ARCHIVED - Summative Evaluation of the Blood Safety Contribution Program - Final Report

II. Blood Safety Contribution Program

BSCP Components

Component 3000: Cells, Tissues and Organs Surveillance System (CTOSS)^{Footnote 2}

Additional contribution funding ($350,000 in 2005-06 and $500,000 in 2006-07 and thereafter) was provided in 2005 for a Cells, Tissues and Organs Surveillance System (CTOSS) targeted at the surveillance of transplantation-related adverse events. The scope of CTOSS does not include tracking of cells, tissues and organs.

The PHAC partnered with the Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation (CCDT)^{Footnote 3} in July of 2007 to begin the development of a Tissues and Organs Surveillance System (TOSS) for Canada (Tissues and Organs Surveillance System. Consultation: September 2007 – March 2008, 2008, p.3: Surveillance of Recipients of Organ and Tissue Transplants: An Environmental Scan for the Tissues and Organs Surveillance System Core Steering Committee, 2008, p. 2). The intent is to start with tissue and organ surveillance and phase in cells at a later date.

Current Status

CTOSS is still under development and is still in the relatively early planning phase. The intent is to start with tissue surveillance and phase in cells and organs at a later date. Similarly, while the program will utilize a more limited definition of ‘adverse events’ in early phases, it will eventually also include ‘errors’ and ‘accidents’.

Committee Support

The development of CTOSS is currently guided by the TOSS Steering Committee, and is supported by the CTOSS Data Working Group (CTOSSDWG). TheCTOSSDWG focuses on data elements and operational issues and reports to the TOSS Steering Committee. The Steering Committee focuses on overseeing the implementation of the system. The committee focused on tissue surveillance system development in 2007/08 (Terms ohttp://webdev.phac-aspc.gc.ca/about_apropos/reports/2008-09/blood-sang/2g-eng.phpf Reference Final: Steering Committee for Tissues and Organs Surveillance System Phase I: Tissue, 2008).

The National Working Group Cells, Tissues and Organs SurveillanceSystem (NWGCTOSS) is currently under development to support the CTOSS. The working group will establish anongoing mechanism to ensure excellence in epidemiologic surveillance of adverseevents resulting from the transplantation of cells, tissues and organs. It will identify andaddress issues related to a national surveillance program on the safety of cells, tissuesand organs. The group will serve the function of recommending future directions,quality, efficacy and effectiveness of the CTOSS as a national surveillance program andinitially will focus on tissues.

Footnotes