Local Red Cross chapter says F-D-A report doesn't concern them

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Tulsa Chapter of the American Red Cross says a Food and Drug Administration report is misleading. The report expresses concerns over failed inspections at several centers around the country.

Documents filed by the F-D-A say the Red Cross hasn't complied with standards set for collecting, processing, and distributing blood in medical procedures. However, a local spokesman says the Tulsa office has a good track record. "Since 1997, no citations in Tulsa,â€ said Red Cross spokesperson Maggie Jewell. â€œThe same holds true for the Stillwater center and the Ponca City center. We are constantly developing new ways to test, and improve the safety of blood.â€

Jewell says the doanted blood has never been safer in thIs country. She says there are 300 steps involved in collecting a unit of blood, including paperwork and computer processing. She says many of the failed inspections may have to do with problems in those other areas. And not necessarily with physical collecting of the blood.