Bacterial surveillance of apheresis platelets in South Africa (January 2011 to December 2016)
ConclusionBacterial contamination rates, mostly due to gram ‐positive bacteria, increased since 2011. Bacterial screening must be aligned with international recommendations, and novel technologies should be explored to reduce the residual risk. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 28, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Ute Jentsch, Ronel Swanevelder Tags: Original Paper Source Type: research

Red cell transfusion thresholds in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Red cell transfusions are part of the routine supportive care following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. There is increasing evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrating that restrictive transfusion thresholds are equivalent to liberal thresholds in other patient populations. However, given the lack of patient ‐centred outcomes and the longer transfusion support required for patients with haematologic malignancies, the results of these trials may not be generalizable to haematology–oncology patients. In the recently completed multicentre TRIST trial, we randomized 300 patients requiring an autologo...
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 22, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Alan Tinmouth, Jason Tay Tags: Congress Review Source Type: research

Magnitude and risk factors for cytomegalovirus infection among voluntary blood donors at National Blood Bank, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Conclusion and RecommendationThe magnitude of CMV is high among voluntary blood donors, and it has no association with transfusion and sexual contact history of donors. Therefore, we recommend CMV screening should be considered while transfusing immunosuppressed individuals, investigation of risk ‐mitigation strategies, such as universal leucoreduction versus selective bed‐side leucoreduction should be considered. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 22, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Yeabkal Daniel Teka, Habtemariam Demoz, Fanuel Belayneh Bekele, Kassu Desta Tulu Tags: Original Paper Source Type: research

After 70 years, serological RhD determination remains a challenge: DNA to the rescue
After ABO system antigens, RhD is the most clinically significant blood group antigen. This is reflected in its high immunogenicity and potential to cause haemolytic transfusion reactions (HTR) and severe haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). Thus, correct determination of the RhD antigen is essential for a safe transfusion strategy and adequate indications of anti ‐D immunoglobulin prophylactic administration. The RhD determination challenge started in 1939 with a case history of fatal HDN and HTR in a mother who was transfused with her husband′s blood. Subsequent findings of an antibody reacting with 80% ABO compa...
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 22, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Martin P ísačka Tags: Congress Review Source Type: research

Emerging infectious diseases and blood donation
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) require vigilance from blood banks everywhere. As EIDs spread to new areas and populations, blood banks are forced to re ‐evaluate safety measures continually. Screening, pathogen inactivation and deferral policies must be balanced against supply, safety and cost‐effectiveness. One size does not fit all, and blood banks must adjust to local needs and conditions when considering initiation or halting of screening, pathogen inactivation or deferral procedures to balance between demand/supply, safety and economy. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 20, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Bertram Kjerulff, Christian Erikstrup Tags: Congress Review Source Type: research

Towards a safe and sufficient blood supply in Sub ‐Saharan Africa
Most countries in Sub ‐Saharan Africa (SSA) are either low‐income or low‐middle income countries, that is countries whose gross national income per capita is $995 (USD) or less or $996–3895, respectively. Added to this, they have very few health care professionals specifically trained in transfusion medicine and are the countries whose populations have a high prevalence of transfusion‐transmissible agents (especially HIV, hepatitis B and malaria) and whose patients (women haemorrhaging at birth, men in motor vehicle or motorcycle accidents, children with malaria or sickle cell anaemia) are often in urgent need of...
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 12, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Dorothy Kyeyune ‐Byabazaire, Heather A. Hume Tags: Congress Review Source Type: research

Nature and causes of errors in the blood transfusion chain – a step towards patient safety
ConclusionThe data obtained through this study highlight the various critical steps where errors can occur in the long chain of blood transfusion. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 12, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Gurpreet Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, Paramjit Kaur Tags: Original Paper Source Type: research

Blood donor behaviour, motivations and the need for a systematic cross ‐cultural perspective: the example of moral outrage and health‐ and non‐health‐based philanthropy across seven countries
ConclusionsWe contend that these findings provide proof of principle why a cross ‐cultural perspective on blood donor behaviour is needed. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 12, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Eamonn Ferguson, Laszlo Dorner, Christopher R. France, Janis L. France, Barbara Masser, Michael Lam, Elena Marta, Sara Alfieri, Eva ‐Maria Merz, Byron Adams, Elisabeth Huis in ’t Veld, Josianne Scerri Tags: Original Paper Source Type: research

Red cell supernatant effects on endothelial cell function and innate immune activation is influenced by donor age and sex
ConclusionDonor characteristics affect RCC quality parameters and influence the endothelial and immune modulation potential of RCC supernatantsin vitro. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 12, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Betty J. Kipkeu, Ruqayyah Almizraq, Donald R. Branch, Jason P. Acker, Jelena L. Holovati Tags: Original Paper Source Type: research

Drug ‐induced immune haemolytic anaemias
ISBT Science Series, EarlyView. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 5, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Donald R. Branch Source Type: research

Platelets from donors who use non ‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs are functional when stored under blood bank conditions
ISBT Science Series, EarlyView. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - November 5, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Ido J. Bontekoe, St éphanie A. Groot, Pieter F. Meer, Dirk Korte Source Type: research

Building a blood system: the view from Saudi Arabia
ISBT Science Series, EarlyView. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - October 31, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Maha A. Badawi Source Type: research

When things go badly – Managing quality problems and complaints in transfusion medicine
ISBT Science Series, EarlyView. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - October 25, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Tomislav Vuk Source Type: research

The practice of transfusion and fluid bolus therapy in neonates
ISBT Science Series, EarlyView. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - October 25, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Amy K. Keir, Simon J. Stanworth Source Type: research

Disaster planning: the role of the transfusion practitioner
ISBT Science Series, EarlyView. (Source: ISBT Science Series)
Source: ISBT Science Series - October 19, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Rozemarijn Deelen, Els Costermans, Rachel Moss, Christine Akers Source Type: research