Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

Given the relatively short storagelife for all blood cellcomponents—from six weeks forred blood cells down to only oneday for granulocites—it isimportant to focus on qualitycontrol and cost benefit whenchoosing a preparation method.Some special components areprepared only in the larger BloodTransfusion Centres beforedelivery to the smaller hospitals.Slovenia is still developing itspolicy on self-sufficiency for bloodderivatives. The country has noeconomic reason to have its ownfractionation plant since itspartners fractionate the greatmajority of collected plasma foralbumin, Factor VIII, IXconcentrate and gamma globulin.Slovenia is, however, selfsufficientfor all blood componentsand products with the exception ofFactor VIII, for which half of the6 million units used per year areimported.ScreeningAll units are tested for syphilis,HIV 1/2, hepatitis B and C, thelatter using PCR. Testing, groupingand cross matching of donatedblood is carried out beforetransfusion. The functions of theBlood Transfusion Service alsoinclude antenatal screening andcoordination of anti-D protection,a tissue typing laboratory and anauto transfusion unit foroutpatients.Quality ManagementProgrammeTo reinforce a strong Researchand Development team, thepriority is to introduce effectivequality control and build a uniquequality assurance system for thewhole country.Training in the field of bloodtransfusion is high on the agenda.Administrative errors are one ofthe most common sources in theblood transfusion service which iswhy fifteen years ago, Sloveniaadopted a special automatedprogramme to make routinedecisions, guide procedures andproduce reports, statistics andanalyses, all of which has madeblood transfusion safer. A networkconnects all transfusion departmentsto the Slovenian register ofblood donors, although a datalinkbetween clinics and blood transfusionservices would improvesupervision of the clinical use ofblood and blood derivatives, andalso form the basis for an effectivehaemovigilance system.World Health Day—A Red FlagWorld Health Day, with its slogan“Safe blood starts with me—bloodsaves lives” was a challenge tothis nation, in the midst oftransition and reorganization of itsblood transfusion and donorrecruitment system. The challengewas to increase public awarenessand understanding of blood safetythrough voluntary, nonremuneratedblood donation fromlow risk populations. Gaininginformation on the behaviouralcharacteristics of present andpotential donors was considered avital starting point.Several manifestations andactivities took place on 7 Aprilfocusing on donor recruitment andhealth professionals. Key playersin the public informationcampaign for safe transfusionwere the President of Slovenia,the Minister of Health, representativesof the Red Cross andhealth care personnel.Manual for blood donor andrecruitment personnel79 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME