Amenc?n Society for Medical Technology 
Office of Government Relations 
1 725 DeSales N.W , Suite 403 
Washington. O.C. 20036 
A/C 202 331-1460 
November 15, 1977 
Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Building 31, Room 4A52 
National Institutes of Health 
9000 Rockville Pike 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Sir: 
The American Society for Medical Technology ( ASMT) is pleased to 
provide the National Institutes of Health with our position on 
proposed revised guidelines for recombinant DNA research issued in the 
Federal Register on September 27, 1977. 
ASMT is a national, professional organization composed of approxi- 
mately 29,000 members engaged in the delivery of clinical labora- 
tory services. The Society is composed of 50 constituent state 
societies in addition to the District of Columbia, which hold 
charters granted by the national organizations. 
Our membership is made up of a variety of nonphysician categories 
of clinical laboratory personnel including clinical laboratory 
administrators, supervisors, educators, technologists, technicians, 
assistants, and such specialists as microbiologists, clinical 
chemists, hematologists, immunohematologists , cytotechnologists , 
histotechnologists , and nuclear medicine technologists working in 
hospitals, clinics (private and governmental) and research and 
industrial laboratories. Approximately seventy-five percent of 
our membership hold degrees at or above the baccalaureate level 
while another ten percent hold associate degrees. The remainder 
of the membership is composed of individuals who fall in specified 
categories such as students. 
Our Society believes that although recombinant DNA research holds 
the potential of vast benefits for mankind we must also recognize 
the potential risks associated with such research and the real 
public concern that exists in this regard. On the one hand it is 
clear that recombinant DNA techniques hold out the promise of 
expanding our fundamental knowledge regarding gene function and 
nature, thereby providing the basis for significant progress in 
many areas of medical treatment. However, it is also apparent that 
such research may result in the possible creation of new forms of 
life and unknown pathogenic characteristics. 
[Appendix A — 70] 
