RCW 70.54.222 Cord blood banks—Regulation—Application of consumer protection act—Definitions.

(1) A cord blood bank advertising, offering to provide, or providing private cord blood banking services to residents in this state must:

(a) Have all applicable licenses, accreditations, and other authorizations required under federal and Washington state law to engage in cord blood banking;

(b) Include, in any advertising or educational materials made available to the general public or provided to health services providers or potential cord blood donors: (i) A statement identifying the cord blood bank's licenses, accreditations, and other authorizations required in (a) of this subsection; and (ii) information about the cord blood bank's rate of success in collecting, processing, and storing sterile cord blood units that have adequate, viable yields of targeted cells; and

(c)(i) Provide to the cord blood donor the results of appropriate quality control tests performed on the donor's collected cord blood; and

(ii) If the test results provided under (c)(i) of this subsection demonstrate that the collected cord blood may not be recommended for long-term storage and potential future medical uses because of low cell yield, foreign contamination, or other reasons determined by the cord blood bank's medical director, provide the cord blood donor with the option not to be charged fees for processing or storage services, including a refund of any fees paid. The cord blood bank must provide the cord blood donor with sufficient information to make an informed decision regarding this option.

(2) The legislature finds that the practices covered by this section are matters vitally affecting the public interest for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW. A violation of this section is not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business and is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce and an unfair method of competition for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.

(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Autologous use" means the transplantation, including implanting, transplanting, infusion, or transfer, of cord blood into the individual from whom the cord blood was collected.

(b) "Cord blood bank" means an operation engaged in collecting, processing, storing, distributing, or transplanting hematopoietic progenitor cells present in placental or umbilical cord blood.

(c) "Hematopoietic progenitor cells" means pluripotential cells that may be capable of self-renewal and differentiation into any mature blood cell.

(d) "Private cord blood banking" means a cord blood bank that provides, for a fee, cord blood banking services for the autologous use of the cord blood.

[ 2008 c 56 § 3.]

NOTES:

Purpose—2008 c 56: "The purpose of this act is to promote public awareness and education of the general public and potential cord blood donors on the benefits of public or private cord blood banking, and to establish safeguards related to effective private banking of cord blood." [ 2008 c 56 § 1.]

Effective date—2008 c 56: "This act takes effect July 1, 2010." [ 2008 c 56 § 4.]