Transfusion medicine

Recent Updates

Modified on:

May 21, 2021

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Anaphylactic transfusion reactions and IgA deficiency

Key Points

Severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions are reported in 1.2 to 5.9 per 100,000 components transfused. The most recent Canadian Blood Services surveillance data on allergic reactions is available in the annual surveillance report.
There are various mechanisms that can lead to anaphylactic or severe allergic reactions, and some may not be preventable despite product modification.
Even in the presence of low anti-IgA level and anti-IgA antibodies, risk of anaphylactic transfusion is low.
Anti-IgA testing is only recommended in selected individuals with history of one anaphylactic transfusion reaction or two severe allergic transfusion reactions.
The form for ordering anti-IgA testing can be found on the Canadian Blood Services website.
Instructions and guidance on how to report adverse transfusion reactions can be found in this guide on the Canadian Blood Services Professional Education website.

Modified on:

May 20, 2021

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COVID-19 and transfusion medicine

http://cancovid19plasma.ca/This repository aims to support Canadian transfusion medicine health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be updated regularly as new information is available. In addition, the public and donors can learn more about how Canadian Blood Services is responding to COVID-19 by visiting blood.ca/covid-19.

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Published:

Apr 21, 2021

Preoperative Autologous Donation

Chapter 16

This chapter focuses on preoperative autologous donation (PAD). PAD refers to the donation of blood by a patient for their own future use; generally, this is for a scheduled elective surgery. The top three procedures associated with a request for a PAD are total hip replacement, total knee replacement and hysterectomy.¹

There are other types of autologous blood use (e.g., acute normovolemic hemodilution and intraoperative and postoperative blood salvage) which are not discussed in this chapter.

Autologous and directed donations should be confined to circumstances of rare blood types² or plasma protein deficiencies in which allogeneic blood components may not meet patient needs. In all other cases, allogeneic blood transfusions are a safe option. See Chapter 13 of this Guide for more information on directed donations for neonatal and pediatric transfusion.

Upcoming Events

U of T Rounds: CONCOR-1 Study

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When

June 17, 2021 | 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Where

Toronto/Webinar

More details to follow.

Note: This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Journal Club

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When

June 22, 2021 | 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Where

Toronto/Webinar

More details to follow.

Note: The session is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

CAEP at the Forks - Rising to the Challenge

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When

June 15, 2021 | 7:00AM to June 17, 2021 | 9:00PM

Where

Winnipeg, MB | Virtual Converence

As the national voice of emergency medicine (EM), CAEP provides continuing medical education, advocates on behalf of emergency physicians and their patients, supports research and strengthens the EM community. In co-operation with other specialties and committees, CAEP also plays a vital role in the development of national standards and clinical guidelines.

CAEP keeps Canadian emergency physicians informed of developments in the clinical practice of EM and addresses political and societal changes, that affect the delivery of emergency health care.

Blog

Modified on:

Mar 10, 2021

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Challenges 2020: Lay science writing winners announced

The Centre for Innovation is delighted to announce the winners of the 2020-2021 Canadian Blood Services Lay Science Writing Competition. Read on to find out who won!

Modified on:

Mar 3, 2021

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Why getting a COVID-19 vaccine shouldn’t stop you from donating blood

You may be aware that there’s no deferral for blood donors after they receive a vaccine against COVID-19. But you might be wondering how the blood operators made this decision. Canadian Blood Services' medical director for donor and clinical services, Dr. Mindy Goldman, answers questions.

Modified on:

Feb 17, 2021

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The START Study: Improving red blood cell use in Canadian hospitals

A study conducted by researchers in the University of Toronto QUEST program, a research collaborative supported by Canadian Blood Services, looked at what can be done to reduce the number of inappropriate red blood cell transfusions in hospitals.