California Transplant Services Earns Prestigious AATB Accreditation

Carlsbad, CA, July 08, 2007 --(PR.com)-- California Transplant Services, Inc., a tax exempt IRS qualified 501(c)3 public charity has been awarded the prestigious accreditation of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). It was announced today by Daryl S. Lirman, President and CEO of California Transplant Services, Inc. Accreditation follows an intensive nine-month process, including an on-site inspection by a specially trained AATB inspector. It establishes that the level of medical, technical, and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by the AATB. By successfully meeting those requirements, California Transplant Services, Inc. joins nearly 100 similar facilities across the United States and abroad that have earned AATB Accreditation.

The AATB has been accrediting tissue banks since 1986. Today, its Accreditation Program and its Standards for Tissue Banking are the only such private, industry programs available in the United States. AATB accreditation assists tissue banks in determining whether their methods, procedures, personnel knowledge, equipment, and facilities meet established requirements. The minimum requirements for accreditation are based on the AATB Standards and the Accreditation Policies Manual.

"The AATB's Accreditation procedures are voluntary," Daryl S. Lirman, President and CEO explained. "California Transplant Services sought AATB accreditation because this program assists facilities to achieve excellence by promoting a level of expertise that contributes to quality performance."

Accreditation was issued by the AATB for the following services:

“Retrieval of Cardiac and Vascular Tissue for Transplantation and Research; and Retrieval and Storage and Distribution of Skin and Musculoskeletal Tissue for Transplantation and Research; and Storage and Distribution of Autologous Tissue.”

AATB-accredited tissue banks are involved in the determination of donor eligibility as well as the retrieval, processing, storage and/or distribution of human cells and tissue for transplantation or research. Obtaining AATB accreditation demonstrates an organization's commitment to the highest standards and to the highest possible level of service to patients and the transplant community. AATB-accredited organizations are recognized as the leaders in their field and as pivotal voices in the dialogue through which consensus-based, voluntary standards are developed and implemented. Founded in 1976, the AATB is a scientific and educational, tax-exempt organization. Its mission is to provide transplantable cells and tissues of uniform high quality in quantities sufficient to meet needs. To accomplish this, the AATB publishes standards, accredits facilities, certifies tissue bank personnel, publishes books and guidance documents, and produces educational programs to improve tissue banking.

California Transplant Services, Inc., (CATS) is a tax exempt IRS qualified 501(c)3 public charity and operates two locations. The Carlsbad, California location established in 1994 and the Phoenix, Arizona location established in 2006 are both licensed by the California Department of Health Services and registered with the US Food and Drug Administration under §21 CFR 1271 as a human tissue establishment. CATS is a non-profit public benefit corporation and all financial donations are qualified for IRS deductions. Revenue is primarily generated by recovery fees reimbursed by the transplant facilities, surgical centers, and US Military Hospitals. The Phoenix location operates under the name of Arizona Transplant Services. Both locations recover transplantable donor eyes and tissue from hospital and funeral home referrals with consent of the donor or donor next of kin. CATS also provide a unique Autologous Tissue storage service for hospitals and trauma centers utilizing a proprietary storage system for head injury patients. Skull flap bone from traumatic head injury and brain swelling patients can be recovered and stored for up to 5 years post injury then re-implanted to return the patients skull to the pre-injury shape. CATS is the only organization in California and Arizona that is accredited for the storage and distribution of autologous tissue. CATS assists hospitals and surgery centers with more than 1000 annual cornea transplants and multiple orthopedic transplants.

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