From: Elayne Angel [angel@ringsofdesire.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 3:47 PM To: smallwood@cber.fda.gov Subject: Body Piercing and Blood donors for the Advisory Committee Mtg. March 5, 2002 Linda A. Smallwood, Ph.D. Re: Blood Products Advisory Committee, March 14-15, 2002 Meeting; Body Piercing and Blood Donors Dear Dr. Smallwood, The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) is the only international non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating vital health, and safety information to piercers, medical professionals and the public. Please refer to our web site at www.safepiercing.org for additional information. We are aware that you are reviewing the requirements utilized for monitoring the blood supply as regards donor acceptability. We propose a means by which we can work together to educate medical professionals and the public, and simultaneously improve the safety and availability of the blood supply. You are no doubt aware of the tremendous growth in the popularity of body piercing nowadays. It is most unfortunately true that not all piercers are well trained, skilled, or safe. However, each piercer who is a member of our organization follows a very stringent set of hygienic guidelines. These requirements include utilizing only single-use, sterile, disposable instruments to break appropriately prepped skin. The APP mandates regular spore-testing of autoclaves, the use of gloves, universal precautions, CPR/First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens Training Certification, and so on. Our procedure manual is available on CD and hard-copy if you would care to more closely scrutinize our safety standards and requirements. We would be pleased to forward you a copy. There is virtually no risk of disease transmission as a result of a piercing by an APP member; it is the same as the risk (or lack thereof) involved in donating blood or plasma. It is a regrettable situation to discard (or defer) potential donors on the basis of those body piercings that actually represent no compromise to the safety of the blood supply. This is particularly relevant in times of a shortage in the blood supply. We propose working together so that donation centers, including the Red Cross be permitted (via your regulations) to accept without deferral, specifically those piercees who have had their piercing performed by an APP Member piercer. Perhaps if they were to present a copy of their release form at the donation center which shows via our logo that they were pierced by an APP member? This arrangement would augment the blood supply by allowing donors who have not actually sustained any exposure as a result of their piercing to donate freely. The recognition of our organization would also help to promote participation and membership which would ultimately result in more piercers and studios elevating their hygiene and safety standards. This is clearly a win/win situation. We would be delighted to provide you with any additional information you require. We thank you in advance for your consideration. Most Sincerely, Elayne Angel, Outreach Coordinator Association of Professional Piercers c/o Rings of Desire, Inc. 1128 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 www.ringsofdesire.com angel@ringsofdesire.com (504) 524-6147