FDA workshop on emerging infectious diseases: evaluating emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) for transfusion safety

O n May 11, 2010, experts in the field of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and other participants from blood centers, academia, government agencies, and the industry gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Gaithersburg, Maryland, for a 2-day public workshop entitled “FDA Workshop on Emerging Infectious Diseases: Evaluating Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) for Transfusion and Transplantation Safety.” The first day of the workshop focused on transfusion safety was opened with a few welcome remarks from Dr Carolyn Wilson, Associate Director for Research, CBER, FDA, followed by introductory remarks from Dr Jay Epstein, Director, Office of Blood Research and Review, CBER, FDA. Subsequently 10 speakers presented their views on the workshop topic ranging from the lessons learned from our past experiences with infectious agents to the current cutting edge technologies to detect as well as to reduce the infectious agent burden in transfusion settings. A brief commentary on each presentation followed by the presentation as submitted by the speakers and a summary of the panel discussion are reported here. A transcript of the entire public workshop is available online at http://www.fda.gov/cber/minutes/workshopmin.htm.