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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Clinical

Safety and Usability of Corneas Post Vitreous Draw — A Retrospective Study

Editorial

Letter from the Editor

Featured Article

A Protocol for Implementation and Use of A Tissue Incubator for Rapid Corneal Warming at the Eye Bank

Original Research

Maximizing Cornea and Tissue Donation through Specimen Quality

Report

Establishing a Quality Index: One Eye Bank’s Experience Developing a Quality Measurement Tool for Reporting on Tissue Safety and Regulatory Compliance

Corneal Transplants Outcomes Post-Reporting of Concomitant Potentially Pathogenic Organisms Including Clostridium in Non Ocular Transplant Tissue Results

A Personal View: Preparation and Aftermath of Two Category 5 Hurricanes

Maximizing Cornea and Tissue Donation through Specimen Quality

Authors

Robert W. Bresler, Sydney D. Gastreich, Elias G. Koulouriotis, Linda S. Martin, Susan Diane Brockmeier, Chak-Sum Ho, PhD

Keywords

Donor screening, hemolysis

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of assays used
to screen for transmittable diseases in tissue and cornea donors.

Methods: Three years of data, including donor screening result,
confirmatory assay result, specimen quality (hemolysis), and
time elapsed between death and specimen procurement, were
reviewed. Chi-square analysis was employed to determine statistical
significance of findings.

Results: HBsAg, HTLV, and HIV prevalence was noted to be
higher than anticipated based on published data. Confirmatory
assay results did not support the increased prevalence found in
our test population. Instances of reactive screening results for
HBsAg, HTLV, and HIV correlated positively with an increase
in specimen hemolysis, as well as increased time between death
and specimen procurement. Specimen hemolysis showed a positive
correlation with increased time between death and specimen
procurement.

Conclusions: This retroactive study shows the importance of obtaining
a high-quality specimen free of hemolysis when screening
for infectious diseases in tissue and cornea donors.

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