incidents: current status and project NOTIFY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence of the transmission of disease via donor ocular tissue has been demonstrated for adenocarcinoma, rabies, hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and a variety of bacterial and fungal infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Although there is no evidence to date of disease transmission for HIV infection, syphilis, hepatitis C, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, HTLV-1 and -2 infection, active leprosy, active typhoid, smallpox, and active malaria, these entities remain contraindications for transplantation for all eye banks nationally and internationally. The potential sources of contamination include infected donors, during the process of removing tissue from cadaveric donors, the processing environment, and contaminated supplies and reagents used during processing. The transmissions of Herpes simplex virus and HSV via corneal graft have been shown to be responsible for primary graft failure. HSV-1 may also be an important cause of PFG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The long latency period of some diseases, the emergence of new infectious disease, and the reemergence of others emphasize the need for long-term record maintenance and effective tracing capabilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The standardization of definitions for adverse events and reactions will be necessary to support the prevention and transmission of disease. International classification of a unique identification system for donors will be increasingly important for vigilance and traceability in cross-national exportation of human cells, tissues, and cellular- and tissue-based products. Opportunities for continuous improvement exist as does the need for constant vigilance and surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada. paul@pjdubord.com
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dubord
authors.forename: G Dewey
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Marian S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Macsai
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mannis
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Glasser
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fehily
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005125:Eye Banks; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States