Tissue Banking: Current procedures, ethical consideration and potential applications in the healthcare system in Ghana

Abstract

Tissue banking provides safe and effective cells and tissues for transplantation in reconstruction surgery. Bone, amnion, skin, cartilage, heart valves and xenograft tissues are the most commonly used biological tissues. Acquisition of tissue is dependent on elaborate donor screening criteria based on medical and social history, physical examination, serology and microbiology. Processing of tissues involves washing, freeze-drying, cryo-preservation, pasteurisation, packaging and radiation sterilisation. Social, religious and ethical issues rather than medico-technical problems play major role in the acceptance of the practice by diverse societies. It is recommended that there should be a collaboration among the Gamma Irradiation Facility at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the Reconstruction and Plastic Surgery Units and the Orthopaedic Departments of the major national hospit-als in establishing a tissue bank in Ghana.

Journal of Applied Science and Technology (JAST) , Vol. 5, Nos. 1 & 2, 2000, pp. 50 - 55