18 November 2011
CSL Biotherapies and the Blood Service are advising the availability of a larger and more concentrated presentation of BIOSTATE® from Monday 21 November 2011. Read more...
20 October 2011
Octagam® 5%, an imported intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) product, has been reintroduced and is available for ordering at the Blood Service from 24 October 2011. Read more...
15 September 2011
The Blood Service is upgrading its National Blood Management System (NBMS) on Monday, 19 September 2011. The transition from NBMS Progesa to the new system, eProgesa, is a technology upgrade and sets the foundation for future improvements. Stakeholders may expect impacts and changes with the implementation of the NBMS upgrade. Read more...
26 August 2011
Rhophylac®, manufactured by CSL Behring, will replace WinRHO-SDF as the Rh(D) immunoglobulin for intravenous use available within Australia.
The change over from WinRho-SDF to Rhophylac® will occur when current stocks of WinRho-SDF are depleted which is anticipated to occur during August 2011. Read more...
The Blood Service has previously advised that the phased introduction of leucodepleted apheresis platelets in platelet additive solution (PAS) would commence in May 2011 but this has been delayed. Read more...
The National Blood Authority (NBA) has recently announced the outcomes of its tender for the provision of a number of imported plasma and recombinant products, replacing contracts for these products which expired on 30 June 2011. Read more...
In 2010/11, the Blood Service supplied 800,570 red cells, 134,705 platelets, 160,537 units of clinical fresh frozen plasma, 70,102 units of cryoprecipitate and 13,882 units of cryodepleted plasma. Read more...
31 March 2011
The Guideline is available from the National Blood Authority website as a PDF. Hard copies can also be ordered from the NBA via their site.
22 February 2011
The draft Perioperative module of the Patient Blood Management Guideline has been made available for comment from Monday 7 February.
Preliminary conclusions and draft recommendations are now available to a wider clinical audience to make submissions.
The closing date for submissions is 5pm Friday 1 April 2011. To view the guideline and to make submissions go to http://www.nba.gov.au/guidelines/consultation.html
22 February 2011
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is ceasing the use of Configuration C when shipping red cell components as of Tuesday 22 February. We have identified anomolies with the temperature stability of this packing configuration.
Configuration C notification 22 KB
21 February 2011
CSL Biotherapies has recently received reports of two patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) being underdosed with Biostate due to a misunderstanding regarding the prescribing haematologist's dosing instructions. In both cases the patient outcome was advised as satisfactory.
Biostate Advisory Statement 188 KB
10 December 2010
The publication of a clinical update on the diagnosis and management of IDA in the latest MJA, by the Australian Iron Deficiency Expert Group (AIDEG), describes IDA as an important public health problem in Australia and around the world.
29 September 2010
The National Blood Authority (NBA) has arranged for an alternative imported IVIg product, Flebogamma 5% DIF, to be supplied under the National Blood Arrangements. Read more...
27 September 2010
Octapharma Australia Pty Ltd has agreed to a precautionary voluntary recall of all batches of Octagam IVIg solutions from the Australian market, due to safety concerns regarding an increased evidence of thromboembolic complications. Read more...
20 September 2010
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has commissioned a review of current deferral policies relating to the sexual activity of blood donors. Read more...
The National Blood Authority has released its second Australian Haemovigilance Report. Read more...
01 July 2010
Last July, the Blood Service has implemented a new process for managing orders for blood components and fractionated products. In doing so, we aim to deliver improved customer service through a more streamlined order approval process. Read more...
06 May 2010
From early September 2010, all red cells and platelets supplied by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service will have been tested for HBV DNA using the NAT triplex assay.
This change is consistent with international best practice for NAT screening of blood donations and will provide the opportunity to further improve the quality and safety of the Australian blood supply, benefiting both blood product recipients and blood donors. Read more...
01 December 2009
Intravascular haemolysis (IVH) leading to death has been reported in patients treated for immune thrombocytic purpura (ITP) with WinRho SDF.
IVH can lead to clinically compromising anaemia and multi-system organ failure including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Read more...
17 June 2009
Donors with flu-like symptoms are always deferred.
It is important that donors do not donate blood should they develop fever of 38 ºC or higher and one or more of the following symptoms:
09 February 2009
20 November 2008
We are pleased to advise that 100% of red cells supplied by the Blood Service nationally are now prestorage leucodepleted. Read more...
20 November 2008
On 8 December 2008, the Blood Service will commence national testing of selected Group O apheresis platelets for high titre anti-A and anti-B.
04 September 2008
CSL Bioplasma has advised that Biostate® has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in the treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with von Willebrand disease, effective as of 27 August 2008.
01 July 2008
Following the April meeting of the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference (AHMC), the Blood Service is pleased to announce the timetable for implementation of 100% leucodepletion of red cells has been agreed. Read more...
25 July 2008
CSL Bioplasma has recently conducted a full packaging review to ensure the carton, label, flip-off cap, and foil crimp of all plasma-derived therapeutics are optimally designed to support correct and simple use.
CSL Bioplasma Fractionates 214 KB
This document outlines a full description of the enhancements and colour coding for CSL Bioplasma plasma-derived therapeutics.
25 March 2008
From 28 April 2008, all Blood Service platelet components will be screened for bacterial contamination. Worldwide, bacterial contamination of platelets is recognised as the most significant residual infectious risk of transfusion in developed countries. Read more...
03 March 2008
The Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) in Australia has been developed to assist clinicians and transfusion medicine professionals to identify the conditions and circumstances for which the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is appropriate and funded under the National Blood Agreement. Read more...
