Considerations for choosing your anatomical specimen provider

Best questions to ask when auditing a tissue bank

When vetting a tissue bank, consider these factors:

Company profile & compliance

• How long has the organization been in business?
• What is the size and scale of the organization?
• Is the company accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (or similar international organization such as the HTA)?
• Does the tissue bank use a CLIA certified laboratory for tissue testing?
• Do they allow on-site audits?
• Do they provide original serology reports?

Anatomical specimens and donation process

• How does the company’s donor acceptance process work?
• Will they provide custom procurements and preparations per your specifications?
• Will they be able to meet your tissue needs when needed? (i.e. age, weight, gender, previous surgeries)?
  

Shipping, tracking, and logistics

• Do they have the ability to ship internationally? If so, what is their process for ensuring compliance with international shipping and/or customs requirements?
• Do they use freight forwarders based on their expertise in handling anatomical specimens, or does lowest cost win?
• Do they have multiple distribution locations to help manage the cost and reduce the risk of longer logistics times?
• Can the organization demonstrate 100% traceability for each specimen?
• Is their shipment packaging designed to prevent leakage and damage during transit?
  

Transcription: Discuss your needs with your tissue bank. The largest tissue banks ship internationally and work with critical freight forwarders to ensure compliance with shipping and customs requirements. We have shipped to 50 countries and the list is growing so give us a call to talk about your specific needs.

With a little due diligence, you can find an anatomical specimen provider that meets your needs and protects you and your organization. The key is to find a specimen provider that you can trust, that is responsive to your needs, and will work with you every step of the way.