2011-30449. Draft Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests on Pooled and Individual Samples From Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components, Including Source Plasma, to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled “Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) on Pooled and Individual Samples from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components (including Recovered Plasma, Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes) to Adequately and Appropriately Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Requalification of Donors Who Test HBV NAT Positive,” dated November 2011. The draft guidance document provides recommendations on the use of FDA-licensed nucleic acid tests (NAT) to screen blood donors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and recommendations for product testing and disposition, donor management, methods for donor requalification, and product labeling. In addition, the draft guidance provides notification that FDA considers the use of an FDA-licensed HBV NAT to be necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of transmission of HBV. The guidance is intended for blood establishments that collect Whole Blood and blood components for transfusion or for further manufacture, including recovered plasma, Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes. The draft guidance, when finalized, is intended to supplement previous memoranda and guidance from FDA concerning the testing of donations for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and the management of donors and units mentioned in those documents.

DATES:

Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the Agency considers your comment on this draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the guidance, submit either electronic or written comments on the draft guidance by January 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written requests for single copies of the draft guidance to the Office of Communication, Outreach and Development (HFM-40), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, suite 200N, Rockville, MD 20852-1448. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist the office in processing your requests. The draft guidance may also be obtained by mail by calling CBER at 1-[phone] or [phone]. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the draft guidance document.

Submit electronic comments on the draft guidance to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Levine, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (HFM-17), Food and Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, suite 200N, Rockville, MD 20852-1448, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

I. Background

FDA is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled “Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) on Pooled and Individual Samples from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components (including Recovered Plasma, Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes) to Adequately and Appropriately Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Requalification of Donors Who Test HBV NAT Positive,” dated November 2011. FDA is providing blood establishments that collect Whole Blood and blood components for transfusion or for further manufacture, including recovered plasma, Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes; with recommendations concerning the use of FDA-licensed NAT to screen blood donors for HBV DNA. FDA is also providing these blood establishments with recommendations for product testing and disposition, donor management, methods for donor requalification, and product labeling.

In addition, FDA is notifying those blood establishments that FDA considers the use of an FDA-licensed HBV NAT to be necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of transmission of HBV. FDA-licensed HBV NAT can detect evidence of infection at an earlier stage than is possible using previously approved HBsAg and anti-HBc tests. Therefore, FDA is recommending the use of an FDA-licensed HBV NAT, in accordance with the requirements under 610.40(a) and (b) (21 CFR 610.40(a) and (b)).

The draft guidance, when finalized, is intended to supplement previous memoranda and guidance from FDA to blood establishments concerning the testing of donations for HBsAg and anti-HBc, and the management of donors and units mentioned in those documents. Note that testing Whole Blood and blood components for transfusion and Source Leukocytes for further manufacture for HBsAg and anti-HBc, and Source Plasma for HBsAg should continue when a blood establishment implements HBV NAT. FDA may consider advancements in technology for testing blood donations, as well as data obtained following the implementation of HBV NAT, to make future recommendations on adequate and appropriate testing for HBV.

The draft guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent FDA's current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirement of the applicable statutes and regulations.

II. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This draft guidance refers to previously approved collections of information found in FDA regulations. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The collections of information in 606.121, 610.40 and 640.70 have been approved under OMB Control Numbers 0910-0537, 0910-0116, and 0910-0338, respectively.

III. Comments

The draft guidance is being distributed for comment purposes only and is not intended for implementation at this time. Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) either electronic or written comments regarding this document. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no longer necessary to send two copies of mailed comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

IV. Electronic Access

Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the draft guidance at either http://www.fda.gov/​BiologicsBloodVaccines/​GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/​Guidances/​default.htm or http://www.regulations.gov.

Dated: November 21, 2011.

Leslie Kux,

Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy.