21 CFR Part 1271 · Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products

§ 1271.220 Processing and process controls

Subpart D - Current Good Tissue Practice Official text on eCFR Amendment history

(a) General. If you are an establishment that processes HCT/Ps, you must process each HCT/P in a way that does not cause contamination or cross-contamination during processing, and that prevents the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable disease through the use of the HCT/P.

(b) Pooling. Human cells or tissue from two or more donors must not be pooled (placed in physical contact or mixed in a single receptacle) during manufacturing.

(c) In-process control and testing. You must ensure that specified requirements, consistent with paragraph (a) of this section, for in-process controls are met, and that each in-process HCT/P is controlled until the required inspection and tests or other verification activities have been completed, or necessary approvals are received and documented. Sampling of in-process HCT/Ps must be representative of the material to be evaluated.

(d) Dura mater.

(1) When there is a published validated process that reduces the risk of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, you must use this process for dura mater (or an equivalent process that you have validated), unless following this process adversely affects the clinical utility of the dura mater.

(2) When you use a published validated process, you must verify such a process in your establishment.

Independent copy, not an official legal edition. 21 CFR is a U.S. Government work in the public domain; this text comes from the eCFR and the annual CFR edition, and may lag recent amendments. The authoritative version is on ecfr.gov. Compliome is not affiliated with or endorsed by FDA. Not legal advice.

What FDA inspectors cite under § 1271.220

Form FDA 483 observations citing this section, fiscal years 2009–2025 (Human Tissue for Transplantation).

  • Causing contamination, increasing risks 19
  • Specified requirements for in-process controls 5
  • Sampling representative (in-process HCT/Ps) 2
  • In-process HCT/Ps-control 2

Warning letters citing § 1271.220

3 FDA warning letters since 2017 cite this section :

FDA guidance that cites § 1271.220

Amendment history

Federal Register documents that created or amended this section.