Regulatory and legislative issues in transfusion medicine.

The nation's blood supply is safer than ever following the implementation of more restrictive donor screening and additional tests for infectious agents. As a result of the AIDS crisis, however, there is a heightened awareness that blood transfusion is not an entirely benign therapy. As blood banking practices continue to undergo close scrutiny by members of Congress, regulators, and the American public, blood banks and transfusion services are striving to communicate effectively their efforts to ensure the provision of quality blood components and services.