Frequently Asked Questions
It is estimated that each year over 1.5 million allografts are implanted in the United States. These grafts are utilized in almost all surgical disciplines including: orthopedic, neurology, gynecology, cardiac surgery, burn care and many others. Over time physicians have realized the benefits of using allograft tissues over other alternatives such as autografts and synthetics, and this realization has tremendously increased the demand for allograft tissues. We have taken some of the most commonly asked questions and answered them for you. We hope the following information is helpful when making a decision about the use of allograft tissue.
Is the LifeLink Tissue Bank for profit?
No, LifeLink Tissue Bank is the largest not-for-profit Tissue Bank in the Southeast and one of the largest in the country. We believe in the altruistic nature of donation. LifeLink Tissue Bank does not have shareholders or any other profit making entity.
How do you determine the fees for allografts?
Our fees are based on the cost of services involved in recovery, processing and placement of human tissue allografts.
How much time does my facility need to order allografts in order to receive it for a scheduled surgery?
Most allografts are shipped two-day standard delivery. We can also ship priority for a fee as long as we have the allograft in inventory. Advance ordering is recommended to assure prompt delivery. Much like an organ donation, the availability of allografts is limited due to the shortage of donors. The LifeLink Tissue Bank will utilize every resource to ensure that allografts are made available.
Does LifeLink Tissue Bank require my facility to culture allografts prior to implant?
No, typically the hospital’s infection control department sets those standards. LifeLink Tissue Bank performs a battery of microbiological studies throughout the recovery and processing stages. Based on the results of those tests, the allografts in your facility have been determined bacteriologically negative.
When our facility orders an allograft, occasionally there is confusion about what to call it. Why is this? How can I cross-reference so that we receive like product?
There is no real standardization of nomenclature in the tissue banking industry. For example, what one facility calls a strut another may call a plate. Fortunately, our customer service and technical support representatives can help you determine exactly what you need.
Should disease transmission be a concern?
LifeLink Tissue Bank has implemented one of the most stringent quality assurance programs in our industry to decrease the concern for disease transmission. LifeLink Tissue Bank has placed hundreds of thousands of allografts since our inception in 1985.
Who determines that an allograft is safe to use?
All allografts processed by LifeLink Tissue Bank are released only after a satisfactory review of the donor record by the Medical Director of LifeLink Tissue Bank has taken place.