The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria (DTBV) is part of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. The DTBV was established in 1989 as a central facility to retrieve, process, store and distribute cardiac and related tissue, musculoskeletal tissue, skin and corneas. The DTBV is located within purpose built facilities at the Coronial Services Centre. Tissue is retrieved from deceased reported to the State Coroner. The DTBV has responsibility for 4 main areas of activity.

Transplant and Family Liaison Coordinators from the DTBV identify potential donors, confirm suitability for donation and obtain Coroner's and Pathologist's permission to approach next of kin to offer the option of donation. If next of kin consent to the donation, tissue is retrieved before an autopsy is performed. Specially trained scientists retrieve the tissue and then process it to make it suitable for implantation. Tissue is provided to hospitals at the request of surgeons.

The DTBV also has a live donor program where patients undergoing total hip replacement can donate femoral heads to the tissue bank.

Transplant and Family Liaison Coordinators offer the families of recently deceased the opportunity to consider donation of tissue for specific research projects previously approved by an Ethics Committee. Tissue is only retrieved with the express permission of families. If next-of-kin consent to the donation, tissue is retrieved at the time of the autopsy. The tissue is retrieved by specialist staff and then passed onto the researchers for their investigations.

Staff of the DTBV liaise with families to discuss information gleaned at autopsy which may be of importance for the health of surviving family members. This information may be passed on to the family's GP, a specialist, or on occasion family members meet with the pathologist and a Transplant and Family Liaison Coordinator. Families may also be contacted to discuss retention of tissue samples required for diagnostic purposes.

The DTBV is also responsible for microbiology services. The Microbiologist performs serological testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, HTLV and syphilis. In addition, diagnostic samples are submitted for routine microscopy and culture to identify pathogenic bacteria.