2013-10889. Guidance for Industry: Implementation of an Acceptable Abbreviated Donor History Questionnaire and Accompanying Materials for Use in Screening Frequent Donors of Blood and Blood Components; Availability

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a document entitled “Guidance for Industry: Implementation of an Acceptable Abbreviated Donor History Questionnaire and Accompanying Materials for Use in Screening Frequent Donors of Blood and Blood Components” dated May 2013. The guidance document recognizes the abbreviated donor history questionnaire and accompanying materials (aDHQ documents), version 1.3 dated December 2012, prepared by the AABB Donor History Task Force, as an acceptable mechanism for collecting blood donor history information from frequent donors of blood and blood components that is consistent with FDA's requirements and recommendations for collecting donor history information. The aDHQ documents will provide blood establishments that collect blood and blood components with a specific process for administering questions to frequent donors of blood and blood components to determine their eligibility to donate. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance of the same title dated October 2011.

DATES:

Submit either electronic or written comments on Agency guidances at any time.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written requests for single copies of the 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 guidance may also be obtained by mail by calling CBER at 1-800-835-4709 or 301-827-1800. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the guidance document.

Submit electronic comments on the 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:

Tami Belouin, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (HFM-17), Food and Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, suite 200N, Rockville, MD 20852-1448, 301-827-6210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

FDA is announcing the availability of a document entitled “Guidance for Industry: Implementation of an Acceptable Abbreviated Donor History Questionnaire and Accompanying Materials for Use in Screening Frequent Donors of Blood and Blood Components” dated May 2013. The guidance document recognizes the aDHQ documents, version 1.3 dated December 2012, prepared by the AABB Donor History Task Force, as an acceptable mechanism for collecting blood donor history information from frequent donors of blood and blood components that is consistent with FDA's requirements and recommendations. The aDHQ User Brochure defines a frequent donor as a donor who has previously donated two times using the full-length donor history questionnaire, one donation of which occurred within the previous 6 months. The aDHQ documents will provide blood establishments that collect blood and blood components with a specific process for administering questions to frequent donors of blood and blood components to determine their eligibility to donate. The guidance also advises licensed manufacturers who choose to implement the acceptable aDHQ documents on how to report the manufacturing change consisting of the implementation of the aDHQ documents under 21 CFR 601.12.

In the Federal Register of October 24, 2011 (76 FR 65735), FDA announced the availability of the draft guidance of the same title dated October 2011. FDA received some comments on the draft guidance and those comments were considered as the guidance was finalized. A summary of changes includes: Referencing the most current version of the acceptable aDHQ documents, clarifying that the full-length and abbreviated questionnaires are designed to be implemented together, and editorial changes to improve clarity. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance dated October 2011.

The guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents 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 requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

II. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This 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 21 CFR 601.12 and Form FDA 356(h) have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0338; and the collections of information in 21 CFR 640.63 have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0116.

III. Comments

Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to send one set of 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, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

IV. Electronic Access

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

Dated: May 2, 2013.

Leslie Kux,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.