Class VIII Medical Materiel Controls in the U.S. European Command.

Class VIII items are medical materiel including controlled and noncontrolled drugs, biologicals living organisms or their toxic products, e.g., serums, reagents blood related items, e.g., plasma, surgical dressings, and medical instruments. Some medical materiel has a prescribed shelf life after which its effectiveness or potency is reduced. Medical materiel is acknowledged not only for the benefits it provides, but also for the serious threats it can pose to human health and the environment. Class VIII medical materiel inventories are maintained as part of the U.S. war reserve stocks to ensure military readiness and to provide needed health care during wartime or contingencies. The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Command, Europe USAMMCE, is the principal Class VIII medical materiel logistics support center for the Military Departments in the European theater. Class VIII medical materiel war reserves are also stocked at Air Force contingency hospitals.