iTransfuse Express News

18 November 2011

Larger, more concentrated presentation of BIOSTATE® now available

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

Reintroduction of Octagam®

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

 

National Blood Management System upgrade impact and changes

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

Introduction of Rhophylac®

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...

 

Apheresis platelets in PAS

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...

 

NBA imported plasma & recombinant product tender outcomes

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...

 

Blood component supply in 2010/11

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

Patient Blood Guidelines: Module 1 Critical Bleeding/Massive Transfusion released today

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

Perioperative Patient Blood Management Guideline deadline

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

Blood Service shipper 'Configuration C' withdrawn

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

Biostate advisory statement

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

A clinical update on diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anaemia

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

Introduction of Flebogamma 5% DIF for patients who previously received Octagam

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

Voluntary recall of Octagam® intravenous immunoglobulin solutions

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

Review of Blood Donor Deferral Policies

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has commissioned a review of current deferral policies relating to the sexual activity of blood donors. Read more...


01 August 2010

Australian Haemovigilance Report

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

Swine Flu - Pandemic (H1N1) 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:    

  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Cough


09 February 2009

Transfusion Support for patients injured in Victorian bushfires

Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Blood Service) activities relating to support for patients injured in the Victorian bushfires. Read more...

20 November 2008

100% of Red Cells are now Prestorage Leucodepleted

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

Testing for High Titre Anti-A and Anti-B

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.

Components which are found to have low titres of anti-A and anti-B will have the words “Low Anti-A/B” printed on the component label below the component name and barcode. These components can preferentially be considered for use in circumstances where ABO identical components are unavailable.

04 September 2008

Approval of Biostate® for the treatment of von Willebrand disease

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

Packaging changes for plasma-derived therapeutics from CSL Bioplasma

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

Bacterial Contamination Screening of Platelets

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

New criteria for the clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)

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...