Donations of tissue

A donor consent form is the first prerequisite for donating tissue (as is the case for donating organs). Tissue such as skin, corneas, bone, blood vessels and heart valves can be removed from deceased or living persons. Donations by living persons usually involve surgical procedures such as hip operations when donating bone, removal of the heart during heart transplants or childbirth (amnion).

 
Tissue can be removed up to 24 hours after death. Like any other operation, the procedure is performed under sterile conditions. The body is then fully restored and delivered to the family in a suitable state for a dignified burial.

Tissue banks

The purpose of tissue banks is to prepare and store human tissue after removal. Unlike organs, tissue does not have to be transplanted immediately and can undergo sterilisation and quarantine procedures during the processing and conservation phases. This largely eliminates the risk of transmission of disease agents.

When tissue banks accept tissue after removal, the tissue undergoes a long process governed by the European Commission's rules and directives. After the donor's identity has been examined along with all of the relevant data gathered by the coordinators about the donor, the tissue is analyzed, prepared and either placed in cool storage in a conservation solution for immediate transplantation (e.g. corneas) or deep-frozen at temperatures below -80°C (e.g. heart valves). In the case of bones, sterilisation techniques are also used and the bone is transformed into bone replacement materials which must comply with the Therapeutic Products Act in Switzerland.

Since most tissue banks keep a supply of tissue on hand, hospitals and medical practices can order the tissue directly when they need it. This also means that the necessary tissue types, e.g. for the transplantation of blood vessels or heart valves, are available when needed for live-saving operations.