Safety Of Blood Products Research Articles

Knowledge Attitudes, Practices and Factors Associated with Blood Donation in the Fatick Health District in 2019 (Senegal)

Introduction: Timely availability of safe blood or blood products is essential for all health care facilities where transfusion occurs, but in many developing and transitional countries, there is still a considerable gap between the need for blood and the supply available. The overall objective was to study knowledge attitudes, practices, and factors influencing blood donation in the general population in Senegal. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study conducted among the Fatick health district population from April 1 to 15, 2019. Thus, the sample is based on a two-stage survey. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire designed, pretested, and administered to 466 people by selected and trained enumerators. The data collected on the smartphone was analyzed using Epi Info 7.2.1.0 software. A descriptive and bivariate analysis was performed with a 5% risk of alpha error. Results: The average age of respondents was 35 years (±13), with 34 years (±12) for women and 38 years (±15) for men, and more than half of them between 20 and 40 years of age. A proportion of 87% of respondents lived in rural areas and had agriculture as their primary income source. More than half of the individuals (70%) were married, and 68% were educated. The level of knowledge of individuals about blood donation was low at 91.8%. On the other hand, more than half of them had good habits (53.65%). A proportion of 68.0% of individuals had an intention to donate in the future. However, only 24.68% of the population surveyed had already donated blood. Eighty percent of the donations were voluntary. However, 26.09% had repeated this practice. Factors that could influence the practice of blood donation were age, male sex (ORb = 2.18 [1.40 - 3. 37]), high level of education, good knowledge of blood donation (ORb = 2.14 [1.07 - 4.26]), the existence of a relatives donor (ORb = 3.4 [2.19 - 5.26]) and individuals who did not necessarily require permission from a parent or spouse (ORb = 3.37 [2.13 - 5.31]). Conclusion: It is necessary to develop mass communication and proximity strategies, also strengthen the blood bank in terms of human resources and logistics to increase voluntary blood donations in the district. An increase and better planning of mobile clinic outings can facilitate and improve voluntary blood donation by improving accessibility to this service.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Voluntary Blood Donors from the Northeastern Region of Iran: Genotyping, Viral Load Characterization and Drug Resistance Prediction.

Blood donor selection, along with laboratory screening of the HBV, plays a pivotal role in providing safe blood products. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence, genotype, and drug resistance prediction of HBV among Iranian blood donors. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 47,506 blood donors referring to Golestan Blood Center from March 21, 2018, to March 20, 2019. Siemens Enzyngnost HBsAg6, INNO-LiPA Genotyping kits, and Nest-PCR were used for HBV screening, genotyping, and amplification of the polymerase gene, respectively. An online tool at hbv.geno2pheno.org and real-time PCR method were also utilized for drug resistance prediction and viral load measurement respectively. It was found that from among 47,506 donors, 47 (0.09%) were confirmed to be HBV positive subjects. About 0.94% of first-time blood donors (46 out of 4, 872) and 0.008% of repeated blood donors (1 out of 12,125) were found to be positive for HBV. First-time blood donors were also 8.6 times more likely to have a hepatitis B virus infection (odds ratio: 9.6; 95% confidence interval, 6.2 - 14.7). Seven donors had genotype D as predominant and one case had a mixed infection with genotypes A and D. Furthermore, the most predicted mutation in the polymerase gene was m204V, causing resistance to telbivudine and lamivudine. The results showed that the risk of HBV transmission is higher among first-time blood donors. Therefore, it is recommended that predonation laboratory screening in first-time blood donors be conducted to improve the safety of the donated blood in the studied region.

Blood Donation and COVID-19: Reconsidering the 3-Month Deferral Policy for Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men.

In April 2020, in light of COVID-19-related blood shortages, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reduced the deferral period for men who have sex with men (MSM) from its previous duration of 1 year to 3 months.Although originally born out of necessity, the decades-old restrictions on MSM donors have been mitigated by significant advancements in HIV screening, treatment, and public education. The severity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-and the urgent need for safe blood products to respond to such crises-demands an immediate reconsideration of the 3-month deferral policy for MSM.We review historical HIV testing and transmission evidence, discuss the ethical ramifications of the current deferral period, and examine the issue of noncompliance with donor deferral rules. We also propose an eligibility screening format that involves an individual risk-based screening protocol and, unlike current FDA guidelines, does not effectively exclude donors on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Our policy proposal would allow historically marginalized community members to participate with dignity in the blood donation process without compromising blood donation and transfusion safety outcomes.

Efficacy and Cost Analysis of Eltrombopag in Thrombocytopenia and Poor Graft Function Post Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in a Canadian Centre - a Prospective Observational Study

Background - Thrombocytopenia and poor graft function(PGF) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) may be defined as incomplete count recovery or late cytopenias not due to relapse. There is lack of evidence based treatment for PGF with commonly used modalities being supportive care, second transplants and CD34+ selected stem cell boosts. Eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, stimulates proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). It has shown efficacy for PGF in observational studies, but is not approved for this indication. Cost of this drug is a major concern in state sponsored health care systems. Methods - We retrospectively and prospectively collected data about patients who received Eltrombopag for thrombocytopenia and poor graft function after HCT. Post HCT thrombocytopenia was defined as persistent platelet count ≤ 20 x 10^9/l or transfusion dependence. PGF was defined if there was persistence of 2/3 cytopenias: thrombocytopenia, neutropenia (≤ 1.5 x 10^9/l) and/or haemoglobin ≤ 70g/l or transfusion dependence after day 28 of HSCT with complete donor chimerism and no evidence of relapse. Transplant characteristics, post-transplant complications and transfusion history was noted. In treated patients, Eltrombopag was initiated at 50 or 100mg daily and increased every 2 weeks to maximum of 150mg daily based on response. Response criteria: Complete Response (CR) - sustained platelet count ≥ 50 x 10^9/l, haemoglobin≥ 100g/L and ANC ≥ 1.5x10^9/L without transfusions; Partial response (PR) - platelet count 20-50 x 10^9/l or Hb 7-10g/L or ANC 0.5-1.5 x 10^9/l. Cost of transfusions were calculated from estimates of Canadian Blood Services and of hospital admissions were based on local hospital estimates. Cost estimation prior to Eltrombopag was calculated by the cost of supportive care from diagnosis of PGF or thrombocytopenia to initiation of Eltrombopag. Cost estimation post Eltrombopag was done by calculating the cost of drug intake + cost of supportive care (if any) after initiation of Eltrombopag. Primary outcomes were efficacy of drug and transfusion free survival; secondary outcomes were cost comparison between estimated cost prior to Eltrombopag and estimated cost after initiation of Eltrombopag. Results: 15 patients (males 66.67% (n=10); median age - 59 years) received Eltrombopag (Table 1). Indication of Eltrombopag was PGF in 86.7% (n=13) and isolated thrombocytopenia in 13.3% (n=2) patients. Response and cost analysis were limited to the 13 patients with at least 8 weeks follow-up after initiating Eltrombopag. After 8 weeks of Eltrombopag, Overall Response rate(ORR) was 76.9% (n=10; CR = 7; PR = 3). With median follow up of 6.2 months the drug was tapered or discontinued in 60% (n=6) patients showing response. All responders became transfusion independent within 8 weeks of maximum dose of Eltrombopag. The 3-month transfusion free survival after Eltrombopag was 70.7% (Figure 1A). Two out of three patients who did not respond to Eltrombopag died during the study period. The estimated median OS of non-responders vs responders = 12.4 months vs NR; p-0.063; Figure 1B). Eltrombopag was well tolerated with no incidence of serious adverse effects (Liver enzyme elevation, GI toxicity) to report. Rough estimates of cost analysis were done in patients who had response to Eltrombopag. These patients required median (IQR) of 15 (2-25) PRBC transfusions and 46 (32-96) pooled platelet transfusions with median 20 days of hospitalization due to cytopenia complications prior to 4 weeks after starting Eltrombopag. The median (IQR) duration of Eltrombopag exposure was 9.8 (6.3-25.6) weeks. The cost of supportive care before Eltrombopag was marginally higher than calculated total cost of Eltrombopag and subsequent supportive care treatment (Median cost 35311$ vs 33751 $CAD; p=0.9) (Figure 1C). The crude cost estimate of supportive care did not include cost estimates of human resources (including nursing), hospital visit time, time off work, and quality of life. Conclusion - Eltrombopag is a safe and efficacious therapy for thrombocytopenia and poor graft function after allogeneic HCT with response in 77% of patients. Preliminary cost analysis shows that Eltrombopag is cost neutral by reducing supportive care and hospitalization costs and may be especially relevant in countries where supply of safe and adequate blood products is a challenge. Figure Disclosures Lipton: Ariad: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Mattsson:ITB: Honoraria; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mallinkrodt: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Eltrombopag is approved for ITP and Aplastic Anemia. It is currently not approved for thrombocyotpenia and poor graft function after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Canada.

Transfusion de sang total : quelle place dans la réanimation du choc hémorragique traumatique ?

La transfusion sanguine s’est développée et a progressé au rythme des conflits militaires. La découverte des groupes sanguins et des règles de compatibilité croisée a permis d’identifier des « donneurs universels ». Le fractionnement du sang total et le stockage différencié de ses différents composants ont permis d’améliorer la sécurité transfusionnelle et la conservation des produits sanguins. 
 Alors que la majorité des décès évitables en traumatologie sont liés à des hémorragies massives, les engagements militaires récents ont mis en évidence l’intérêt d’une réanimation transfusionnelle précoce et ciblée contre la coagulopathie. À la phase aiguë, globules rouges, facteurs de coagulation et plaquettes sont pour cette raison administrés selon une stratégie de ratios transfusionnels. Cette stratégie se heurte à des difficultés logistiques liées aux différentes conditions de conservation de ces produits, à leur délai de délivrance, et à la charge de travail que leur transfusion impose dans le contexte de l’urgence.
 Dans des environnements contraints, le prélèvement et la transfusion de sang total frais est resté une technique de recours qui a montré son intérêt clinique et logistique. Plusieurs équipes civiles et militaires ont démontré la possibilité de conserver à 4° C puis de transfuser du sang total de groupe O faiblement titré en hémolysine, afin d’obtenir une thérapeutique de réanimation transfusionnelle universelle et disponible sans délai.

The World Health Organization Global Benchmarking Tool an Instrument to Strengthen Medical Products Regulation and Promote Universal Health Coverage.

National regulatory authorities (NRAs) are the gatekeepers of the supply chain of medical products, and they have a mandate to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, vaccines, blood, and blood products, medical devices, including diagnostics and traditional, or herbal medicines. However, the majority of the world's regulators are still struggling to reach a level of maturity, whereby they have a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) as part of its five-step capacity building program to assist NRAs, using the tool, they can benchmark their own strengths and areas of weakness, and then engage in a formal benchmarking process together with WHO and international experts in order to formulate an effective and workable institutional development plan. The GBT is comprehensive across the entire product life cycle and allows benchmarking to be customized to the needs of the NRA. It has evolved from decades of experience using a variety of benchmarking tools, within WHO and other stakeholder organizations. By the end of December 2019, 26 countries had undergone formal benchmarking, and a further 54 countries had used the GBT to conduct self-benchmarking exercises assisted by WHO.

NАТ technology – a step forward in hepatitis C screening in Bulgaria

Introduction: Globally, blood transfusions are the cause of transmissible infections in between 10% and 15% of all patients. Currently, the testing of donor blood for transmissible infections is utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA and chemiluminescence method CLIA for screening and detection of hepatitis C (HCV Ag/Ab). Since February, 2020 all donor samples of blood taken in the 5 centers for transfusion hematology in Bulgaria have been tested for markers of transmissible infections, including HCV, by nucleic acid testing (NAT). Aim: We have set the goal to analyze data produced by the implementation of NAT testing of donor blood for the period of 4 months (from 10th of February to 16th of June, 2020) regarding HCV infected samples. Materials and Methods: We present our experience of using NAT and data produced by its implementation for testing of donor blood for a period of 4 months, from the time NAT technology was implemented in Bulgaria. Results and Discussion: The performance of the multiplex Procleix Ultrio Elite assay as individual donor nucleic acid test for the detection of HCV is evaluated in a retrospective study. An advantage of the method is that it not only allows for timely identification of infected donor blood and saves lives of the recipients but also saves the lives of donors, as treatment of chronic hepatitis C continues to progress and is now effective in clearing the virus in more than half of the patients. In terms of safety and security of diagnosis and blood products obtained, the method has no alternative. Conclusion: A recommendation is drafted: to adopt a strategy to increase the quality of healthcare by introducing a one-time HCV screening for adults aged 18 and above, for individuals at risk and for pregnant women to reduce further the risk of incidental transmission of the hepatitis C virus.

Blood Safety in SARS-CoV-2 Infection

: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel infectious agent that rapidly spread from a single city in China to all parts of the world. Right now, the world is facing a major pandemic crisis and every infected patient can infect the other two to three persons. The non-specific symptoms at the early stages of coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) and also the presence of infected asymptomatic patients result in the absence of accurate estimation of infected patients. Although coronaviruses often affect the upper or lower respiratory tract, viral shedding in plasma or serum can occur and therefore, there is a theoretical risk regarding the transmission of these viruses by transfusion. Experience with other viruses from the corona family group (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) tells us that Covid-19 might have a significant impact on blood supply. Until now, SARS-CoV-2 has not been identified as a transfusion transmissible virus and viremia has only been diagnosed in serious patients who would not be allowed for blood donation. In this review article, the safety of blood products during the Covid-19 outbreak is discussed.

Seroprevalence and trends in transfusion transmitted infections in blood donors: a 6-year experience in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Blood transfusion continues to be a possible source of pathogens in transfused patients. The pattern of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) varies between regions. Knowledge of prevalence of TTIs is essential to monitor safety of blood transfusion by ensuring better practices of collection and processing of blood components. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of TTI in blood donors in a tertiary care hospital in central India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was performed from 2012 to 2017 in a tertiary care government hospital in central region of India. The study analyzes all voluntary and replacement blood donations received through the hospital in its blood bank and blood donation camps organized by the hospital. Results:A total of 54,831 units of blood was collected over a period of 6 years. Prevalence of TTI in the blood donors was 1.45%. Prevalence of seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and malaria were 0.31 %, 0.75%, 0.065%, 0.22% and 0.1% respectively. Among all the potential donors, the most common TTI prevalence was that of Hepatitis B followed by HIV and syphilis. Conclusion:Public awareness, careful donor selection,vigilant screening and adoption of newer techniques for inactivation of pathogens are needed to ensure safety of blood products and their transfusion.The public outreach programs such as blood donation camps could be used as a way of spreading awareness to improve the safety and efficacy of a blood donation program.

Prevalence of sickle cell trait in blood donors at the regional blood transfusion center in the Haute Matsiatra Region, Madagascar

Introductionle trait drépanocytaire correspond à la forme hétérozygote de la drépanocytose. Les porteurs du trait drépanocytaire sont capables de synthétiser de l´hémoglobine A normale et de l´hémoglobine S. Cette affection est cliniquement inapparente de telle sorte que des porteurs du trait drépanocytaire, ignorant leurs statuts génétiques, peuvent se retrouver parmi les donneurs de sang. Cette situation peut avoir des conséquences sévères sur leurs propres états de santé ainsi qu´aux receveurs, particulièrement si ces derniers sont drépanocytaires. L´objectif de notre étude est de déterminer la prévalence du trait drépanocytaire chez les donneurs de sang.Méthodesnous avons réalisé une étude prospective descriptive sur 4 mois (de janvier à mai 2017) au Centre Régional de Transfusion Sanguine (CRTS) Haute Matsiatra. Tous les donneurs ont été dépistés par test d´Emmel et confirmation des cas positifs par électrophorèse de l´hémoglobine.Résultatsnous avons recruté 427 donneurs dont 332 hommes et 95 femmes avec un sex-ratio de 3,4. L´âge moyen des donneurs était de 32,72 ans allant de 18 à 64 ans. Le test d´Emmel s´est révélé positif chez 5 donneurs (1,17%), tous confirmés de génotype AS à l´électrophorèse de l´hémoglobine.Conclusionles résultats de cette étude révèlent l´existence de porteurs de trait drépanocytaire parmi les donneurs de sang du CRTS dont la plupart ignore leur statut drépanocytaire avant le don de sang. Afin d´assurer la sécurité transfusionnelle et la qualité des produits sanguins, le dépistage de la drépanocytose chez les donneurs de sang est désormais une question pertinente et d´actualité.

Ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Moroccan National Blood Center experience.

At the end of 2019, a new coronavirus was identified in people living in the city of Wuhan in China. Since the appearance of the first cases in Wuhan, the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has spread to the international scale. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered by international scientific societies to have an impact on blood donation and transfusion activities. Efforts must be made at the level of the transfusion centres to ensure proper management of the impact of this health crisis on the availability and the safety of blood products. The National Blood Centre of Morocco (MNBC) has demonstrated a great reactivity and a great adaptability since the beginning of the epidemic and has implemented several measures to face this health crisis. These measures have been updated taking into account the updating of data from national health authorities and international scientific societies concerning this new virus.

Procesiranje i skladištenje krvnih komponenti kao preduslov bezbedne transfuzije

The preparation of blood components from whole blood collections must be standardized and compliant with recommendations, EU Directives and Standard Operative Procedures (SOPs). In order to achieve safe and efficient transfusion it is important to have automated separation of whole blood unit producing standardized blood components, good quality control and increased work efficiency. It is also very important that all blood components should be ISBT 128 labelled and properly storaged under the regulated conditions. One of the most important factors that increases transfusion safety is leucoreduction of blood components, which prevents several adverse effects following blood transfusion, as well replacement of plasma as a storage medium in red blood cells and platelet concentrates with preservative solutions, which results in the reduction of isoand HLA-antibodies and plasma proteins. Pathogen inactivation in blood products is the trend of modern blood transfusion practice and acts in the removal or inactivation of all pathogens that can be blood transmitted. It does not replace testing of blood units for transfusion-transmitted diseases, but it reduces the risk of "window phenomenon" and errors in testing, acting on the agents that are not included in routine testing. In circumstances where the pathogen reduction has not been introduced in practice routine bacteriological testing of blood components significantly decreases the occurrence of adverse reactions on contaminated blood. Processing using the most appropriate and effective methodologies and best laboratory practices, efficient inventory management system for optimum blood stocks, and effective blood cold chain for safe storage and distribution of blood and blood products are key requirements to ensure the safety of blood products.

Impact on blood safety of the last arboviruses outbreaks in French Polynesia (2012-2018).

Several successive arbovirus outbreaks have affected French Polynesia (FP) in the recent past years due to different dengue serotypes (DENV) present for several decades, Zika (ZIKV) (2013-2014) and chikungunya (CHIKV) (2014-2015) viruses with a potential impact on blood safety and blood supply due to the geographical isolation of these islands. This study reports an assessment of the impact of these outbreaks on blood products supply and infectious safety in FP and discuss the effectiveness of implemented preventive measures. To ensure the infectious safety of blood products during outbreaks, several measures have successively been introduced as the selection of donors suspected of infection, the nucleic acid testing (NAT) and the pathogen reduction of platelets and plasmas. The donor deferral rate increased by 6% between 2012 and 2014 without changes in the number of collected donations. NAT excluded five blood donations reactive for DENV RNA, 42 for ZIKV and 34 for CHIKV. As Zika screening could not been implemented before the third month of the outbreak, 36 blood products from ZIKV-infected donors were transfused to 26 recipients. However, no transfusion-transmitted arbovirus has been reported. The last past arboviruses outbreaks did not have a significant impact on blood supply in FP. The measures introduced to prevent arbovirus transmission by transfusion were able to maintain infectious safety for all blood products without impairing self-sufficiency.

Noncompliance with blood donor selection criteria - Complidon 2017, France.

Blood donor selection, consisting of a pre-donation questionnaire and interview, excludes potential donors who may be at risk of transfusion-transmissible infections. Assessing the reasons for noncompliance with blood donor selection criteria is important to maintain a high level of viral safety of blood products. An anonymous French online survey of a sample of blood donors (Complidon) was conducted from September to December 2017. Data were poststratified to be representative of all donors who donated blood between July 2016 and December 2017. Of 420,190 solicited donors, 108,386 completed the survey (26%). Overall, noncompliance was estimated at 5.6%. The least respected criteria regarded sex with more than one partner during the previous 4 months for donors (1.9%) and for donors' partners (1%), travel-related criteria (1.2%) and sex between men during the previous 12 months (0.73% of men). Reasons for noncompliance differed according to criteria. Donors who were non-compliant to sexuality-based criteria mainly said they did not want to be excluded or that the questions were too personal. Conversely, donors who were exclusively non-compliant to criteria other than sexuality-based criteria more often mentioned their non-compliance during the pre-donation interview but were nevertheless authorized to donate blood. Despite noncompliance to blood donor criteria being relatively low in France, it still represents a threat to blood safety. Accordingly, improved communication is important to ensure that donors fully understand each selection criterion and to emphasize to health professionals the importance of listening carefully without judging during pre-donation interviews.

Activity Wise Unit Cost of Blood Components in a Tertiary Care Hospital Blood Bank for the Year 2018.

The present study on cost of a unit of blood was conducted in blood bank of a tertiary care public hospital with an annual collection of 20,748. A retrospective chart review was done to calculate the activity wise annual unit cost of blood, based on WHO guidelines (Blood Safety Unit. safe blood and blood products: costing blood transfusion services, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1998). Cost of blood collection, processing and storage were included. Annualized economic cost of equipments, maintenance, personnel salaries, and consumables were enlisted. It was assumed that all component units prepared carried equal cost. The cost of building, maintenance and office stationary were excluded. Data extracted from records was compiled and analysed using MS Excel. The annual unit cost of blood with component preparation and NAT testing was Rs 1829. Unit cost of blood without NAT testing was Rs 1255. Unit cost of blood if total collection was in-house, that is, excluding expenditure on camps was Rs 1738. The cost of whole blood (that is, if no components were prepared) with ELISA testing, done to ascertain cost at basic functioning was Rs 2521. With NAT testing the unit cost increased by Rs 575, the additional expenditure being equally divided among all components. Expenditure on NAT was high which was 1/3rd of the total expenditure on consumables. The additional cost incurred on each unit due to expenditure on camps was small i.e. only Rs 91 with 30% collection from camps. Voluntary camps ensures safe blood at minimal cost increment and component separation reduces cost and permits judicious use. Hence these activities should be promoted.

Investigation of transfusion associated hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan, 2015–2018

Continuous strengthening of the safety of blood products to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV in recipients is an important issue of Taiwanese government concern. Since 2013, highly sensitivity serology and NAT assays were simultaneously used for blood donation screening to shorten the window period of HIV, HBV and HCV infections. 15 cases of suspected transfusion-transmitted HCV infection were analyzed in 2015-2018. No HCV nucleic acid was detected among a total 91 bags of donated blood. Eleven cases among the 15 suspected recipients were positive for HCV nucleic acid, and 9 recipients had genotype results. Of these 9 recipients, five for genotype 1b (5/9, 55.6%), three for genotype 2a (3/9, 33.3%) and one for genotype 2b (1/9, 11.1%). We will continuously monitor the blood safety of recipients. There have been no confirmed cases of acute hepatitis C (AHC) infection due to transfusions of HCV contaminated blood product in 2015-2018 in Taiwan.

Organisational management of hospital blood transfusion services in Nairobi County, Kenya: Evidence of implementation.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization in 2002 recommended implementation of a quality system for national blood programmes to ensure adequate and safe blood products to patients. Key elements of the quality system include organisational management, standards, documentation, training and assessment.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to describe the extent to which organisational management, which is the first element of a quality system, has been implemented in hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya.MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional study design was used. Sixty health workers were selected as respondents from 15 hospitals that provide blood transfusion services in Nairobi County. The data collection period was from June to August 2015 and the data were analysed in 2016.ResultsFaith-based hospitals had the lowest level of organisational management implementation (33.3%), private hospitals had 42.5%, whereas government hospitals had the highest implementation (60%). The extent of implementation was based on performance of the senior management team, overall rated by the respondents at 40.1%, establishment of hospital transfusion committees in nine (60%) of the hospitals and appointment of key staff – quality officers in three (20%) hospitals and blood transfusion specialists in six (40%) hospitals. These key staff were instrumental in steering the quality system and ensuring sound blood transfusion practices.ConclusionThe implementation of quality management systems in hospital blood transfusion services can be improved through commitment from senior management teams, who should provide the necessary resources for employment of key staff and establish and empower hospital transfusion committees to guide the blood transfusion services.

TO TRACK ADVERSE REACTIONS, EVENTS AND INCIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCT TRANSFUSION

Haemovigilance is defined as a set of surveillance procedures covering whole transfusion chain from the collection of blood and its components to the follow up of its recipients, intended to collect and assess the information. The major aim of this study is to track adverse reactions/ events and incidence associated with blood and blood product transfusion unexpected or undesirable effects resulting from therapeutic of liable blood products. To identify hazards , risks and to provide information as to where the system is breaking down. To analyze any incidents and errors that may impact on the safety of blood products. To promote, enable and maintain a high level of ethical medical and scientific standards in blood transfusion science and medicine. which shows that the transfusion was majorly done in patients between the age group of 20-30 (29.00%) followed by 30-40 years (22.00%). The age group with the least blood transfusion was found as 40-50years (15.00%), 10-20 years (6.00%) and 0-9 years (8.00%). In our study it was observed that the PRBC administration for the patients with normal Hb levels were due to dialysis and anemic conditions. PRBC are administered in surgery cases even if they have Hb levels greater than 10 gm/dl. Pharmacist should involve in the development of local educational and training materials which is required by staff involved in transfusion procedures. Staff training should be maintained and updated with evidence of training and competency documented assessment of training should be undertaken in accordance with local and national guidelies.

Comparison of seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections between voluntary and replacement donors at a tertiary care center

Comparison of seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections between voluntary and replacement donors at a tertiary care center - IJPO- Print ISSN No: - 2394-6784 Online ISSN No:- 2394-6792 Article DOI No:- 10.18231/j.ijpo.2019.048, Indian Journal of Pathology and Oncology-Indian J Pathol Oncol

Proceedings of the Food and Drug Administration public workshop on pathogen reduction technologies for blood safety 2018 (Commentary, p. 3026).

On November 29, 2018, experts in the field of infectious diseases, pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs) and other participants from blood centers, academia, and industry gathered at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland, for a 2‐day public workshop entitled “Pathogen Reduction Technologies for Blood Safety.” The workshop opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Nicole Verdun, Director, Office of Blood Research and Review (OBRR), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), FDA, followed by introductory remarks from Dr. Peter Marks, Director, CBER, FDA. The first day of the workshop focused on blood‐borne infectious agents and their impact on blood safety, experiences of the American Red Cross, and other blood establishments in implementing FDA‐approved pathogen inactivation (PI) technology for plasma and platelets (PLTs) in the United States and novel PRTs under consideration for whole blood (WB) and red blood cells (RBCs). The second day opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Chintamani Atreya, Associate Director for Research, OBRR, CBER, FDA. The focus was on emerging innovations relevant to PRTs and potential alternatives to PRTs. The workshop concluded with remarks on insights for future research and development in this area for blood and blood product safety from infectious agents. A brief introduction of each session by the session moderator followed by a summary of the speaker presentation as submitted by the moderator and speaker are reported here.