BPAC Holds Spring Meeting

The Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC)  to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  held their spring meeting on April 28-29, 2011 in Washington DC. This meeting addressed three topics: (1)Testing Source Plasma for Hepatitis B Virus by Nucleic Acid Testing; (2) Current Considerations on the Use of Plasma Obtained from Whole Blood Donors for Further Manufacturing; and (3) Written Statement of Understanding for Blood Donors (informed consent).
The Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC) purpose is to advise and provide recommendations to the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration by reviewing and evaluating data concerning the safety, effectiveness, and the appropriate use of blood, and blood products in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of human diseases. The Committee consists of 17 voting members and one nonvoting member. For more information about BPAC and to review the meeting materials, please visit the FDA’s website.