Emergency donor panels
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Some parts of regional Australia have Emergency Donor Panels |
In some parts of regional Australia, the Blood Service in collaboration with jurisdictional health departments, has established Emergency Donor Panels (EDP), in addition to strategically placed stocks of blood components and fractionated products.
These panels consist of a list of donors who are eligible to donate blood during a life-threatening emergency when there is insufficient time to access screened blood.
These donors are screened for mandatory viral agents every 3 months. The blood is collected and transfused prior to testing, which is performed retrospectively.
We have endorsed criteria governing the setup of Emergency Donor Panels. Activation of an emergency donor panel for elective purposes is inappropriate.
The protocol for activation of an emergency donor panel should be incorporated in hospitals’ counter disaster plans.
We will be pleased to advise you if you want to know more about setting up an EDP. Please contact your State or Territory Medical, Transplantation and Quality Services for more information.
