News items constitute an arbitrary selection of events. Links to some news items may no longer be active. News items are for the current year only. Canadian news is covered in What's New and Monthly newsletters.
Index: General | Specific countries (change over time)
GENERAL
- ISBT World Congress (June 2-6, Toronto Canada)
- Lance Armstrong settles $100M lawsuit with US.government sponsor (Postal Service) for $5M over blood doping (19 Apr. 2018)
- Gene therapy helps beta-thalassemia patients avoid blood transfusion (18 Apr. 2018)
- Malaria parasites present in 23% of donor blood in some African countries, study suggests (16 Apr. 2018) | Related abstracts (Dakar II, Two Decades of Progress, Challenges and Perspectives in Ending Malaria, Apr. 15-20, Dakar, Senegal)
- Fiamanya S. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk of transfusion transmitted malaria from blood donors in sub-Saharan Africa
- Schindler T. Prevalence of malaria parasites at the Malabo Blood Bank on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
- How social media helps scientists get the message across (12 Apr. 2018)
- Immunocompromised patients get hepatitis E through transfusions (13 Apr. 2018) | Abstract of small study presented at annual meeting of European Association for the Study of the Liver, Apr. 11-15, 2018
- Peedin AR, Katz Karp J. Pathology and professionalism in the age of social media. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2018 Apr; 142(4):441-2. (Free full text)
- Graber ML, Rusz D, Jones ML, Farm-Franks D, Jones B, Cyr Gluck J, et al. The new diagnostic team. Diagnosis (Berl). 2017 Nov 27;4(4):225-38. (Free full text)
- UK: Legal bar for convicting healthcare professionals of manslaughter is "too low" says medical defence organisation (13 Mar. 2018) | Background:
- USA: Using a society gala to sell young-blood transfusions to baby boomers desperate to cheat death (2 Mar. 2018)
- Facebook launches features to facilitate blood donation in Asia
- USA: Researchers point to cost of services, including medical labs, for increased healthcare spending between US and other developed countries (28 Feb. 2018)
- Study reveals that blood type influences hemolysis following IVIG therapy (5 Feb. 2018)
- Singapore: When menstruation leads to a blood transfusion (17 Feb. 2018)
- USA (Just for Fun): Pub in Charlotte, NC sells more transfusion cocktails than beers (13 Feb. 2018)
- Canadian researchers discover unexpected role of platelets in immune response (1 Feb. 2018, Université Laval press release)
- From Kigali to Khartoum: Africa's drone revolution (30 Jan. 2018) | Much more than delivering blood
- Seed CR, Hewitt PE, Dodd RY, Houston F, Cervenakova L. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and blood transfusion safety. (review) Vox Sang. 2018 Jan 22. [Epub ahead of print]
- Whitaker K, Webb D, Linou N. Commercial influence in control of non-communicable diseases. (editorial) BMJ 2018; 360:k110 (Pub. 12 Jan. 2018)
- Another self-funded anti-aging trial in humans (Blog, 19 Jan. 2018) | Cost is $50K per person
- ‘A cruel harvest of the poor’: Israeli allegedly behind human organ black market arrested in Cyprus (8 Jan. 2018) | Interpol Wanted Poster
- The creepy source of the blood in the first blood bank (2 Jan. 2018)
- USA: Part 7: The Chop Shop (27 Dec. 2017) | Ongoing Reuters series on The Body Trade
- EHR systems continue to cause burnout, physician dissatisfaction, and decreased face-to-face patient care (22 Dec. 2017)
- Goldman M,Shih AW-Y, O'Brien SF, Devine D. Donor deferral policies for men who have sex with men: past, present and future. Vox Sang 2017 Dec. 13 [Epub ahead of print]
- USA: MRIs in strip malls and shopping centers to help patients with cost and convenience (Dark Daily, 13 Dec. 2017)
- Korea, US, Japan cooperate to save elderly lady with rare -D-/-D- blood (29 Nov. 2017)
- Bitter CRISPR patent war intensifies (26 Oct. 2017)
- From medieval times till the present, transfusion techniques have changed with developing technology (16 Nov. 2017)
- Samuel Pepys offers a grim look at the history of blood transfusion (14 Nov. 2017)
- Rachul C, Rasko JEJ, Caulfield T. Implicit hype? Representations of platelet rich plasma in the news media. Wang JH-C, ed. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0182496. (Free full text)
- Human trial shows little promise for young people's blood as dementia treatment (2 Nov. 2017)
- Big business of blood plasma. (Editorial) Lancet Haematol. 2017 Oct;4(10):E452
- Freitag CE, Arnold MA, Gardner JM, Arnold CA. If you are not on social media, here's what you're missing! Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017 Nov; 141(11):1567-76. (Free full text)
- USA: Building a more sustainable U.S. blood system. (Rand Corp, Research Briefs, Nov. 2016)
- USA: Klein HG, Hrouda JC, Epstein JS. Crisis in the sustainability of the U.S. blood system. N Engl J Med 2017 Oct 12; 377:1485-8.
- Canada: Should family members have veto power over deceased organ donors? (25 Oct. 2017)
- How different religions see blood transfusion and organ donation (Nigeria's Pulse news media, 19 Oct. 2017) | Note related articles on the right
- Mortality risk greater for male transfusion recipients with previously pregnant donor (17 Oct. 2017)
- ECDC study: nearly one in six new HIV diagnoses in Europe are among people over 50 (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 27 Sept. 2017) | Unedited paper submitted to The Lancet
- Australia: Red blood cells for transfusion like a good red -- a little older, a little better (Monash University press release, 27 Sept. 2017)
- Why Canada needs USA sperm [and plasma] (13 Sept. 2017) | More from Peter Jaworski, who co-authored, 'Markets Without Limits', the primary thesis of which is, "anything you may permissibly do for free, you may permissibly do for money."
- In memoriam: Dutch immunologist Johannes Joseph "Jon" van Rood died at 91 on 21 July 2017
- Indigenous people around the globe more likely to be infected by HBV and/or HCV than others (10 Aug. 2017)
- Zipline's ambitious medical drone delivery, including blood, in Africa (MIT Technology Review, 8 June 2017) | Now expanded to Tanzania
- End-of-life care poor for elderly patients with AML (23 Aug. 2017) | Hospices not offering transfusion a factor
- Sports hype of platelet-rich plasma 'powerful marketing tool' but distorts the science (15 Aug. 2017)
- To tackle the contaminated blood scandal, Britain must learn from Canada (1 Aug. 2017)
- WHO: World Hepatitis Day (28 July 2017)
- Celgene settles 'whistleblower' fraud allegations without admitting guilt (25 July 2017)
- Blood groups beyond A, B and O: what are they and do they matter? (26 July 2017) | Series in collaboration with Australian Red Cross
- 7 trends on how Big Pharma uses social media (21 July 2017)
- Big Pharma:
- Historical tidbit: 350 years ago, a doctor performed first human blood transfusion (15 June 2017)
- World Blood Donor Day (14 June 2017)
- Fun blood transfusion history quiz (12 June 2017)
- USA: Anti-aging start-up Ambrosia charges ~$8,000 for blood transfusions from people under 25 (1 June 2017)
- Historical 'goodies'
- Summary of Significant Changes and Proposed Standards for a Patient Blood Management Program, 2nd ed. (Draft open for comment 12 May -12 July 2017)
- WannaCry Ransomware holds critical data hostage worldwide, including UK’s NHS (22 May 2017)
- Historical tidbit: Pool JG, Shannon AE. Production of high-potency concentrates of antihemophilic globulin in a closed-bag system. N Engl J Med. 1965 Dec 30;273(27):1443-7.
- Kramer K, Verweij MF, Zaaijer HL. Are there ethical differences between stopping and not starting blood safety measures? Vox Sang. 2017 May 2. [Epub ahead of print]
- Top journal editor: Medical journals publish fake science and are in Big Pharma's pocket (5 May 2017)
- Elderly rodents that received human umbilical cord blood improved significantly in memory tests (21 Apr. 2017)
- Making artificial blood for transfusions (ACS press release 19 Apt. 2017)
- USA: Blood banks mark 80th anniversary of the first hospital blood bank (5 Apr. 2017)
- European Commission publishes new guides on patient blood management (3 Apr. 2017)
- Blunt truth about hype around stem cells and 'cutting edge' medical research (27 Mar. 2017) Meanwhile...
- O my! Paper strip test determines blood type in just 30 seconds (15 Mar. 2017)
- O'Sullivan E, et al. Social media in health science education: an international survey. JMIR Med Educ. 2017 Jan 4;3(1):e1. (Free full text)
- One fifth of students using social media reported they “almost always” shared clinical images without explicit permission.
- Old blood can be made young again and it might fight ageing (22 Mar. 2017)
- UK: Red blood cell manufacture breakthrough (24 Mar.2017)
- Widely adopted blood transfusion practice in trauma may not benefit non-trauma patients (8 Mar. 2017)
- For fun: What are blood group and why do they matter? (6 Mar. 2017)
- Deep ties with industry may compromise the ability of advocacy groups to serve patients they represent (2 Mar. 2017)
- Harm and medical ethics (3 Mar. 2017)
- Thought experiment: Imagine spouse cheats on you but you don't know it. Have you been HARMED?
- USA: The blood substitute Ohio State researchers hope will save lives (28 Feb. 2017)
- Book review of 'Field Guide to Lies & Statistics' (The Economist, 4 Feb. 2017)
- USA: Five hyped health scams, including 'young blood' transfusions and genome sequencing (16 Feb. 2017)
- Munafò MR, et al. A manifesto for reproducible science. Nature Human Behaviour 1. (EPub 10 Jan. 2017) | Free full text
- How physicians can keep up with the knowledge explosion in medicine (19 Dec. 2016)
- TEDx talk (~17 mins): Saving lives in the shadows (22 Dec. 2016)
- How medical laboratory professionals work tirelessly to provide information for informed diagnoses
- Big Pharma is coming for your Facebook and Twitter feeds (21 Dec. 2016)
- Blood & quips (9 Dec. 2016) | Article skewers naturopathic quackery in 'Eat Right For Your Type' and notes evidence-based associations between ABO and disease
- Key barriers to developing artificial RBCs overcome with nanotechnology-based ‘ErythroMer’ (5 Dec. 2016)
- When U.S. was warned that AIDS was killing kids (27 Nov. 2016)
- In advance of World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) Toronto star excerpts 2 books beginning with David France's 'How to Survive a Plague'
- Dubai, UAE: Harvey J. Alter wins Grand Hamdan International Award for studies that identified non-A, non-B hepatitis, now hepatitis C in 1989. (Press release, 21 Nov. 2016)
- Blood from old mice makes young mice decrepit (22 Nov. 2016) | Study raises caution about anti-aging benefits of transfusion from the young
- For fun: Not even scientists can easily explain p-values (24 Nov. 2015)
- Canada: Worobey M, Watts TD, McKay RA, Suchard MA, Granade T, Teuwen DE,et al. 1970s and ‘Patient 0’ HIV-1 genomes illuminate early HIV/AIDS history in North America. Nature 2016 26 Oct.
- Heddle NM, Cook RJ, Arnold DM, Liu Y, Barty R, Crowther MA, et al. Effect of short-term vs. long-term blood storage on mortality after transfusion. N Engl J Med (Epub 24 Oct. 2016) | Free full text
- Carson JL, Guyatt G, Heddle NM, et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines from the AABB. Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds and Storage. JAMA 2016 (EPub 12 Oct. 2016) | Full text article
- Murphy MF, Dumont LJ, Greinacher A; BEST Collaborative. Interference of new drugs with compatibility testing for blood transfusion. N Engl J Med 2016 Jul; 375:295-6. (Free full text)
- Using activity trackers to monitor transfusion-dependent patients (6 Oct. 2016)
- AABB issues new Association Bulletin on Zika, dengue and Chikungunya viruses following FDA’s August Guidance (Bulletin #16-07, 28 Sept. 2016)
- USA: FDA's drug reviewers keep leaving to work for big pharma and it's a problem (28 Sept. 2016)
- USA: Drs test drones to deliver lab specimens, blood products (13 Sept. 2015)
- Kenya: One of the most important yet neglected profession in health centers (13 Sept. 2016) | Great example of citizen journalism
- China and Australia emerge as most lucrative markets for platelet-rich plasma in Asia Pacific (31 Aug. 2016) | PRP used in cosmetic surgeries,orthopedic injuries,etc., with no clear evidence of benefit beyond placebo
- Farrugia A, Del Bò C. Some reflections on the Code of Ethics of the International Society of Blood Transfusion. (review) Blood Transfus. 2015 Oct;13(4):551-8. Epub 2015 Mar 30. (Free full text)
- Paypal co-founder Thiel believes transfusions from the young may hold key to his dream of living forever (1 Aug, 2016)
- USA: Americans more worried than enthusiastic about gene-editing, brain chips, synthetic blood (29 July 2016)
- Now possible to tell age range from crime scene blood (29 June 2016)
- AIDS 2016 reports huge boom in teen HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa (21 July 2016)
- Novel biomarkers can help detect illegal blood doping in athletes (18 July 2016)
- Social media
- Ioannidis JPA. Why most clinical research is not useful. PLoS Med 2016 Jun 23;13(6): e1002049. (Free full text)
- Israel opens world’s first bird blood bank (11 July 2016)
- Canada: Researchers find association between donor age, female sex and transfusion outcomes (11 July 2016)
- A Canadian kept blood flowing in WWI. An American got credit (9 July 2016)
- Edgren G,et al. Transmission of neurodegenerative disorders through blood transfusion: a cohort study. Ann Intern Med 2016. E-pub 28 June 2016.
- Cautionary tale of ‘stem cell tourism’ (22 June 2016)
- Unregulated commercial stem-cell industry is not only potentially harmful but also undermines attempts to study stem-cell therapies in clinical trials.
- USA: Clinical labs using social media to recruit and retain top med techs, young pathologists (17 June 2016)
- Wrap-up to Jehovah's Witness ethics case (17 June 2016) (Original case in May's TraQ newsletter)
- WHO: World Blood Donor Day (14 June 2016)
- New finding offer hope to those with severe hemophilia A (25 May 2016)
- USA: FDA recognizes v 2.0 Donor History Questionnaires in May 2016 Guidance (27 May 2016)
- Too many drug clinical trials switch outcomes midway through (26 Mar. 2016)
- Canada (CSTM): New blog series recognizing Canadian transfusion medicine colleagues
- Comments are most welcome regardless of where you work.
- For fun: Why do we have different ABO blood groups?
- Huge leap to mass produced platelets (8 Apr. 2016)
- Blood processing methods affect microparticles and mtDNA linked to transfusion reactions (CBS press release, 11 Apr. 2016) )
- WHO Zika App | Easy-to-use Zika Virus information
- Ortega R, Canelli RJ, Quillen K, Mustafa W, Kotova F. Transfusion of red cells. N Engl J Med 2016;374:e12.
- 10 min. 'how to' video available to subscribers (also pdf of summary points)
- If not a subscriber, ask transfusion service medical director, staff or students of college/university, or hospital librarian (they may subscribe)
- AABB - Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services (BBTS):
- Product age, preparation method may influence mortality risk after blood transfusion (11 Mar. 2016)
- Can we treat Ebola with plasma? The results are in. (8 Jan. 2016)
International
Afghanistan
Australia / New Zealand (Down Under)
- Townsville home to Australia’s only dedicated Plasma Donor Centre (18 Mar. 2018)
- Red Cross Blood Service's campaign to reveal why the "number 42 is the answer to the great question of life..."
- Victims of a public health scandal say they want a UK-style judicial inquiry (14 Feb. 2018)
- Victims to launch new fight for justice on tainted blood scandal that left thousands infected with HCV and HIV in 1970s, 1980s,1990s (13 Feb. 2018)
- Productivity Commission’s report on government health services includes 7 transfusions with wrong blood group (31 Jan. 2018)
- New national plasma agreement WITH CSL Behring Australia ensures supply for patients (11 Dec. 2017)
- Child with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome needs bone marrow transplant (28 Nov. 2017) | Many graphic photos
- Anemic baby koala infested with 100 ticks gets blood transfusion (20 Nov. 2017)
- Irish nurse Sinead Keane wins business prize (30 Oct. 2017)
- Leading the cheers for HIV awareness (6 Oct. 2017) | Woman gets HIV from plasma transfusion in 1984 and treated like leper. Now hopes to educate people about HIV and help lift the stigma surrounding the illness.
- Blood service calls for plasma donors to top up 'anti-D' supplies to save babies in utero (30 Sept. 2017)
- CSL Ltd: Bullying, sex toys and how CSL got rid of a complaining employee (6 Sept. 2017)
- Fifty years, two million babies: Australia's role in a remarkable medical success story (8 Sept. 2017) Background:
- IVIG from USA donors who had the flu or got flu vaccine to be used to treat patients with influenza in small clinical trial (28 Aug. 2017)
- The donor who saved over 2 million children (25 Aug. 2017)
- Donated plasma with potent anti-D ~3x/week for 60 yrs
- UK PM May has thrown Australian "tainted blood" victims the ultimate lifeline (13 July 2017)
- Background in Aussie news item:UK health secretary who oversaw the “tainted blood” period, Andy Burham used his last speech as an MP to demand a public inquiry and warned if May failed to act he would hand police a dossier of evidence he claimed would expose “a criminal cover-up on an industrial scale”.
- Feature on 'BloodSafe eLearning' program (7 July 2017) | BloodSafe eLearning
- Researchers employ POC RNA testing to address growing rate of HCV infections (30 June 2017)
- WA’s patient blood management program attracts worldwide attention (Govt. of Western Australia, 9 May 2017)
- How CSL Ltd makes most of its money (18 Apr. 2017)
- 6 year old first to get transfusion-associated HEV (17 Apr. 2017)
- Health Minister challenged on lack of action on transfusion-associated hepatitis C (10 Jan. 2017)
- Consent to treatment, including blood transfusion (legal aspects) | Also see related articles on right
- Personal data of 550,000 Australian Red Cross blood donors leaked in country’s largest data breach (28 Oct. 2016)
- Australia (NBA): Guidelines and Governance released in 2016 (TraQ missed them earlier)
- NZ: Mother credits pioneering Kiwi doctor for her 'miracle baby' (11 Oct. 2016)
- How big pharma spent $650k on nurses in six months (25 Sept. 2016)
- Big Pharma splashes $millions on nurses (13 Sept. 2016)
- Medicines Australia releases Big Pharma data: Did your doctor get a share of $8.5 million? (6 Sept. 2016)
- 501st Legion, Rebel Legion & other Star Wars clubs donating blood in fun costumes worldwide (30 Aug. 2016)
- Sydney's Three Blue Ducks teamed with ARC's official cookie maker to create pudding to encourage patrons to give blood and support ARC (12 Aug. 2016) | Will set up blood donor station Aug 16-21.
- ARCBS taps cloud (Oracle CX) to power new donor relationship management system (21 July 2016)
- Governments around world took responsibility for "tainted blood" scandal - but not Australia (16 July 2016)
- In 2004 Senate inquiry recommended governments apologise to “tainted blood” hepatitis C victims, financial fund for victims and support for those affected. They're still waiting. (12 July 2016)
- Background: Hepatitis C and the blood supply in Australia (14 June 2004)
- Interesting on Canada's Krever Report (Ch. 4) - Terms of Reference: The implications for Australia of the
- World's most extensive blood inquiry, Canada's Royal Commission (the Krever Report); and
- Recent criminal charges against the Canadian Red Cross for not implementing surrogate testing for hepatitis C in the 1980s.
- National Immunohaematology Continuing Education (NICE) Proceedings 2015 (Presentations)
- Perth nurse awarded nation's highest nursing honour for developing a blood management program (14 May 2016)
- RFID tracks blood at Liverpool Hospital (23 Mar. 2016)
- Virus attacks hospital pathology/med lab computers running Windows XP (29 Feb. 2016)
- 'Review of Plasma Fractionation Arrangements' (2006)
- Consent in hospital and firmly held religious beliefs (29 Jan. 2016)
- Article examines legal issues in case of child who needed a liver transplant and whose parents are Jehovah's Witnesses
Bangladesh
Botswana
Brazil
Cayman Islands
China/Hong Kong
Czech Republic
Egypt
Estonia
India
- No negligence but lack of consent: Hospital told to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation (15 Apr. 2018) | Rs 5 lakh=~$7,661 USD
- High Court orders cancer centre to preserve blood samples and fluids from 9-year-old girl reportedly infected with HIV from transfusion (12 Apr. 2018) Background:
- NCDRC issues notice to Hyderabad hospital and blood bank in consumer complaint seeking Rs. 6 crore in damages for HIV-infected platelet transfusion (24 Mar. 2018) | 6 crore= ~$920K USD
- Meet the 88-year-old who in her early 30s became the prime mover of the voluntary blood donation movement in her region (24 Jan. 2018)
- Haemovigilance programme faces roadblocks as blood banks reluctant to enroll (24 Jan. 2018)
- Last year in Chandigarh only 6% of blood donors were women (18 Jan. 2018) | Main reason is chronic anemia among women
- Undiagnosed hookworm could lead to huge blood loss (9 Jan. 2018)
- Government to screen those who had surgery or transfusions before 2002 for HCV (7 Jan. 2018) | Number ranges from 6 to 12 million people [One lakh=100,000; one crore=10,000,000]
- Government employees to get paid leave for blood donation and apheresis (2 Jan. 2018)
- Licences for Gurgaon Fortis pharmacy, blood bank suspended after inspections (31 Dec. 2017)
- Despite shortage, India discards 1 million blood units per year (28 Dec. 2017)
- Spreading canards about girl: High Court warns of action (17 Dec. 2017) Background:
- Blood banks across Mumbai asked to put their stock availability status online via an app (8 Dec. 2017)
- Research Institute found guilty of “grave negligence, lapse, and unethical and unlawful act” related to dengue death and overcharging for platelets (7 Dec. 2017)
- Experts slam SPCA for using Mumbai strays as blood donors for pet dogs (6 Dec. 2017)
- Blood transfusion pouches get costlier post-GST (2 Dec. 2017)
- State belatedly closes rogue blood bank after complaint months earlier by law student (30 Nov. 2017)
- Police hospital doctor suspended for negligence leading to death of patient in 2015. (5 Nov. 2017)
- WHO team to inspect blood banks in Kerala (28 Sept. 2017)
- Patient dies from from DIC and multi-organ failure after nursing orderly transfuses platelets without doctor’s order patient consent (23 Sept. 2017) | Hard to discern what happened
- Kerala State AIDS Control Society initiated inspection of 172 blood banks but experts say they're meaningless (20 Sept. 2017)
- Kerala AIDS Society grants 'clean chit' ro Regional Cancer Centre (19 Sept. 2017)
- Nurses, medical attendants need to learn safe use of blood (16 Sept. 2017) | Examples cited of blood warmed in sunlight and unlabelled blood sent from blood bank
- Reports are false that 8 patients died due to alleged transfusion of expired blood (12 Sept. 2017)
- 1% of Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme funds sought to help blood banks with voluntary donations (24 Aug. 2017)
- Tracing donors infected with HBV and HCV major obstacle (8 Aug. 2017)
- Patients’ kin say private hospitals in Mumbai force them to replace blood against norms (31 July 2017)
- Chhatisgarh State to introduce blood transfusion motor bikes to deliver blood to hospitals (28 July 2017)
- Case closed on criminal culpability of blood bank for 32 children with thalassemia allegedly contracting HIV from transfusion in 2011 (19 July 2017)
- Mumbai: Anti-corruption bureau initiate inquiry against 34 private blood banks for allegedly flouting minimal staffing norms (19 July 2017)
- First blood bank for cattle opens (28 June 2017)
- Doctor, lab manager, lab technician arrested for selling adulterated (diluted) blood (26 June 2017)
- Blood system depends heavily on replacement blood donors | Unsafe practice that exploits patients and families (15 June 2017)
- Kashmir: Donated blood not safe because of ELISA screening for HBV, HCV, HIV (13 June 2017) | Note: Regions of Kashmir are administered by India, Pakistan, China
- In violation of safe transfusion laws, private hospital allegedly risked life of blood donor and recipient by drawing blood and transfusing it without any testing (7 June 2017)
- Probe into HCV+ transfusions in thalassemia patients finds no fault in Jalandhar hospital blood bank (11 May 2017)
- Regulatory agencies to do joint inspections to fix gaps at blood banks over inadequate staff and equipment (6 May 2017)
- Why some stored blood is always discarded (27 Apr. 2017)
- Donating blood or declaring your sex life? (9 Jan. 2017)
- HIV via transfusion is a menance (8 Jan. 2017)
- UK's SHOT vs India's hemovigilance, where reports of transfusion transmission are based on statements when counselling HIV+ people
- Human Rights Commission calls for probe into transfusion resulting in death (16 Dec. 2016) | So far lab technician & nurse fired
- Inside India's black market (5 Dec. 2016)
- ‘Window Period’ main reason for catching HIV/AIDS virus in 10% of patients (4 Dec. 2016)
- Did Mumbai blood banks supply HIV-infected blood – or are people misreporting cause of transmission? (21 Oct. 2016)
- Probe begins into transfusion of HIV-infected blood to 4-year-old thalassemia patient (30 Aug. 2016)
- Why blood banks will continue overcharging patients despite government capping the price (30 Aug. 2016) | Some charged for NAT testing that wasn't done
- Six years on, doctors acquitted of transfusing group A woman with group B blood, whose full-term fetus subsequently died (19 Aug. 2016)
- Two patients with same last name
- Should hospitals give patients unbanked blood to save their lives? (5 Aug. 2016)
- Unbanked transfusion is illegal but is it ethical in rural hospitals short of blood?
- Wide range of issues plague India's blood supply (21 July 2016)
- Doctor suspended, two others sacked for alleged transfusion of HIV+ and HCV+ blood (18 June 2016)
- Lab tech and data entry clerk fired
- Police seize more than 21,000 units of FFP stored in cooling van and arrest 3 including 2 lab technicians. (13 June 2016)
- Mumbai collecting ‘Bombay blood group’ to save Bangladeshi patient (10 June 2016)
- Why is transfusion not yet safe? (3 June 2016)
- Transfusion-associated HIV cases self-reported, not proven cases. TA-HIV more socially acceptable.
- 2,234 infected with HIV via transfusion in past 17 months (31 May 2016)
- Parents claim three-and-a-half year-old son acquired HIV from blood transfusion (11 May 2016)
- Clot factor availability, cost affect haemophilia treatment (18 Apr. 2016)
- State government withdrew Factor 8 from Essential Drugs List
- 20,000 - 30,000 Indian rupees = $385 - $576 CDN
- Two hospitals and a private blood bank investigated after two thalassemic children infected with HIV following transfusion (1 Feb. 2016)
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Lebanon
Malawi
Malaysia
Mexico
Nepal
Nigeria
Pakistan
Philippines
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Serbia
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Uganda
UK
- West Suffolk Hospital takes ‘immediate action’ to improve blood transfusion services (6 Apr. 2018)
- Dr. Hadiza Bawa-Garba wins right to appeal being struck off (1 Apr. 2018) | Related:
- Severn Freewheelers motorcycle Blood Bike volunteers save lives (2 Apr. 2018)
- Blood transfusion services to remain in individual acute hospital after restructuring of Lancashire’s pathology services (30 Mar. 2018)
- £800,000 investment in blood tracking makes transfusions in Lincolnshire amongst safest in UK (14 Mar. 2018) | Blood360
- Northern Ireland: Haemochromatosis: 'Celtic curse' gene can cause major organ damage (2 Mar. 2018)
- After 10 years Air Ambulance charity asks Bath residents to help find their first patients treated(20 Mar. 2018)
- Nurse in Bawa-Garba case: Hospital doctor and one of two nurses charged found guilty of manslaughter after blunders left 6-year-old boy dead (4 Nov. 2015)
- Women given contaminated blood after miscarriage and childbirth (2 Mar. 2018) | Part of the series, Blood On Their Hands
- IBMS responds to Guardian article, 'Safety blunders expose lab staff to potentially lethal diseases in UK' (13 Feb. 2018)
- Scotland: Biomedical scientist suspended for 18 months for bullying Haematology and Blood Transfusion staff (13 Feb. 2018)
- Thousands fewer donate blood across Scotland as advances in transfusion practices sees demand fall (9 Feb. 2018)
- Contingency measures in place to ensure Jersey can provide emergency transfusions if UK supplies disrupted (4 Feb. 2018)
- Researcher at University of Bristol hopes to use CRISPR to create ‘universal’ red blood cells (15 Jan. 2018) | Bristol BioDesign Institute
- Patient supports nurse who performed blood transfusion and claims she was 'bullied out of her job' after 15 years of service (13 Jan. 2018)
- Nurse whose identity error led to patient struck off after 18 month suspension (12 Jan. 2018)
- Mum died a week after giving birth due to complications from a rare blood type (27 Dec. 2017)
- Northern Ireland: Biker had 9 surgeries, 40 transfusions, amputated leg, to save his life after Thai bike crash (25 Dec. 2017)
- Experts who think blood transfusions could be harmful (12 Dec. 2017) | What readers of UK's tabloid press are subject to
- Qiagen and Merck to unveil £1bn boost for UK's Brexit future (26 Nov. 2017)
- Northern Ireland: Blood vending machine (Hemosafe®) 'a first' for NI (10 Nov. 2017)
- Where Brexit hurts: the nurses and doctors leaving London (21 Nov. 2017) Some examples:
- Welsh Blood Bikes charity transports hospital specimens, mother's milk, blood, and more (19 Nov. 2017)
- SpheriTech receives £69,781 grant from Innovate UK to help develop its HBOC, SpheriSome® Hb (14 Nov. 2017) | Innovate UK / SpheriTech Ltd
- NHSBT campaign for more black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
- SHOT newsletter, Autumn 2017
- Jehovah's Witness dies after refusing blood transfusion during major operation (19 Oct. 2017)
- War on drugs: Big Pharma fights NHS bill curbs (10 Sept. 2017)
- Man who received Great North Air Ambulance's first plasma transfusion makes miraculous recovery (22 Sept. 2017)
- Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance now carries blood on ‘Ambucopter’, can undertake on-site transfusions (20 Sept. 2017)
- Council decides further sanctions for nurse after 18 mth suspension for 5 charges, one involving transfusion, ends 20 Oct. 2017 (Conduct and Competence Committee, 3-5 July 2017, Nursing and Midwifery Council)
- Examining how commercialisation in the NHS can endanger our health (18 Aug. 2017)
- Northern Ireland: Apology over Indian blood donation 'embarrassment' (15 Aug. 2017)
- Shropshire blood banks may be 'collecting too much' amid service review (7 Aug. 2017)
- Blood donation rules relaxed for gay men and sex workers (22 July 2017)
- MSM deferral drops from 12 to 3 months (Scotland Nov. 2017, England, early 2018)
- Orphaned Bristol woman who lost parents in contaminated blood scandal is taking her story national (21 July 2017)
- Lack of trust in health department could derail blood contamination inquiry (19 July 2017)
- 10 campaign groups and Haemophilia Society refuse to attend meeting to consult them about establishing inquiry, because they do not want department implicated in the scandal to oversee the process.
- Contaminated blood scandal survivor hopes new probe brings justice (14 July 2017)
- The Guardian view on the contaminated blood scandal: justice at last (Editorial, 13 July 2017)
- The delay has not only meant a denial of justice; it will make it much harder to trace responsibility or establish culpability. It is already clear that documents were long ago destroyed.
- Big Pharma takes NHS to court over a new price cap on medicines (12 July 2017)
- Prime Minister announces contaminated blood scandal inquiry (11 July 2017)
- Great Western Air Ambulance to carry plasma for additional life-saving capability (7 July 2017)
- Scotland: SNBTS stops blood donation clinics on Stornoway (Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides) (29 June 2017) | Reasons cited: Transport delays and unpredictable weather
- Outsourcing in the pharmaceutical and life sciences - a UK perspective (22 June 2017) | Long read but interesting legal perspective, plus impact of Brexit
- Northern Ireland: DOH admits more than 1,000 health workers not paid National Living Wage, including those in Blood Transfusion Service (5 June 2017)
- NHS issues urgent appeal for 40,000 black people to give blood and save lives (20 June 2017)
- Patient at Oxford Haemophilia Centre demands DOH hold blood scandal enquiry 'for the sake of humanity' (13 May 2017)
- Northern Ireland: The right and compassionate thing to do (9 May 2017)
- Feature on first NHS nurse in Northern Ireland to administer a blood transfusion in a patient’s home (1999)
- Scotland: Campaigners call for end to blanket ban on gay male blood donors (27 Apr. 2017)
- MP alleges ‘cover-up’ over contaminate blood scandal that killed Dagenham victims (25 Apr. 2017)
- Devoted air ambulance doctor and Army medic rewarded for her life-saving 'Blood on Board' legacy (5 April 2017)
- NHS: Victim HCV payment scheme to be scaled back (7 Mar. 2017)
- Carrying FFP on air ambulances sees "unexpected survivors" (28 Feb. 2017)
- Blood transfusion refusals – why new guidelines aren't up to scratch (22 Feb. 2017)
- Nurse spared jail over fatal blood transfusion (9 Feb. 2017)
- Young men top list for air ambulance blood transfusions (27 Dec. 2016)
- London nurse who killed patient by giving him wrong blood is convicted (14 Dec. 2016)
- Potentially life-threatening errors are happening in the NHS almost once a day as details of blunders emerge (27 Nov. 2016)
- Has UK's tabloid press ever heard of SHOT reports?
- NHS Trust helping to develop new technology (CoaguScan) to quickly detect internal bleeding (9 Nov. 2016)
- Wales: Man suffered debilitating stroke in 2011 after botched autologous transfusion due to inadequate staff training (12 Oct. 2016)
- Family receives unspecified compensation 5 years later
- Solicitor: 'The rate of transfusion was also far too high and by allowing air to remain in the bag and the line the risk of a cardiac embolism was heightened, leading to the devastating consequences.'
- Article by family's lawyer
- ‘Medics knew risk of HIV-infected blood’ given to patients at Royal Free Hospital (5 Oct. 2016) | Similar to Canada, documented by Krever Inquiry (1993-97)
- SHOT: Human factors in transfusion (5 Oct. 2016 by Dr. Paula Bolton-Maggs)
- 78% of all incidents error-related. Transfusion errors frequently multiple (median number=3)
- Issues with Leeds Hospitals pathology IT system lead to major disruption (23 Sept. 2016)
- Scotland: SNBTS gets help with move to new HQ in Heriot-Watt Research Park, Edinburgh (29 Sept. 2016)
- Nurse gave patient wrong blood, tried to hide evidence (18 Sept. 2016) | RN had unblemished 20-yr career
- Biomedical scientist suspended for 6 months after failing to keep transfusion equipment clean (10 Sept. 2016)
- Disciplinary hearing (25 Aug. 2016)
- Where does this fit? 'Panel is satisfied that the failings on the part of the Registrant did not arise through a lack of competence. She had performed her duties as a Band 7 Biomedical Scientist for 9 years without previous capability action.'
- Scotland: Awareness campaign to find NHS HCV-contaminated blood patients (2 Sept. 2016)
- Northern Ireland: NIBTS joins global Missing Type campaign (16 Aug. 2016) | Fascinating statistics
- UK (SHOT Symposium 2016): Presentations and Posters
- Northern Ireland: Lifetime ban on gay men donating blood to be lifted (2 June 2016)
- Dr Gail Miflin replaces Dr. Lorna Williamson as NHSBT Medical & Research Director
- Middlewich woman donates blood onboard cruise ship in middle of Pacific Ocean (23 May 2016)
- Scotland: Transfusion-associated hepatitis C victim caught between NHS-England and NHS-Scotland over compensation (7 May 2016)
- Praise for air ambulance transfusions one year on (3 Apr. 2016)
- Victim of NHS blood transfusion scandal dies aged 62 after decades long fight for justice (30 Mar. 2016)
- Scotland: Dr. Sam Rawlinson of SNBTS dies at 58 (23 Mar. 2016)
- Mum makes full recovery after losing 44 pints of blood during labour, biggest transfusion in UK ever (16 Mar. 2016)
- Scotland: Improvements to financial support given to victims of contaminated blood scandal must be made urgently (9 Feb. 2016)
- Emergency blood transfusions for major trauma need to be more rapid and consistent (4 Feb. 2016)
- Woman dies in surgery after spelling error delays blood transfusion (2 Feb. 2016)
- Mum who lost astonishing 18 pints of blood during harrowing birth sets new record for most blood products (39) (29 Jan. 2016)
- NHSBT offers blood group genotyping for patients with hemoglobinopathies (22 Jan. 2016)
- HCV/HIV contaminated blood: Long-awaited consultation launched (21 Jan. 2016)
- Victim's alcohol level difficult to calculate due to 21 transfusions and saline drip (20 Jan. 2016)
- Filipino nurse allegedly killed 75-year-old by transfusing him with wrong blood group (18 Jan. 2016)
- Why indicate it's Filipino nurse?
USA
- Desert Regional Medical Center penalized $250,000 each for two 2015 deaths (19 Apr. 2019)
- AABB Regulatory Updates: Warnings regarding synthetic marijuana use by plasma and blood donors
- Court of Appeal reverses judgment in favor of woman whose husband diagnosed with ITP died from acute cerebral hemorrhage (10 April 2018)
- Theranos lays off most of its remaining employees to delay bankruptcy (10 Apr. 2018)
- NASA UTM Program completes TCL 3 testing at Nevada drone site (28 Mar. 2018)
- AABB signs letter opposing CMS changes to see BS in nursing as equivalent to biological science degrees (12 Mar. 2018) | Would allow RNs to supervise clinical labs, perform high complexity testing, assess competency of lab professionals
- Red blood cell, plasma transfusions decline nationwide (23 Mar. 2018)
- Theranos, CEO Holmes, and former President Balwani charged with massive fraud (SEC Press Release, 14 Mar. 2018) | Related
- How blood-plasma companies target the poorest Americans (15 Mar. 2018) | Related article:
- Drones tested for emergency medical response (10 Mar. 2018)
- FDA approves first tests to screen for tickborne parasite in whole blood and plasma to protect blood supply (6 Mar. 2018)
- Research technologist sentenced to 15 months in prison for failing to follow SOPs when performing genetic tests, plus pay employer $69K (5 Mar. 2018)
- You're less likely to get a transfusion now (27 Feb. 2018)
- Mexican donors cross Rio Grande for paid plasma money in Texas (21 Feb. 2018)
- FBI scrutinizes funeral home running a side business: selling human body parts (11 Jan. 2018, Pt. 8 of Reuters series, The Body Trade)
- NIH gives $3.4m grant to investigate role of DEHP and other chemicals in causing transfusion complications (8 Feb. 2018)
- Getting paid for plasma: repeat donors earning cash for blood (23 Jan. 2018)
- NLRB finds CMC unlawfully fired two nurses to rid itself of union organizing drive, not because they broke transfusion protocols (9 Jan. 2018)
- Electronic screening process doesn’t keep out all ineligible paid plasma donors at Plasma Biological Services (26 Dec. 2017)
- Reindeer’s blood donation saves his brother’s life (20 Dec. 2017) | Case of hemolysis caused by Babesiosis
- DoD awards Terumo BCT grant to explore feasibility of next-generation Mirasol (6 Dec. 2017)
- Too many HIV-positive youth in U.S. do not notify past partners (10 Nov. 2017)
- Family of child with cerebral palsy wins $23m malpractice case (13 Nov. 2018)
- According to court documents, a delayed blood transfusion caused the child to develop cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other serious health problems.
- We can prevent half of fatal infections from blood transfusion by screening for babesiosis (3 Nov. 2017)
- Opening up blood donations to sexually active gay men could save millions (Oped, 26 Oct. 2017)
- ARC study: Babesia parasite poses threat to U.S. blood supply (23 Oct. 2017)
- Texas: Wrongful death lawsuit filed against hospital (23 Oct. 2017)
- Older donors crucial to nation’s blood supply (21 Oct. 2017)
- Family awarded $4 million in malpractice suit after woman died following post-partum hemorrhage (16 Oct. 2017)
- 12 NYC hospitals, medical schools agree to ditch blood transfusion machines that could be used as dirty bomb (11 Oct. 2017)
- FDA approves first Zika test for blood donations (FDA news release, 5 Oct. 2017)
- Scientists race to create 'synthetic blood' in wake of mass tragedies (5 Oct. 2017)
- The young blood movement is basically biotech’s goop (4 Oct. 2017)
- People are giving too much blood after the Las Vegas shooting, medical officials say (5 Oct. 2017) | Background:
- FDA cracks down on stem cell clinics (29 Aug. 2017)
- Real case of a transfusion medicine Dr, who with her spouse, bought 4,000 shares of Immucor in 1982 for $11K (7 June 2017)
- Clinical trial of transfusion therapies for heart attack patients may place them in danger without fully disclosing risks, says consumer advocacy group (1 Aug. 2017)
- Blood use best practices can save hospitals millions (21 July 2017)
- 5 steps to reduce blood costs at your hospital (21 July 2017)
- Family of Jehovah's Witness who died after refusing blood transfusion can't keep suing doctors (19 July 2017)
- 2017 transcript of Appeal of 2015 court decision: Seels, R. v. Tenet Health System (18 July 2017)
- Fascinating: Outlines entire case in detail, including what physicians did
- Baby giraffe 'Julius' dies despite plasma transfusions (16 July 2017)
- FTC seeks public comment on application by Grifols to amend 2011 divestiture agreement (5 July 2017)
- Background: FTC rulings (28 June 2017)
- FTC required Grifolsto make significant divestitures to allow it to acquire Talecris Biotherapeutics (as it was deemed anti-competitive) but Grifols wants to amend the ruling
- Getting paid for plasma (19 June 2017)
- 'Walking blood bank' in a backpack that Bloodworks Northwest plans to commercialize for use in remote areas (2 June 2017)
- Blood donors aren’t getting paid, but their blood is being sold (8 May 2017) | Examination of the issues by Wisconsin college newspaper
- After man dies from TRALI widow wants donor questionnaire changed (4 May 2017)
- Survey finds burnout and low morale cause nearly 50% of doctors to consider retirement, non-clinical roles, or concierge medicine (3 May 2017)
- Former police officer accused of speeding, driving drunk, and killing two passengers claims blood alcohol test contaminated by transfusions (27 Apr. 2017)
- Blood banks confident blood supply safe from Zika virus (7 April 2017)
- Blood Donor Deferral Policy for Reducing the Risk of HIV Transmission by Blood and Blood Products (AABB Statement to FDA's BPAC, 4 Apr. 2017)
- Judge now decides case of RNs fired for ignoring #transfusion policy or union activity (5 Apr. 2017)
- Dobby the giraffe receives plasma transfusion at Denver Zoo (3 Feb. 2017)
- Big Pharma quietly enlists leading professors to justify $1,000/day drugs, inc. new hepatitis C drugs (23 Feb. 2017)
- Reasons for botched Zika testing at DC public health lab (25 Feb. 2017)
- ARC seeks volunteer transport drivers and have for a long time
- San Diego Blood Bank pivots to research to diversify revenue stream amid drop in transfusions (13 Feb. 2017)
- For $8,000 startup can pump you full of young blood in hopes of finding a fountain of youth (15 Jan. 17)
- Why thousands of low-income Americans 'donate' their blood plasma to for-profit centers (13 Jan. 2017)
- AABB, ABC, ARC: Joint Statement to the Food and Drug Administration's Blood Product Advisory Committee (23 Nov 2016) | Relates to FDA’s request regarding its Blood Donor Deferral Policy for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products (28 July 2016)
- UCLA Health reduced transfusions by 20% with clinical decision support, all-electronic bar code scanning (11 Jan. 2017)
- Uncertainty in USA blood supply chains challenging (8 Jan. 2017)
- 2008-14 BB industry revenue dropped $3.5b
- Blood industry shrinks as transfusions decline (22 Aug. 2014 - Old but still relevant)
- 21-year-old jaguar doing well following blood transfusion from another jaguar (13 Dec. 2016)
- AABB, ABC, ARC: A Joint Statement to the Food and Drug Administration's Blood Product Advisory Committee (18 Nov 2016) | Relates to FDA's “Recommendations for Donor Screening, Deferral, and Product Management to Reduce theRisk of Transfusion-Transmission of Zika Virus”
- Blood Bank of Alaska internal investigation finds no wrongdoing (19 Nov. 2016)
- Alaska Blood Bank ships excess blood to Lifeline in California for a fee (15 Aug. 2016)
- CEO: Financial details about LifeStream contract are "proprietary," "very sensitive" and "contractually driven" and wouldn't be made public.
- Alaska Blood also a contract to export plasma to CSL Plasma Inc. in FL (headquarters in Australia)
- Biotest paid plasma center opens (11 Oct. 2016)
- Psychology majors surprised to use machines and poke people without certificate
- NC EMS (one of only 2 in USA to transfuse in the field) to add charge of $250 for transfusions to its fee schedule (3 Oct. 2016)
- Money for bone-marrow donors? Company says yes; feds say no (16 Sept. 2016)
- Hemeos (Pay for-stem-cells start-up)
- Donating plasma, medical studies possible source of student income (9 Sept. 2016) | Possible earnings: $250/mth and $250/dy
- Michigan Blood prepping to test entire blood supply for Zika virus (2 Sept. 2016) | Case study in adhering to FDA's Guidance
- A surprise shill for Big Pharma? (9 Aug. 2016)
- Paid plasma & Iowa politics (4 Aug. 2016)
- Got a toothache? Better schedule some sessions at the plasma center to get cash to pay the dentist.
- FDA opens door to a change in blood donation policy for gay men (26 July 2016)
- Federal fraud case in NJ brings more convictions/indictments of doctors who accepted bribes (22 July 2016)
- Rare case of tough federal enforcement of anti-kickback laws
- CDC: Gay and bisexual teen males no more likely than heterosexual teen males to engage in sexual risk behaviors but at substantially higher risk of HIV infection (Press release, July 20, 2016)
- HIV diagnosis rates are 57 times higher among men who have sex with men (MSM) than among heterosexual men.
- Fetus with hydrops fetalis caused by parvovirus B19 has IUT (17 July 2016)
- Plastic surgeons live-stream surgeries on Facebook and Periscope (14 July 2016)
- To keep blood supply safe, screening blood is more important than banning donors (16 June 2016)
- Circular of Information for the Use of Cellular Therapy Products (June 2016)
- 3 years and many inspections after patient died from wrong transfusion, NY lab still cannot do its own blood typing (5 June 2016)
- Baby has 12 intrauterine transfusions (27 May 2016)
- Rh immune globulin not given in first pregnancy
- HHS ships blood products to Puerto Rico in response to Zika outbreak (7 Mar. 2016)
- Jury awards family of Jehovah's Witness who died from blood loss $100K (19 Feb. 2016)
- Man sues Blood Bank of Hawaii and ARC alleging he became HIV-positive from 2011 blood transfusion (3 Feb. 2016)
- ARC spokesperson says claims against ARC have no merit.
- Hospitals in NY State & throughout U.S. advertising to attract growing number of Canadian medical tourists (27 Jan. 2016) | Right wing Fraser Institute heavily quoted
- Why you get paid to donate plasma, not blood (22 Jan. 2016)
- Background: The twisted business of donating plasma (28 May 2014)
- 5 big players: USA's Baxter and Talecris, Australia's CSL, Spain's Grifols, Switzerland's Octapharma, possibly Biotest AG, an arm of the Dutch nonprofit Sanquin. Since 2008, plasma pharmaceuticals have increased from $4b to more than $11b
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