The Joint Professional Advisory Committee to the UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services (JPAC) has two distinct remits:
JPAC guidelines, which constitute JPAC’s professional advice to the UK Services, aim to be evidence based as far as possible and are reviewed regularly. The guidelines also take account of relevant Recommendations and Directives from European organisations such as the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union (EU). Services may choose to deviate from JPAC guidelines, but any such deviation should be substantiated and well documented.
From November 2005 the countries of the UK must operate their blood and tissue services, as well as important aspects of hospital transfusion services, under the legal requirements of the Blood Safety (and Quality) Regulations, 2005. For the Blood Services, the Acting Competent Authority under the Regulations is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). MHRA regulates the Services according to its interpretation of all relevant legislation.
The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) is responsible for ensuring appropriate regulation of tissue services. The Human Tissues Act became law in England and Wales in 2006, while a somewhat different act applies in Scotland. The Human Tissues Authority is the UK Competent Authority for Human Tissues and Cells under the terms of European Commission Directive 2004/23/EC.
The Department of Health’s Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) provides policy advice to Ministers in the four countries of the UK on the most appropriate ways to ensure the safety of blood, cells, tissues and organs for transfusion / transplantation. Its remit includes providing independent advice on the microbiological safety of gametes and stem cells and risk management options for Ministers and UK Health Departments to consider.
It meets about 3 times per year and receives information from many sources. SaBTO does not address the efficacy, effectiveness or clinical use of blood products and tissues. Much of the detailed evidence on which SaBTO deliberates is the result of work by Blood Services staff and the JPAC Standing Advisory Committee on Transfusion Transmitted Infections (SACTTI).
Further details on SaBTO can be found at www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisory-groups/advisory-committee-on-the-safety-of-blood-tissues-and-organs.