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General News | Specific countries | Diseases | Industry News | Resource Library | Journals
Collaborating Site: CSTM

General

• World Cord Blood Day (17 Nov. 2020)
• New evidence to guide the practice of blood transfusions in children with severe malaria (News release 19 Oct. 2020)
  • Ackerman H, Ayestaran A, Olola CHO, et al. The effect of blood transfusion on outcomes among African children admitted to hospital with Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a prospective, multicentre observational study. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Nov;7(11):e789-e797.
• Europe’s top court rules for Jehovah’s witness child in medical-bias case vs Latvia's Ministry of Health (29 Oct. 2020)
• Impact of preoperative blood transfusion on postoperative outcomes in newborns (28 Oct. 2020)
  • Dukleska K, Vinocur CD, Brenn BR, et al. Preoperative blood transfusions and morbidity in neonates undergoing surgery. Pediatrics. 2020 Oct 21:e20193718. Epub ahead of print.
• 'No one eureka moment': University of Alberta virologist describes decade of work that led to a Nobel Prize (25 Oct. 2020)
• Limited efficacy of plasma from cured patients, study finds (24 Oct. 2020)
  • Pathak EB. Convalescent plasma is ineffective for covid-19. (editorial) BMJ. 2020 Oct 22;371:m4072. (Free full text)
• Solutions to hemolysis in point-of-care testing (23 Oct. 2020)
• Critically ill infants given blood transfusions before surgery have poorer outcomes (21 Oct. 2020)
• Effective lab leadership (10 Feb. 2020)
• My Rh sensitized pregnancy was a total nightmare (19 Oct. 2020)
• The virus which killed millions and the Nobel prize 2020 (17 Oct. 2020)
• Johnson & Johnson pauses COVID-19 vaccine trials (13 Oct. 2020)
• COVID-19 diagnostics: How do saliva tests compare to swabs? (9 Oct. 2020)
  • Guyane C, Nacher M, Demar M. Prospective comparison of saliva and nasopharyngeal swab sampling for mass screening for COVID-19. Unreviewed preprint medRxiv 2020.09.23.20150961. Epub 2020 Sep 24. (Free full text)
• Harvey Alter’s Nobel Prize honors a half-century quest (9 Oct. 2020)
• A challenge trial for COVID-19 would not be the first of its kind (8 Oct. 2020) | Also see UK below
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2020 awarded jointly to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice "for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus." The announcement in Stockholm (video)
• The Nobel Prize is a reminder of hepatitis C’s dark history (6 Oct. 2020)
• Selected presentations (blogs) from AABB 2020 (Oct.3-6, 2020)
  • Major changes in blood donor screening
  • Professional social media is social
  • Rooting out the cause of errors
  • Yes, we really can reduce human error in transfusion medicine
  • Newborn immunohematology testing practices vary significantly throughout the United States and Canada
  • AABB Congratulates Harvey J. Alter, MD, Recipient of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
  • Making Twitter a part of your professional toolbox
  • Using the power of “Digital Health” to achieve hemovigilance
  • Here’s what happened when IBR updated its DHQ to include transgender, non-binary donors | Interesting demographics
• Why did the cruise leave without me? I only needed a blood transfusion! (3 Oct. 2020) | Unsure when this happened. Written by NPO offering free advice and advocacy for consumers.
• The Surgisphere scandal: what went wrong? (1 Oct. 2020) 

Canada

• Two changes at CSTM:
  • Mailing list 'transfusion' has changed its description from "The list for Canada's transfusion safety officers" to "CSTM CONNECT - Ask the TM Community" and
    • Is still open to non-CSTM members who work in any transfusion-related capacity in Canada.
  • Non-members can now subscribe to the monthly newsletter to become informed on events of interest: CSTM Communique
• ORBCoN October 2020 Report
• CITF: Final results of initial Canadian SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study announced (8 Sept. 2020)
• CBS: BloodTechNet Award Program (Application deadline, 15 Nov. 2020)
• CBS: Graduate Fellowship Program (Application deadline, 15 Nov. 2020)
• Transfusion medicine residency training program information from University of British Columbia
• CE/CPD:
  • CBS: Upcoming educational events
  • ORBCoN: 2020 webcast schedule

India

• Couple had a baby just to save their terminally ill son (19 Oct. 2020) | Related:
  • Sheldon S, Wilkinson S. Should selecting saviour siblings be banned? J Med Ethics. 2004 Dec;30(6):533-7.
• National Human Rights Commission warns Odisha officials in wrong blood transfusion case (19 Oct. 2020)
• Woman transfused HIV+ blood faces social stigma, alleges torture by hubby (17 Oct. 2020)
• Blood donation down by 50% in Mumbai due to Covid-19 pandemic (17 Oct. 2020)
• NGO to move HC after Bathinda cops book one blood bank employee for wrong transfusion (11 Oct. 2020) | Probe had indicted three employees for negligence
• Wrong blood transfusion: Health Department suspends Blood bank employee for gross negligence (9 Oct. 2020)
• Udupi's Kasturba Hospital launches 'Rare Blood Donor Registry' (1 Oct. 2020)

Kenya

• Blood banks run empty as MPs drag their feet on transfusion bill (28 Oct. 2020)

UK

• Britain to pursue first COVID-19 human challenge trials (20 Oct. 2020)
• NHS Blood Service makes appeal for more black donors (20 Oct. 2020)
• Infected Blood Inquiry
  • Evidence submitted for Haemophilia Clinicians Public Hearings Weeks 5-7, 27 Oct. - 20 Nov.)
• Infected Blood Inquiry - News:
  • Former Bradford Haemophilia Centre boss's tearful evidence (29 Oct. 2020)
  • Evidence submitted for Haemophilia Clinicians Public Hearings Weeks 5-7, 27 Oct. - 20 Nov.)
  • Ex-Royal Free medic rejects ‘liability’ while colleague points finger at government over scale of treatment disaster (26 Oct. 2020)
  • Former health secretary calls for compensation for scandal victims – and Sir Keir Starmer backs campaigners (22 Oct. 2020)
  • Key witness disagrees with compensation 'as it suggests liability' (21 Oct. 2020)
  • Contaminated blood scandal victims prepare for ex-Royal Free doctors to give evidence at inquiry (16 Oct. 2020)
  • Grieving daughter fighting for justice after dad received contaminated blood (3 Oct. 2020)
  • Doctors were aware of risks of hep C and HIV to haemophiliacs during 1970s and 1980s, inquiry hears (30 Sept. 2020)

USA

• AABB: Graphic summaries of COVID-19 weekly hospital transfusion services surveys (26-28 Oct. 2020)
• OBI experiences emergency blood shortage (28 Oct. 2020)
• BYU-Idaho threatens suspension for students intentionally getting COVID-19 to sell plasma (13 Oct. 2020)
• Baby with COVID becomes youngest patient to receive experimental convalescent plasma transfusion (1 Oct. 2020)

Industry news

• Australia's star vaccine maker CSL not immune to virus anxiety (27 Oct. 2020)
• Also see General above (Johnson & Johnson and Surgisphere)

Diseases in the news

• COVID-19: See General news, India, UK, USA, and Industry news above and Journals below.
• HCV/HIV: See General news and UK above.

Resource Library / Links

• 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:
  • Exploring the frontiers of IVIG-associated hemolysis (CSTM/CBS/H-Q 2020 meeting presentation by Dr. Jacob Pendergrast and Donald Branch) | Includes 1 hr 15 min video.
  • 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: Rare Blood Program (11 Sept. 2020)
    • Canadian Clinical Guide to Organ Donation (Collaborative e-Learning course)
    • Meunier D, Clarke G. Testing and management of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Canadian Blood Services Professional Education. Online May 2020.
    • CBS COVID-19 resources:
      • FAQ for health professionals working with blood products (Updated 29 May 2020)
      • Consensus guidance for organ donation and transplantation services during COVID19 pandemic (May 28 2020)
      • COVID-19 and transfusion medicine
    • A Guide to Reporting Adverse Transfusion Events (Jan. 2020)
    • Clinical Guide to Transfusion | Latest updates:
      • Ch. 8 Pre-transfusion Testing (Updated 13 July 2020)
      • 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: Two newly revised “Bloody Easy Lite” eLearning program for physicians and healthcare professionals who prescribe blood components/products
    • 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
    • NEW JPAC Transfusion Handbook 2.4: The ABO system (11 Oct. 2020)
    • SHOT: Anti-D Immunoglobulin Administration to avoid sensitisation in pregnancy - an aide memoire (July 2020)
    • Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (Access top menu for the many options)
    • 2019 SHOT Report
    • SHOT Bites
    • 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.)

  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.
• Open access journal: Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy, Journal of the Brasilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cell Therapy (ABHH)
• Transfus Med Hemother 2019 Oct; 46(5): Many open access articles
• Open access journal (May 2020): The Lancet Microbe
• Ackerman H, Ayestaran A, Olola CHO, et al. The effect of blood transfusion on outcomes among African children admitted to hospital with Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a prospective, multicentre observational study. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Nov;7(11):e789-e797.
• Das S, Shastry S, Chakravarthy PK, Baliga PB. Clinical Implication of Immunohaematological Tests in ABO haemolytic disease of newborn: Revisiting an old disease. Transfus Med. 2020 Sep 24. Epub ahead of print.
• Delaney M, Apelseth TO, Bonet Bub C, et al; Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative. Red-blood-cell alloimmunization and prophylactic antigen matching for transfusion in patients with warm autoantibodies. Vox Sang. 2020 Aug;115(6):515-524. Epub 2020 Apr 6.
• Dukleska K, Vinocur CD, Brenn BR, et al. Preoperative blood transfusions and morbidity in neonates undergoing surgery. Pediatrics. 2020 Oct 21:e20193718. Epub ahead of print.
• * Fingrut W, Cuperfain AB, Chan SWS, et al. Development and evaluation of stem cell collection procedure diagrams to support the education and recruitment of committed stem cell donors. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 24. Epub ahead of print.
• Garraud O, Vuk T, Lozano M, Tissot JD. Transfusion Medicine: overtime paradigm changes and emerging paradoxes. Transfus Clin Biol. 2020 Oct 6:S1246-7820(20)30122-1. (Journal pre-proof) Epub ahead of print.
• Guyane C, Nacher M, Demar M. Prospective comparison of saliva and nasopharyngeal swab sampling for mass screening for COVID-19. Unreviewed preprint medRxiv 2020.09.23.20150961. Epub 2020 Sep 24.
• * Healey A, Hartwick M, Downar J, et al; for Canadian Blood Services, the Canadian Critical Care Society, the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses, and the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians. Improving quality of withdrawal of life-sustaining measures in organ donation: a framework and implementation toolkit. Can J Anaesth. 2020 Sep 11. English. Epub ahead of print. | PubMed abstract
• * Hill-Strathy M, Pinkerton PH, Thompson TA, et al. Evaluating the appropriateness of platelet transfusions compared with evidence-based platelet guidelines: An audit of platelet transfusions at 57 hospitals. Transfusion. 2020 Oct 20. Epub ahead of print.
• Hu P, Kang J, Li Y, et al. Emergency response to COVID-19 epidemic: One Chinese blood centre's experience. Transfus Med. 2020 Sep 30. Epub ahead of print. | PubMed abstract
• Kiely P, Hoad VC, Seed CR, Gosbell IB. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2: implications for blood safety and sufficiency. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 23. Epub ahead of print.) | PubMed abstract
• Klein HG. A novel virus transforms blood transfusion. Transfusion. 2020 Oct 7. Epub ahead of print.
• Lin M. Elimination of pretransfusion RhD typing at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan-30-year experience (1988-2017). Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 20. Epub ahead of print. | PubMed abstract
• Liu D, Wu J, Xiong T, Yue Y, Tang J. Platelet transfusion for neonates with thrombocytopaenia: protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2020 Oct 16;10(10):e039132.
• McLean C, McMillan L, Petrik J, Fraser AR, Morrison A. Cryopreserved platelets and their suitability in being re-suspended in additive solution. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 23. Epub ahead of print.
• McRae HL, Kara F, Milito C, Cahill C, Blumberg N, Refaai MA. Whole blood haemostatic function throughout a 28-day cold storage period: an in vitro study. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 23. Epub ahead of print.
• Mehrhoff C, Sharma A, Zimmerman C,DeChristopher P. IVIG-induced Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia in a critically ill adolescent male. Pediatrics August 2019, 144 (2 Meeting Abstract) 382.
• Molina-Arrebola MA, Fernández-Guerrero E, Aguirre-Ortega FJ, Avivar-Oyonarte C. Digital resources for transfusion education. J Educ Health Promot. 2020 Jul 28;9:173.
• Owaraganise, A., Tibaijuka, L. & Ngonzi, J. Subacute uterine inversion following an induced abortion in a teenage girl: a case report. BMC Women's Health 20, 220 (2020). Epub 2020 Oct. 2.
• Pandey HC, Coshic P, C S C, Arcot PJ, Kumar K. Blood supply management in times of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - challenges, strategies adopted, and the lessons learned from the experience of a hospital-based blood centre. Vox Sang. 2020 Oct 26. Epub ahead of print.
• Pandey P, Setya D, Mirza SM, Singh MK. Prospective audit of blood transfusion request forms and continuing medical education to optimise compliance of clinicians in a hospital setting. Transfus Med. 2020 Sep 30. Epub ahead of print. 08.
• Pathak EB. Convalescent plasma is ineffective for covid-19. (editorial) BMJ. 2020 Oct 22;371:m4072.
• Raguz MJ, Prce Z, Bjelanovic V, et al. 20 years of follow-up alloimmunization and hemolytic disease in newborn: has anything changed in the field over the years? Klin Padiatr. 2020 Oct 15. English. Epub ahead of print.
• Ryan N, Vieira D, Goffman D, et al. Implementation outcomes of policy and programme innovations to prevent obstetric haemorrhage in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan. 2020 Sep 30:czaa074. Epub ahead of print.
• * Seghatchian J, Acker JP, Putter JS. Update on newer approaches to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection: What we all need the most right now!! Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Sep 3:102933. Epub ahead of print.
• Shah A, Donovan K, McHugh A, et al. Thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a multicentre observational study. Crit Care. 2020 Sep 18;24(1):561. | PubMed abstract
• Sheldon S, Wilkinson S. Should selecting saviour siblings be banned? J Med Ethics. 2004 Dec;30(6):533-7.
• Smith S, Dewey E, VanSandt M, Schreiber M. Liquid plasma reduces waste and health care expenses compared with thawed plasma at a Level I trauma center. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2020 Nov;89(5):867-70.
• Thorpe R, Nguyen L, Masser BM, Van Dyke N, Davison TE. Gone, but haven't forgotten: insights on plasmapheresis donation from lapsed donors. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 23. Epub ahead of print.
• Tyagi A, Gupta A, Dutta A, Potluri P, Batti B. A review of Diamond-Blackfan anemia: current evidence on involved genes and treatment modalities. Cureus. 2020 Aug 25;12(8):e10019.
• * Vijenthira S, Armali C, Downie H, Wilson A, Paton K, Berry B, Wu HX, Robitaille A, Cserti-Gazdewich C, Callum J. Registration errors among patients receiving blood transfusions: a national analysis from 2008 to 2017. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 30. Epub ahead of print.
• Warner MA, Kurian EB, Hammel SA, van Buskirk CM, Kor DJ, Stubbs JR. Transition from room-temperature to cold-stored platelets for the preservation of blood inventories during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfusion. 2020 Oct 8. Epub ahead of print.
• Yamamoto F, Yamamoto M, Muñiz-Diaz E. Blood group ABO polymorphism inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection and affects COVID-19 progression. Vox Sang. 2020 Sep 23. Epub ahead of print. | Pubmed abstract
• * Yazer MH, Jackson B, Pagano M, et al. Vox Sanguinis International Forum on hospital transfusion services' response to COVID-19: responses. Vox Sang. 2020 Aug;115(6):e1-e17.