Processing | Processing Tissue Grafts

CTS has branches located in Dayton, OH (Headquarters); Fort Worth, TX; Fresno, CA; Indianapolis, IN; Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR; Toledo, OH; and Memphis, TN. In addition, there are two satellite offices in Boise, ID and Medford, OR.

The tissue bank has provided over 165,000 tissue grafts for transplantation to hospitals across the United States in 2010. CTS is the largest nonprofit provider of skin grafts to surgeons for severe burn patients in the United States.

All musculoskeletal and skin tissue grafts recovered by each branch are processed at the Center for Tissue, Innovation and Research in Kettering, OH and then returned to the branches for distribution. Because CTS has earned the reputation as one of the leaders in processing of human tissue grafts for transplantation, several outside tissue banking organizations have contracted with CTS for processing services.

Strict processing procedures are taken by the tissue bank to ensure quality and safe tissue grafts for transplantation. CTS complies with guidelines and regulations with the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) and many other state health department regulations.

Extensive tests for infectious diseases such as AIDS, Hepatitis B&C and Syphilis are performed on all donors recovered by CTS. Each donor is thoroughly evaluated using medical/social history questions, medical records, blood test and culture results, physical examinations and autopsy reports (when performed). The tissue bank’s medical director reviews all donor information, and if found acceptable the tissue is released for processing.

Each donor is processed individually to prevent cross-contamination. CTS has fourteen class 100 processing suites, a freeze-drying room, decontamination area, and a central sterile supply area.

Musculoskeletal allografts are processed and sterilized using gamma irradiation following ISO 11137 methodology to provide a sterility assurance level of 10^-6. As part of a validated process, cleaning and disinfecting solutions such as alcohol, antibiotics and hydrogen peroxide, along with centrifuges, ultrasonic baths and pressure washes are used during a patented cleaning treatment, Allowash®, to remove viruses, bacteria and cellular material. Packaged grafts are prepared as lyophilized or frozen tissue. Lyophilized tissue may be stored at ambient (room) temperature for up to three years. Frozen musculoskeletal tissue may be stored at -40 degrees C or colder for five years or -20 degrees C for temporary storage of up to six months.

Over one million tissue transplants are performed each year in the United States.

Allowash® is a registered trademark of LifeNet Health. Products and processes may be covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 6,024,735, 5,977,432, 5,977,034, 5,976,104, 5,820,581, 5,797,871, and 5,556,379. CTS licenses the Allowash® Service from LifeNet Health, Virginia Beach, VA.