Q:  What is considered tissue under the Tissue Storage and Issuance standards?

A:  The Tissue Storage and Issuance standards apply to human and non-human cellular based implantable and transplantable products.  Examples of tissue specimens that might be found in an organization include, bone, cornea, skin, heart valves/conduits, tendons, fascia, dura, bone marrow, veins, arteries, cartilage, sperm, embryos, eggs, stem cells, cord blood, synthetic tissue (artificially prepared, human and non-human cellular based products), and other cellular and tissue based transplant or implant products. 

Collagen or certain synthetic tissues, such as those derived from plastics and polymers, are not considered cellular based products and are not evaluated under the Tissue Storage and Issuance standards.

For autologous tissue, the standards and accompanying elements of performance apply to the extent that they are relevant. Also, if your state classifies something as a tissue that is beyond what The Joint Commission defines as tissue, the standards and accompanying elements of performance would apply to the organizations of that particular state.

For a more comprehensive list of tissues, please refer to the table published in The Joint Commission standards manuals.  For hospital, critical access hospital, ambulatory, and office-based surgery, this table is in the Provision of Care chapter preceding the PC.17 series of Tissue Storage and Issuance standards.  In the laboratory standards manual, the list is provided in the appendices.