Recent Updates

COVID-19 and transfusion medicine

Modified on:

Jul 28, 2021

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.

A Guide to Reporting Adverse Transfusion Reactions

Modified on:

Jul 28, 2021

Author: Matthew Yan, MD, FRCPC
Publication date: January 2020
Primary target audience: health-care professionals working in hospitals in Canada, excluding Quebec

Donor Selection, Donor Testing and Pathogen Reduction

Modified on:

Jul 27, 2021

All blood transfused in Canada is collected from volunteer donors. To ensure the safety of blood components, donors are carefully screened. In addition, the donated blood is tested to identify blood group, blood group antibodies and transfusion-transmissible pathogens. Donor eligibility criteria and testing also benefit the donors by reducing potential blood donation-related health risks.

This chapter describes the donor selection process, the testing done on donated blood, and the pathogen inactivation processes that can further reduce risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases. This chapter is complemented by Chapter 7, Fractionated Blood products and Associated Pathogen Safety, and Chapter 8, Pre-transfusion Testing, of this Guide.

Day 3: Special Transfusion Situations – Maternal, Perioperative Bleeding Assessment, Sickle Cell Disease

Modified on:

Jul 22, 2021

The content on this page is specific for 2020-2021 Transfusion Camp. Content for 2021-2022 will start being updated approximately one month ahead of the live event held in Toronto. See General Information Schedules and Locations document for live event dates.

Day 2: Complications: Compatibility, Acute & Long Term Transfusion Risks & Errors

Modified on:

Jul 22, 2021

The content on this page is specific for 2020-21 Transfusion Camp. Content for 2021-2022 will start being updated approximately one month ahead of the live event held in Toronto. See General Information Schedules and Locations document for live event dates.

Reminder:

Day 1: Blood Component Indications & Administration

Modified on:

Jul 22, 2021

The content on this page is specific for 2020-2021 Transfusion Camp. Content for 2021-2022 will start being updated approximately one month ahead of the live event held in Toronto. See General Information Schedules and Locations document for live event dates.

Reminder:

Anaphylactic transfusion reactions and IgA deficiency

Modified on:

Jul 20, 2021

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.

Impact of COVID-19 on blood donation in Canada

Modified on:

Jun 30, 2021

Blood transfusion is a crucial component of medical therapy today. Having a resilient blood system that can withstand widespread crises, such as pandemics, is an important feature of a sustainable blood supply.¹ Pandemics are a sustained disaster with significant impact on the supply of labile components (e.g., red blood cells, platelets, plasma) and non-labile products (e.g., immune globulins). SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 illness, is not transmissible by blood (see Canadian Blood Service’s COVID-19 FAQ for health professionals working with blood products). However, COVID-19 had an impact on donor eligibility, donor availability, and availability of trained personnel to collect and produce blood products.^2,3

Day 5: Trauma, Massive Transfusion Protocols & Controversial Entities

Modified on:

Jun 9, 2021

Reminder:

Day 2: Complications: Compatibility, Acute & Long Term Transfusion Risks & Errors

Modified on:

Jun 4, 2021

The content on this page is specific for 2020-2021 Transfusion Camp.

Reminder:

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