[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 91 (Friday, May 10, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 20636-20637] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-09676] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2018-D-2478] Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis; Guidance for Industry; Availability AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled ``Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis.'' The final guidance document notifies blood establishments that collect blood and blood components that we have determined babesiosis to be a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection (RTTI) and provides recommendations for donor screening, donation testing, donor deferral, and product management to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB). The recommendations contained in the guidance apply to the collection of blood and blood components, except Source Plasma. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance of the same title dated July 2018. DATES: The announcement of the guidance is published in the Federal Register on May 10, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit either electronic or written comments on Agency guidances at any time as follows: Electronic Submissions Submit electronic comments in the following way:Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov. If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions''). Written/Paper Submissions Submit written/paper submissions as follows: Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.'' Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2018-D-2478 for ``Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis.'' Received comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states ``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as ``confidential.'' Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. You may submit comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)). Submit written requests for single copies of the guidance to the Office of Communication, Outreach and Development, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. 3128, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist the office in processing your requests. The guidance may also be obtained by mail by calling CBER at 1-800-835-4709 or 240-402-8010. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the guidance document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenifer Stach, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. 7301, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240- 402-7911. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [[Page 20637]] I. Background FDA is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis.'' The guidance document notifies blood establishments that collect blood and blood components that we have determined babesiosis to be an RTTI under 21 CFR 630.3(h)(2) and provides recommendations for donor screening, donation testing, donor deferral, and product management to reduce the risk of TTB. The recommendations contained in the guidance document applies to the collection of blood and blood components, except Source Plasma. In the Federal Register of July 27, 2018 (83 FR 35657), FDA announced the availability of the draft guidance of the same title. FDA received several comments on the draft guidance, and those comments were considered as the guidance was finalized. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance dated July 2018. This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the current thinking of FDA on recommendations for reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. This guidance is not subject to Executive Order 12866. II. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 This guidance refers to previously approved collections of information found in FDA regulations. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The collections of information in 21 CFR part 601 have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0338, and the collections of information in 21 CFR part 606, 21 CFR 610.40(h), and 21 CFR 630.40 have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0116. III. Electronic Access Persons with access to the internet may obtain the guidance at either https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm or https://www.regulations.gov. Dated: May 6, 2019. Lowell J. Schiller, Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. 2019-09676 Filed 5-9-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4164-01-P