COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER/COMMUNITY TISSUE SERVICES EARNS CONTINUED REGISTRATION TO ISO 9001:2000

DAYTON, OHIO – Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services, (CBC/CTS), a not-for-profit organization, announced today that it has been recommended for continued Registration to ISO 9001:2000.  ISO 9001:2000, is an internationally recognized quality management system developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

 “Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services’ ISO registration supports our commitment to providing quality blood components, tissue grafts and services,” stated CEO/Medical Director David Smith, MD.  “We are one of a few blood centers and tissue banks in the US that has achieved ISO registration,” he added, “which makes us a member of a very elite group”.

Companies seeking registration to 9001:2000 must implement a Quality Management System (QMS).   “Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services has been required to operate under a quality program by regulatory and accreditation standards since the mid-1990’s,” said the CEO/Medical Director.  “ISO 9001:2000 reinforces that CBC/CTS has effectively implemented a Quality Management System,” Dr. Smith added.

Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services began its ISO registration process in March 2002.  BSI, Inc., was selected and hired to perform the registration assessments.  BSI, Inc., accredited by the Registration Accreditation Board, is the world’s leading international
standards, testing, registration, and certification organization.  As part of the registration process, BSI performed on-site assessments, examined documented procedures, and audited its overall operations. 

Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services has been registered to ISO 9001:2000 since June 2002.  Surveillance audits were performed, first biannually, and then once per year through February 2008.  The latest round of audits, which occurred in February 2009, was a complete reassessment of CBC/CTS’ quality management system, not unlike the initial assessment.  The 2009 audits resulted in a recommendation for continued registration.

Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is ISO 9001:2000 registered.  Community Blood Center is the sole provider of blood components to the twenty-four hospitals in its fifteen county service area. Community Tissue Services serves the public through recovery, processing and distribution of human tissue donations used for transplantation. Community Tissue Services is composed of eight regional offices and two satellite offices:  Dayton, Ohio (Corporate Office); Fort Worth, Texas; Fresno, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; and Toledo, Ohio.  Satellite locations:  Boise, Idaho, and Medford, Oregon.

For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services, please visit www.cbccts.org or www.communitytissue.org.

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