title: Training practices of cell processing laboratory staff: analysis of a survey by the Alliance for Harmonization of Cellular Therapy Accreditation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methods for processing products used for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation must ensure their safety and efficacy. Personnel training and ongoing competency assessment is critical to this goal. Here we present results from a global survey of methods used by a diverse array of cell processing facilities for the initial training and ongoing competency assessment of key personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Alliance for Harmonisation of Cellular Therapy Accreditation (AHCTA) created a survey to identify facility type, location, activity, personnel, and methods used for training and competency. A survey link was disseminated through organizations represented in AHCTA to processing facilities worldwide. Responses were tabulated and analyzed as a percentage of total responses and as a percentage of response by region group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most facilities were based at academic medical centers or hospitals. Facilities with a broad range of activity, product sources and processing procedures were represented. Facilities reported using a combination of training and competency methods. However, some methods predominated. Cellular sources for training differed for training versus competency and also differed based on frequency of procedures performed. Most facilities had responsibilities for procedures in addition to processing for which training and competency methods differed. Although regional variation was observed, training and competency requirements were generally consistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survey data showed the use of a variety of training and competency methods but some methods predominated, suggesting their utility. These results could help new and established facilities in making decisions for their own training and competency programs.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Electronic address: ckeever@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Keever-Taylor
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Slaper-Cortenbach
authors.affiliation: AABB, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celluzzi
authors.affiliation: AABB, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loper
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aljurf
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Joint Accreditation Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy and European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (JACIE) Accreditation Office, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mcgrath
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eldridge
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000068:Accreditation; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D059232:Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education*
keywords: cellular therapy product processing; competency; training