Transfusion medicine

Recent Updates

Published:

Aug 8, 2019

Donor Selection, Donor Testing and Pathogen Reduction

Chapter 6

All blood transfused in Canada is collected from volunteer donors. To ensure the safety of the blood products, donors are carefully screened against an extended list of eligibility criteria. In addition, the donated blood is tested to identify the donor’s blood group and to detect blood group antibodies and transfusion-transmissible pathogens. Donor eligibility criteria and testing also benefit the donors by, for example, reducing potential blood donation-related health risks.

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Published:

Sep 10, 2019

Fractionated Blood Products and Associated Pathogen Safety

Chapter 7

Background

Originally all plasma fractionation products were derived from pooled human plasma. Increasingly, many plasma proteins are manufactured by biotechnology as recombinant proteins, without need for donated plasma; depending on the plasma protein product, either a recombinant or fractionated product, or both are available in Canada.

Modified on:

Oct 17, 2019

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Surveillance report

We are pleased to present the seventh annual report describing transmissible blood-borne infection surveillance. High quality and timely surveillance is central to the safety of the blood supply.

Upcoming Events

Journal Club: Effect of Fibrinogen Concentrate vs Cryoprecipitate on Blood Component Transfusion After Cardiac Surgery: The FIBRES Randomized Clinical Trial

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When

November 12, 2019 | 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Where

Toronto/Webinar

Presented by:

Dr. Catherine Dubé
Transfusion Medicine Physician Trainee
University of Toronto

Objectives:

1.  To briefly review guidelines supporting fibrinogen replacement in cardiac surgery.
2.  To summarize preceding evidence comparing fibrinogen concentrates and cryoprecipitate.
3.  To present the findings of the FIBRES study and discuss potential impact on transfusion practice.

Earl W. Davie Symposium

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When

November 13, 2019 | 7:15AM to 6:00PM

Where

Vancouver

The Centre for Blood Research is excited to present its 13th Annual Earl Davie Symposium. This one-day event in honour of the discoverer of the coagulation cascade, features presentations by experts in vascular biology, hemostasis-thrombosis, inflammation, cardiovascular and neurovascular disease and facilitates knowledge exchange between researchers and physicians. The 13^th Annual Earl Davie Symposium focuses on cutting edge advances in the understanding and treatment of hemophilia, thrombosis, and bleeding disorders.

Topic Teaching: Human T-Cell Adoptive Immunotherapy

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When

November 19, 2019 | 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Where

Toronto/Webinar

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.

Blog

Modified on:

Oct 30, 2019

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The science behind young blood

Drinking the blood of the young, and thereby somehow capturing their youth, is a common literary trope. The ghoulish notion speaks to our cultural fascination with youth, but also to our dread of aging.

There’s no evidence-based therapy using the blood of young people to counteract or prevent the effects of aging, but young blood is an area where science might be beginning to imitate art — at least, sort of.

Modified on:

Oct 28, 2019

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Dr. Donald Branch honoured by AABB for his career achievements

Last month, Dr. Donald Branch, a scientist at Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for Innovation and professor at the University of Toronto, received a prestigious international award honouring his more than 40 years of major contributions to transfusion medicine and hematology.

Modified on:

Sep 30, 2019

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Lay Science Writing Competition open for submissions!

Stories underlie all research experiences, but these stories are rarely told. The Centre for Innovation is excited to launch its second annual Lay Science Writing Competition and give our research trainees the chance to tell those stories!