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Blood Components
Focus on Safety
Our top priority is always blood safety for both the
donors and the patients who receive the blood. And this
year saw some changes in the donor selection criteria.
From 1 November 2010, people with Myalgic
Encephalitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) were
permanently deferred from giving blood in the UK.
The change, which applied across all four UK Blood Services,
was recommended by the UK Blood Services Standing
Advisory Committee on the Care and Selection of Donors,
and Joint Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC). This
brought donor selection guidelines for ME/CFS into line
with other conditions where individuals are permanently
excluded from blood donation to protect their own
health.
Donor guidelines for people with ME/CFS have been changed to protect their safety as they are at risk of relapsing after blood donation. However, there is no evidence that a donation from an ME/CFS donor could harm a patient in any way.
We asked platelet donors to refrain from donating for five days after taking aspirin as it impairs the function of platelets which are vital to help blood clot. Blood donors who give whole blood are still able to do so after taking aspirin as long as they are fit and able to donate.
Research continued on vCJD but as yet there is no test ready for mass trials.
We also started preparation for the prion filtration of red cell products for use in transfusions to children born on or after 1 January 1996. This activity is part of the vCJD risk reduction measures currently in place, including leucodepletion (the removal of white cells) an additional measure recommended to the Department of Health by the advisory committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO).
The debate continued as to whether men who have had sex with men can give blood, as there is currently a lifetime ban. SaBTO reviewed the policy guidelines and gave recommendations to Ministers who are due to announce their response in 2011 http://www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/exclusion/
Fainting and re-bleeds
Prevention of fainting and feeling faint before, during and after donation, is essential to removing barriers to donation and encouraging donors to return. We worked with frontline nurses to implement Points of Care which outlines ways to prevent adverse events and care for vulnerable donors. The detailed donation pathway supports those nurses assuming responsibility to improving safety and overall donor experience. The nurses work with vulnerable donors before the session to prepare them for giving blood, and a new post-donation arm dressing protocol has reduced rebleeds by two thirds.
Donor guidelines for people with ME/CFS have been changed to protect their safety as they are at risk of relapsing after blood donation. However, there is no evidence that a donation from an ME/CFS donor could harm a patient in any way.
We asked platelet donors to refrain from donating for five days after taking aspirin as it impairs the function of platelets which are vital to help blood clot. Blood donors who give whole blood are still able to do so after taking aspirin as long as they are fit and able to donate.
Research continued on vCJD but as yet there is no test ready for mass trials.
We also started preparation for the prion filtration of red cell products for use in transfusions to children born on or after 1 January 1996. This activity is part of the vCJD risk reduction measures currently in place, including leucodepletion (the removal of white cells) an additional measure recommended to the Department of Health by the advisory committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO).
The debate continued as to whether men who have had sex with men can give blood, as there is currently a lifetime ban. SaBTO reviewed the policy guidelines and gave recommendations to Ministers who are due to announce their response in 2011 http://www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/exclusion/
Fainting and re-bleeds
Prevention of fainting and feeling faint before, during and after donation, is essential to removing barriers to donation and encouraging donors to return. We worked with frontline nurses to implement Points of Care which outlines ways to prevent adverse events and care for vulnerable donors. The detailed donation pathway supports those nurses assuming responsibility to improving safety and overall donor experience. The nurses work with vulnerable donors before the session to prepare them for giving blood, and a new post-donation arm dressing protocol has reduced rebleeds by two thirds.
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