Further Testing of Donations That Are Reactive on a Licensed Donor Screening Test for Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled ``Further Testing of Donations that are Reactive on a Licensed Donor Screening Test for Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus; Draft Guidance for Industry.'' The draft guidance document provides blood establishments that collect Whole Blood and blood components, including Source Plasma, with recommendations for further testing of donations that are reactive on a licensed donor screening test for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The draft guidance also provides guidance to blood establishments on how to report the implementation of these recommendations. The draft guidance, when finalized, will update the recommendations related to the use of an appropriate multiantigen supplemental test contained in ``Guidance for Industry: `Lookback' for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Product Quarantine, Consignee Notification, Further Testing, Product Disposition, and Notification of Transfusion Recipients Based on Donor Test Results Indicating Infection with HCV'' dated December 2010.