JACIE accreditation in paediatric haemopoietic SCT

Area of Science:

• Cellular Therapy
• Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)
• Medical Accreditation

Background:

• The Joint Accreditation Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) and European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) (JACIE) was established in 1999.
• JACIE aimed to create a standardized, Europe-wide accreditation system for haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), based on FACT standards.
• Its primary objective is to improve HSCT quality by enabling centres to demonstrate high-quality practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the development and objectives of the JACIE accreditation system.
• To highlight the integration and specifics of paediatric-specific HSCT accreditation guidelines.
• To discuss the impact of EU directives and international collaboration on HSCT standards.

Main Methods:

• Development of accreditation standards based on international models (FACT).
• Implementation of an official inspection program for transplant, collection, and processing facilities.
• Incorporation and refinement of paediatric-specific guidelines and inspector training.

Main Results:

• Over 35 European centres have been inspected since the program's launch in 2004.
• Paediatric HSCT guidelines now specify dedicated teams, minimum transplant volumes, specialized training, and on-site paediatric subspecialties.
• The paediatric community in Europe has largely adopted JACIE guidelines, with ongoing work on combined unit accreditation.

Conclusions:

• JACIE has successfully established and implemented a quality assurance framework for HSCT in Europe.
• The integration of paediatric-specific standards significantly advances the quality of care for children undergoing HSCT.
• JACIE's collaboration with international bodies and alignment with EU directives promote global harmonization of cellular therapy standards.