NTRUS Results Reveal Trends in Tissue

In order to accurately articulate the size, scope, and positive clinical impact of the tissue banking profession, AATB conducted a survey of US tissue banks in partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services. The survey documented all aspects of tissue banking—from donor screening and recovery, through processing and distribution—for 2012 and 2015. The results of this survey can now be compared to similar data collected in 2007 to identify changes and trends in tissue banking over the last decade.

For more detailed information, please refer to the full 2012 and 2015 National Tissue Recovery through Utilization Survey Report.

For a comprehensive list of terms used throughout the survey, please refer to NTRUS Definitions of Terms.

Key NTRUS Figures:

Number of recovered tissue donors (deceased)

29,799 (2007)
35,112 (2012)
39,121 (2015)

Number of acquired living donors​

581 (2007)
4,376 (2012)
19,218 (2015)

Number of grafts distributed: (living and deceased donors)​

2,688,699 (2012)
3,294,066 (2015)

Looking at these figures, it is clear that the majority of the growth in tissue recovery and distribution has been due to an increase in the donation and transplantation of birth tissue.