Screening. All donor tissue undergoes strict quality control. All donors are screened for infectious diseases HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Treponema pallidum, HTLV 1 & 2.
When packaged for Cryopreservation a small tissue sample is send for microbiology screening, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture and TB Culture. Only after all test results have returned negative will the tissue be released from quarantine.
Processing. All the heart tissue is dissected under sterile conditions in our Class 10 000 clean room. All measurements and photographs are taken and recorded. The valves are cleaned washed, placed in an antibiotic cocktail, incubated at 4 º C for 24 – 48 hours for further sterilization.
After this sterilization process the valves are taken to the Class 100 packaging room. The valves are emerged in cryoprotectant (10% DMSO) and tissue culture medium. The valves are triple packed and sealed using a sterile technique. Cryopreservation is done by controlled rate freezers.
The Service. Southern Cryoscience personnel is on 24 hour stand by and able to deliver valves personally anywhere in the Gauteng area. It will be to the benefit of the transplanting surgeon to book a valve with Southern Cryoscience personal at least three days prior to the date of the operation.
The service will then include an assortment of valves in the range stipulated by the transplanting surgeon. These valves will be brought to theatre in a liquid nitrogen dry shipper accompanied with their donor files and pictures, etc. The transplanting surgeon will then have the opportunity to choose the valve best suited for his patient. This valve will then be thawed and prepared in theatre by Southern Cryoscience personnel.
Even if a homograft valve is not used during the operation, the personnel of Southern Cryoscience are willing to be on standby for the benefit of the patient.
