Global News

General

• New TM blog: Could I have this dance (Musings on a love affair with transfusion medicine for NMLW)
• Wiley offers complimentary access to COVID-19 research Includes journal articles from AABB, ASFA, BBTS, BSH, ISLH ISBT, ISTH
• World Hemophilia Day (17 Apr. 2020)
• Gotlieb A. At every stage of your career, mentorships are a valuable resource (The Pathologist, 16 July 2019) | Older but of general interest
• Blood clots in severe Covid-19 patients leave clinicians with clues about the illness — but no proven treatments (16 Apr. 2020)
  • Wang J, Hajizadeh N, Moore EE, McIntyre RC, Moore PK, Veress LA, et al. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment for COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a case series. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
• Reducing mortality of Covid-19 with antibody-rich plasma? Europe may have the answer if it comes together (15 Apr. 2020)
• Johns Hopkins researchers publish a how-to guidebook on COVID-19 plasma transfusions (14 Apr. 2020)
  • Bloch EM, et al. Deployment of convalescent plasma for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. J Clin Invest. 2020 Apr 7. pii: 138745. [Epub ahead of print]
• PAHO warns of potential blood shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic (10 Apr. 2020)
• PIVO enables health practitioners to obtain blood samples for med lab tests without a needle stick (6 Apr. 2020) | Velano Vascular Technologies
• COVID-19 (Brit Med J open access articles)
  • Abassi K. The scandals of covid-19 (9 Apr. 2020)
  • Greenhalgh T, Schmid MB, Czypionka T, Bassler D, Gruer L. Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis. BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1435.
  • Javid B, Weekes MP, Matheson NJ. Covid-19: should the public wear face masks? (Editorial) BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1442.
  • Kickbusch I, Leung GM, Bhutta ZA, Matsoso MP, Ihekweazu C, Abbasi K. Covid-19: how a virus is turning the world upside down. BMJ. 2020 Apr 3;369:m1336.
  • Stafford N. Covid-19: Why Germany's case fatality rate seems so low. BMJ. 2020 Apr 7;369:m1395.
  • Wise J. Covid-19: Doctors and nurses donate samples to study disease. BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1446.
• Articles of general interest to health professionals (All open access)
  • Allen TC. Pathologists will prevail. (editorial) Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):416-9. Epub 2020 Jan 23. (Open access)
  • Black CC, Motta A. An examination of advocacy education in residency training. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):497-499. Epub 2019 Jul 17.
  • Gross DJ, Black-Schaffer WS, Hoffman RD, Karcher DS, Estrada EL, Robboy SJ, Cohen MB. The state of the job market for pathologists: evidence from the College of American Pathologists Practice Leader Survey. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):420-6. Epub 2020 Jan 23. (Open access)
  • Montironi R, Cimadamore A, Scarpelli M. From undergraduate medical school student to visible pathologist. (Letter to the editor). Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):413-4. (Open access)

Canada

• CBS: COVID-19 and transfusion medicine
• CBS: Hemophilia’s global impact is greater than previously thought (17 Apr. 2020)
• CSTM cancels Annual Conference (Was scheduled for May 28-31,2020 in Montréal, QC, Canada)
• ORBCoN cancels 15th Annual Transfusion Medicine Education Videoconference Symposium (Was scheduled for 15 April 2020)
• ORBCoN (coronavirus-related resources): Emergency blood management
• More CE/CPD:
  • CBS: Upcoming educational events
  • ORBCoN: 2020 webcast schedule

Australia

• Haemoglobin disorders and COVID-19 — what do we know so far? (22 Apr. 2020)
• Red Cross Lifeblood: Proposal to reduce sexual activity deferral for donors from 12 to 3 months (April 2020) | Related:
  • TGA approves reduction of the deferral period for whole blood donors with sexual activity risk factors (15 Apr. 2020)
• Aussie labs abuzz with COVID-19 cure research (14 Apr. 2020)
• Blood and plasma donors needed to replenish dwindling supplies (3 Apr. 2020)

France

• COVID-19 plasma transfusion clinical trial begins (8 Apr. 2020)

India

• With 811 new Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra records highest single-day jump (26 Apr. 2020)
  • Maharashtra has also started giving hydroxychloroquine to asymptomatic patients and relatives of patients in densely populated areas such as the Dharavi slum in Mumbai.
• Mumbai: After hospitals shut temporarily due to doctors and nurses testing positive for COVID-19, BMC to hire private doctors (15 Apr. 2020)
• PGIMER to inject hope with plasma therapy trials in critical Covid patients (14 Apr. 2020) | PGIMER
• COVID-19 lockdown causes blood shortage (11 Apr. 2020)

Ireland

• Irish patients to be involved in trials for Covid-19 drug treatments (27 Apr. 2020)
• Over two years 70 men not allowed to donate blood because they had sex with other men (7 Apr. 2020)
• IBTS - No evidence of coronavirus transmission through blood (1 Apr. 2020)

Israel

• Seriously ill COVID-19 patient, age 29, treated with plasma from Jerusalem donor (11 Apr. 2020)

Kenya

• Health Secretary calls for views on National Blood Transfusion Service Bill (27 Apr. 2020)

Pakistan

• Committee formed to prepare plasma for treating coronavirus patients (6 Apr. 2020)
• First patient who recovered from coronavirus donates blood plasma for treatment (2 Apr. 2020)

Russia

• Moscow doctors note improvements in coronavirus patients after plasma transfusion (28 Apr. 2020)
• Blood plasma from coronavirus survivors transfused to first patients in Moscow (9 Apr. 2020)

Sri Lanka

• National BTS - Hotlines and online platform for uninterrupted blood donations amidst COVID-19 (26 Apr. 2020)

Switzerland

• University Hospital Basel transfuses first two COVID-19 patients with INTERCEPT treated coronavirus convalescent plasma (Cerus press release, 2 Apr. 2020)

Turkey

• Red Crescent warns blood supplies dwindling amid COVID-19 outbreak (1 Apr. 2020)

UK

• 2020 Annual SHOT Symposium is deferred to 2021 due to COVID-19
• Northern Ireland: Blood donation staff 'should get full PPE', union says (17 Apr. 2020)
• Wales plays leading role in ‘antibody transfusion’ treatment for coronavirus patients (14 Apr. 2020)
• Infected Blood Inquiry- News:
  • Contaminated blood scandal campaigners reiterate demand for compensation (28 Apr. 2020)
  • Widow of Hartlepool man who died in infected blood scandal fights for equal payments (21 Apr. 2020)
• Infected Blood Inquiry
  • Inquiry publishes individual written statements (27 Apr. 2020)
    • Individual written statements
  • April newsletter
  • Further instruction letters for expert groups published (20 Mar. 2020)
  • Inquiry files paperwork in judicial review - Court asked to review decision-making process (19 Mar. 2020)
  • Change to dates for next hearings due to Coronavirus (17 Mar. 2020)

USA

• UW Health transfusion service vital to bringing convalescent plasma to COVID-19 patients (28 Apr. 2020) | Includes 1:02 video
• FDA tightens enforcement on COVID-19 antibody tests (14 Apr. 2020)
• Seattle: First COVID-19 plasma donor rolls up sleeves for research (13 Apr. 2020) | Includes video.
• AABB launches new COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Website
• ARC seeks people fully recovered from COVID-19 who may be able to donate plasma
• FDA (COVID-19 related):
  • FDA launches Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) | Related: FDA Continues to Accelerate Development of Novel Therapies for COVID-19 (31 Mar. 2020)
  • Guidance for Industry,Investigators, and Institutional Review Boards: Guidance on Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products during COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated April 2, 2020)
  • Guidance for Industry: Notifying FDA of a Permanent Discontinuance or Interruption in Manufacturing Under Section 506C of the FD&C Act Guidance for Industry (March 2020)
  • Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products (April 2020) | One year deferral for MSM reduced to 3 months
• Houston Methodist performs the nation’s first plasma transfusion to treat COVID-19 (31 Mar. 2020) | Related:
  • Shen C, Wang Z, Zhao F, Yang Y, Li J, Yuan J, et al. Treatment of 5 critically ill patients with COVID-19 with convalescent plasma. JAMA. 2020 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print] (Free full text) | PubMed abstract

Industry news

• Australia: CSL's blood payments in US under the microscope (25 Apr. 2020)
• Theranos: Judge delays criminal trial of Elizabeth Holmes due to COVID-19 (15 Apr. 2020)
• BioNTech and Pfizer’s Coronavirus vaccine deal worth up to €689M (14 Apr. 2020)
• Sanofi partners with GSK to develop coronavirus vaccine (14 Apr. 2020)
• Australia: CSL keeps blood donations flowing, halts clinical trials to focus on COVID-19 (9 Apr.2020)
  • CSL's U.S. collection centres could stay open as "essential infrastructure" and CSL issued "safe passage" letters to ensure blood donors could get to centres, including those who cross Mexican border to make paid donations.
• See Switzerland above (Cerus's INTERCEPT)

Diseases in the news

• HCV/HIV: See UK above (Infected Blood Inquiry)
• Novel coronavirus (CoVID-19): See General, Australia, Canada (ORBCoN resources), France, India, Ireland, Israel,Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, and Industry news above (Australia - CSL)

Resource Library / Links

• NEW TM blog: Could I have this dance (Musings on a love affair with transfusion medicine for NMLW)
  • March blog: We are the world (Musings on COVID-19's impact on the world's blood supply)
• AUSTRALIA:
  • Free information for patients & children (via Australia's NSW government, includes comic book 'My first Transfusion' by Canada's McMaster Transfusion Research Program)
  • Australia/New Zealand: ANZBT Guidelines
  • BloodSafe ELearning Australia has new free courses based on Iron Deficiency Anaemia
    • Essentials/Paediatrics/Preoperative/Heavy Menstrual Bleeding/Maternity/Chronic and Complex
  • BloodSafe ELearning Australia has a new free course: Viscoelastic Haemostatic Testing
    • The course provides an introduction to the methodology and clinical use of viscoelastic haemostatic tests, thromboelastography (TEG^®) and thromboelastometry (ROTEM^®), which are used to assess haemostasis in patients with major bleeding.
  • BloodSafe ELearning Australia has new free courses based on Patient Blood Management Guidelines: Module 6 - Neonatal and Paediatrics:
  • PBM for Neonatal and Paediatrics
  • Neonatal Preterm
  • Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia
  • Paediatric Haematology/Oncology
  • Paediatric Surgical
  • Paediatric Major Haemorrhage
  • Paediatric Iron Deficiency Anaemia
• CANADA:
  • TM physicians develop new e-learning tools - “Treat the Bleed”
  • BC PBCO
    • Blood Products
    • Contingency Plan for Arboviruses
    • Education
    • Programs (appropriate product use and safety)
    • Resources
    • TraQ case studies
    • PBCO-TraQ manuals
    • TraQ's monthly newsletter
  • Canadian Blood Services
    • NEW COVID-19 and transfusion medicine
    • A Guide to Reporting Adverse Transfusion Events (Jan. 2020)
    • Clinical Guide to Transfusion | Latest updates:
      • Fractionated Blood Products and Associated Pathogen Safety - Ch. 7 (10 Sept. 2019)
      • Donor Selection, Donor Testing and Pathogen Reduction - Ch. 6 (8 Aug. 2019)
    • Serological best practices Includes the following:
      • Diego BGS: anti-Di^a; anti-Wr^a
      • Kell BGS: anti-Js^a; anti-Kp^a
      • Lewis BGS: Lewis antibodies / Lutheran BGS: anti-Lu^a
      • MNS BGS: anti-M / Rh BGS: anti C^w; anti-V
      • Whole blood donors with antibodies
    • CBS BloodTechNet program
    • CBS-sponsored LearnTransfusion series
  • Héma-Québec: Plasma donation: what happens after (3:40 min. video)
  • Choosing Wisely Canada's transfusion recommendations (Entertaining and informative 2-2.5 min. animated videos)
  • Blood & Blood Clots
    • Educational resources housed on CanadiEM dedicated to the management of bleeding and thrombosis
    • Resources include Interactive Quizlets, Blog Posts, and Podcasts
  • ORBCoN
    • NEW Coronavirus-related resources: Emergency blood management
    • Coagulation Simplified Flipbook, v. 2 (Nov. 2019)
    • Transfusion Committee Handbook, v3 (Updated Sept. 2019) | Scroll to download link
    • Home Infusion Toolkit v2.0
    • Bloody Easy 4 (Guide to Transfusion Medicine, ed. 4)
    • Bloody Easy Blood Administration, v. 2
    • 2020 webcast schedule
  • UK
    • SHOT Bite No 11: Respiratory symptoms during transfusion (20 Jan. 2020)
    • NHS England: Maternal intravenous immunoglobulin for the prevention of allo-immune fetal and neonatal haemochromatosis (Dec. 2019) | Multiple documents
    • Five SHOT posters (2019 BBTS Annual Scientific Meeting)
    • New SHOT videos (3 Sept. 2019)
      • Transfusion laboratory transfusion errors (6:50 mins)
      • Pulmonary complications of transfusion - TRAL, TACO, TAD (6:15 mins.)
    • 2018 Annual SHOT Report (9 July 2019) | 210 pp.
• Cord Blood Connect International Congress: On-line recordings of 2019 presentations (Sept. 13-15 in Miami Beach,USA)

Journals, etc.

Free full text papers | * 1 or more Canadian authors

• Free sample journal issues:
  • Brit J Haematol 2019 Jan; 184(1):1-112. | Special Issue: Themed Issue: Hodgkin Lymphoma Today and Tomorrow
  • Brit J Haematol 2017 June;177(6):827-1007. | Special Issue:Low to middle income countries
  • Immunohematology (J of American Red Cross): 1988-2017. (Articles in these years are free)
  • AABB journal Transfusion 2019 Jan; 59(1):1-431.
  • Transfus Med Rev 2019 Jan;33(1):1-68.
  • Vox Sang 2019 Jan;114(1):1-103.
• Open access journal: The Lancet Digital Health 2019 May;1(1):e1-e44.
• Transfus Med Hemother 2019 Oct; 46(5): Many open access articles
• Transfusion Evidence Alert (Jan. 2020, 10 new articles)
• Abassi K. The scandals of covid-19 (9 Apr. 2020)
• Ageron FX, Gayet-Ageron A, Ker K, Coats TJ, Shakur-Still H, Roberts I; Antifibrinolytics Trials Collaboration. The effect of tranexamic acid by baseline risk in acute bleeding patients: a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data from 28 333 patients. Br J Anaesth. 2020 Mar 18. pii: S0007-0912(20)30083-0. [Epub ahead of print]
• Akers C, Savoia H, Kane S, Crispin P, Keegan A, Wood E, et al. Misinterpretation of blood group and antibody screen leading to serious errors in RhD immunoglobulin administration: A report on first two years of data from Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting program. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Feb;59(1):161-4. Epub 2018 Sep 5.
• Allen TC. Pathologists will prevail. (editorial) Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):416-9. Epub 2020 Jan 23.
• Black CC, Motta A. An examination of advocacy education in residency training. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):497-499. Epub 2019 Jul 17.
• Bloch EM, et al. Deployment of convalescent plasma for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. J Clin Invest. 2020 Apr 7. pii: 138745. [Epub ahead of print]
• Braester A, Akria L, Yakir O, Shelev L, Barhoum M. Blood myths and ethnic-cultural background as impediments in patient blood management education. J Relig Health. 2020 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print] | Related:
  • Tissot JD, Lion N. Myths: history, blood, sex and money. Blood Transfus. 2013 Jan;11(1):1-3. (Editorial) Epub 2012 Jun 27.
  • Garraud O, Lefrère JJ. Are there still myths in -or associated with- transfusion? (Letter) Blood Transfus. 2013 Jan;11(1):148-50. Epub 2012 Jun 27.
• Chang L, Yan Y, Wang L. Coronavirus Disease 2019: Coronaviruses and blood safety. Transfus Med Rev. 2020 Feb 21. pii: S0887-7963(20)30014-6. [Epub ahead of print] | PubMed abstract
• * Diallo I, Benmoussa A, Laugier J, Osman A, Hitzler WE, Provost P. Platelet pathogen reduction technologies alter the microRNA profile of platelet-derived microparticles. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2020 Mar 19;7:31. eCollection 2020.
• Ebrahimi M, Dayer D, Jalalifar MA, Keikhaei B, Tahan Nejad Asadi Z. Association between HLA-DRB1*01 and HLA-DRB1*15 with alloimmunisation in transfusion-dependent patients with thalassaemia. Transfus Med. 2020 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print]
• Elshinawy M, Kamal M, Nazir H, Khater D, Hassan R, Elkinany H, Wali Y. Sepsis-related anemia in a pediatric intensive care unit: transfusion-associated outcomes. Transfusion. 2020 Feb;60 Suppl 1:S4-S9.
• Fogagnolo A, Taccone FS, Vincent JL, Benetto G, Cavalcante E, Marangoni E, et al. Using arterial-venous oxygen difference to guide red blood cell transfusion strategy. Crit Care. 2020 Apr 20;24(1):160. | PubMed abstract
• Greenhalgh T, Schmid MB, Czypionka T, Bassler D, Gruer L. Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis.BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1435.
• Gross DJ, Black-Schaffer WS, Hoffman RD, Karcher DS, Estrada EL, Robboy SJ, Cohen MB. The state of the job market for pathologists: evidence from the College of American Pathologists Practice Leader Survey. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):420-6. Epub 2020 Jan 23.
• He Y, Lin Z, Tang D, Yang Y, Wang T, Yang M. Strategic plan for management of COVID-19 in paediatric haematology and oncology departments. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Apr 1. pii: S2352-3026(20)30104-6. [Epub ahead of print]
• Janahi EM, Parkar SFD, Mustafa S, Eisa ZM. Implications of Hepatitis E virus in blood transfusions, hemodialysis, and solid organ transplants. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020 Apr 25;56(5). pii: E206.
• Javid B, Weekes MP, Matheson NJ. Covid-19: should the public wear face masks? (Editorial) BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1442.
• Kickbusch I, Leung GM, Bhutta ZA, Matsoso MP, Ihekweazu C, Abbasi K. Covid-19: how a virus is turning the world upside down. BMJ. 2020 Apr 3;369:m1336.
• Klukowska A, Komrska V, Vdovin V, Zozulya N, Lissitchkov T5 Oldenburg J, Ettingshausen CE. octanate®: over 20 years of clinical experience in overcoming challenges in haemophilia A treatment. Ther Adv Hematol. 2020 Apr 19;11:2040620720914692. eCollection 2020.
• Mardani A, Balali MR. Transfusion reactions: A retrospective analysis of the Iranian national haemovigilance system (INHS) data. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Mar 31:102767. [Epub ahead of print]
• Mekkodathil A, El-Menyar A, Sathian B, Singh R, Al-Thani H. Knowledge and willingness for organ donation in the Middle Eastern region: a meta-analysis. J Relig Health. 2019 Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print]
• Montironi R, Cimadamore A, Scarpelli M. From undergraduate medical school student to visible pathologist. (Letter to the editor). Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):413-4.
• * Ng KT, Yap JLL, Kwok PE. The effect of fibrinogen concentrate on postoperative blood loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Anesth. 2020 Mar 16;63:109782. [Epub ahead of print]
• Ramanathan K, MacLaren G, Combes A, Shekar K. Blood transfusion strategies and ECMO during the COVID-19 pandemic – Authors' reply. Lancet Respir Med. 2020 Apr. 16.
• Roback JD, Guarner J. Convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19: possibilities and challenges. (Editorial) JAMA. 2020 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print]
• Scalzulli E, Pepe S, Colafigli G, Breccia M. Therapeutic strategies in low and high-risk MDS: What does the future have to offer? Blood Rev. 2020 Mar 31:100689. [Epub ahead of print]
• Shander A, et al; Management, on behalf of the International Foundation of Patient Blood; Group, Society for the Advancement of Blood Management Work. The essential role of patient blood management in a pandemic: a call for action. Anesth Analg. 2020 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print] | PubMed abstract
• Shen C, Wang Z, Zhao F, Yang Y, Li J, Yuan J, et al. Treatment of 5 critically ill patients with COVID-19 with convalescent plasma. JAMA. 2020 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print] | PubMed abstract
• Stafford N. Covid-19: Why Germany's case fatality rate seems so low. BMJ. 2020 Apr 7;369:m1395.
• Szklarski PC, Booth GS. The direct labor cost for providing life-saving blood to air medical transport for pre-hospital transfusion. Transfus Apher Sci. 2019 Oct;58(5):645-646. Epub 2019 Sep 6.
• Tiberghien P, de Lambalerie X, Morel P, Gallian P, Lacombe K, Yazdanpanah Y. Collecting and evaluating convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment: why and how. Vox Sang. 2020 Apr 2. [Epub ahead of print] | PubMed abstract
• * VanderMeulen H, Strauss R, Lin Y, McLeod A, Barrett J, Sholzberg M, Callum J. The contribution of iron deficiency to the risk of peripartum transfusion: a retrospective case control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020 Apr 6;20(1):196.
• Wang J, Hajizadeh N, Moore EE, McIntyre RC, Moore PK, Veress LA, et al. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment for COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a case series. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] | PubMed abstract
• Wise J. Covid-19: Doctors and nurses donate samples to study disease. BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1446.
• * Xu Y, et al; Bleeding Effected by Direct Oral Anticoagulants (BLED-AC) Study Group. Healthcare resource utilization and costs among patients with direct oral anticoagulant or warfarin-related major bleeding. Thromb Res. 2019 Oct;182:12-19. Epub 2019 Aug 2.
• Yang X, Yang Q, Wang Y, Wu Y, Xu J, Yu Y, Shang Y. Thrombocytopenia and its association with mortality in patients with COVID-19. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Apr 17. [Epub ahead of print] | PubMed abstract
• Yi X, et al.Effect of phase-change material blood containers on the quality of red blood cells during transportation in environmentally-challenging conditions. PLoS One. 2020 Jan 29;15(1):e0227862. eCollection 2020.