International

News items constitute an arbitrary selection of events. Links to some news items may no longer be active. News items are for the current and prior year only. Canadian news is covered in What's New and Monthly newsletters

Index: General | Specific countries (change over time)

GENERAL

TM blog: I will remember you (Musings on healthcare heroes during COVID-19 pandemic) | Related:
- In memoriam: Canada’s health workers who have died of COVID-19 (19 Feb. 2021)
- Bandyopadhyay S, Baticulon RE, Kadhum M, et al. Infection and mortality of healthcare workers worldwide from COVID-19: a systematic review. BMJ Glob Health. 2020 Dec;5(12):e003097.
- Salari N, Khazaie H, Hosseinian-Far A, et al. The prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression within front-line healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-regression. Hum Resour Health. 2020 Dec 17;18(1):100.
- Nearly 300,000 healthcare workers have been infected with Covid-19 worldwide, threatening health systems (17 Nov. 2020) | Related:
- Erdem H, Lucey DR. Healthcare worker infections and deaths due to COVID-19: A survey from 37 nations and a call for WHO to post national data on their website. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;102:239-41. Epub 2020 Oct 29. | PubMed abstract
We must redesign the WHO’s building blocks to create more resilient health systems for the future (BMJ blog, 14 Apr. 2021)
WHO calls for comprehensive, equitable access to healthcare for every Chagas disease patient (14 Apr. 2021)
American Academy of Family Physicians: Research examines inclusion of minorities in vaccine trials (13 Apr. 2021)
AABB: Blood belongs in the patient, not in a tube (April PBM column)
How will clinical laboratories collect samples if telehealth replaces traditional doctor’s office visits? (9 Apr. 2021) | Related:
- Mehrotra A, Bhatia RS, Snoswell CL. Paying for telemedicine after the pandemic. JAMA. 2021 Feb 2;325(5):431-2. (Editorial)
Autoantibodies may contribute to severe COVID-19 and potential long-COVID-19 symptoms (8 Apr. 2021)
USA: NIH begins study of allergic reactions to Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (7 Apr. 2021)
Covid vaccine manufacturers should work with poorer countries, says WTO chief (1 Apr. 2021)
Many recovering COVID patients show signs of long-term organ damage (1 Apr. 2021) | Related:
- Ayoubkhani D, Khunti K, Nafilyan V, et al. Post-covid syndrome in individuals admitted to hospital with covid-19: retrospective cohort study. BMJ. 2021 Mar 31;372:n693. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Treatment patterns for postpartum hemorrhage examined (28 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- Society of Interventional Radiology press release: Hysterectomy used more for postpartum bleeding compared to less invasive option (16 Mar. 2021)
Invitation for ISBT members with experience in a specific topic to join one of its Working Parties
How accurate are commercial rapid COVID-19 tests? (25 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- Dinnes J, Deeks JJ, Adriano A, et al; Cochrane COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Group. Rapid, point-of-care antigen and molecular-based tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Aug 26;8:CD013705. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Mar 24;3:CD013705. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
USA: Predicting ‘long COVID syndrome’ with help of a smartphone app [NIH Director's Blog] (23 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- Sudre CH, Murray B, Varsavsky T, et al. Attributes and predictors of long COVID. Nat Med. 2021 Mar 10. Epub ahead of print. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Canada: Clinical laboratory scientist in British Columbia gets recognition for identifying the province’s first case of COVID-19 (22 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- USA (ASCP): Laboratories on the front lines: battling COVID-19 (5-part docuseries interviewing medical lab professionals, 2020)
During pandemic, clinical laboratories should be alert for drug resistant infections that pose high risk to COVID-19 patients (10 Mar. 2021)
Blood plasma transfusions are useless in hospitalized covid patients (10 Mar. 2021)
Canada: Made-in-Alberta COVID-19 vaccine candidate headed for clinical trials (9 Mar. 2021) | Entos Pharmaceuticals
Rh-positive blood a viable alternative to Rh-negative for transfusion in trauma patients (8 Mar. 2021) | Virtual EAST Scientific Assembly, Jan. 13-14, 2021 [Search for McCoy]
US halts trials of convalescent plasma transfusions for COVID patients (3 Mar. 2021)
New WHO report on Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 highlights strategies for its prevention and control (3 Mar. 2021)
Should the United States keep screening all blood donations for Zika? (2 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- Russell WA. Estimating the effect of discontinuing universal screening of donated blood for ika virus in the 50 U.S. States. (Letter) Ann Intern Med. 2021 Feb 16. Epub ahead of print.
Canada: AstraZeneca COVID vaccine not recommended for seniors, advisory committee says, amid global debate (1 Mar. 2021)
Canada (CBS Communications):
- Understanding the politics of clinical trials in a pandemic (25 Feb. 2021)
- How stem cell transplants continued through a COVID-19-related shutdown (25 Feb. 2021)
- Exploring the mysteries of ‘a beautiful system’ (22 Feb. 2021)
FDA Analysis shows one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is effective against severe covid-19 (24 Feb. 2021) | Related:
- FDA Briefing Document: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting (26 Feb. 2021) (62 pp. pdf)
WHO alerts six African countries after Ebola outbreaks (16 Feb. 2021)
In Memoriam: Margaret Treacy (16 Feb. 2021)
New research on Zika virus touts promising vaccine candidate (16 Feb. 2021)
Canada: Pay-for-plasma collection coming to Alberta by end of the year (14 Feb. 2021)
A few Covid-19 vaccine recipients show rare blood disorders (9 Feb. 2021)
Vaccines versus the mutants (8 Feb. 2021) | Related:
- A guide to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants (26 Jan. 2021)
Periodontitis increases risk of bacteria in donor blood (5 Feb. 2021)
UK Biobank study shows that COVID-19 antibodies remain for at least 6 months for most people (3 Feb. 2021)
Canada: Nova Scotia becomes first jurisdiction in NA to switch from opt-in organ donation system to opt-out (presumed consent system) (18 Jan. 2021)
Canada (CBS Research): Breaking barriers to effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (12 Jan. 2021)
- Dubey S, Heinen S, Krantic S, et al. Clinically approved IVIg delivered to the hippocampus with focused ultrasound promotes neurogenesis in a model of Alzheimer's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 22;117(51):32691-32700. Epub 2020 Dec 7.
Rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection found to have limited accuracy for a pediatric cohort (26 Jan. 2021)
- Villaverde S, Domínguez-Rodríguez S, Sabrido G, et al.; EPICO-AEP Working Group. Diagnostic accuracy of the Panbio SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test compared with Rt-Pcr testing of nasopharyngeal samples in the pediatric population. J Pediatr. 2021 Jan 20:S0022-3476(21)00034-2.Epub ahead of print. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Coveted blue horseshoe crab blood is keeping COVID-19 vaccinations free of deadly endotoxins, but demand for this blood could have implications for supply of certain clinical laboratory tests (25 Jan. 2021)
USA: University of Vermont microbiology laboratory identifies inefficiencies when performing pooled testing for COVID-19 (8 Jan. 2021)
Operation Aderlass doctor Mark Schmidt jailed for almost five years (15 Jan. 2021)
Report finds low adverse event rate from COVID-19 vaccine (8 Jan. 2021)
- CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Food and Drug Administration. Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine — United States, December 14–23, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 6 January 2021. (Free full text)
ForaCare Suisse AG introduces Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test (8 Jan. 2021)
Operation Aderlass, Operacion Puerto approach closure with two different outcomes (8 Jan. 2021)
Pig saved by transfusion from fellow pig after ingesting rat poison (6 Jan. 2021) | Feel good news item to make you smile
Who is doing all those COVID-19 tests? Why you should care about medical laboratory professionals(14 Dec. 2020)
Canada: Shelly and Randy are the 2020 recipients of the inaugural Logan Boulet Award An annual recognition event hosted by Canadian Blood Services which celebrates exemplary donors, community leaders and volunteers for their generous contributions and commitment to Canada’s Lifeline. | Related:
- Halifax physician plans unforgettable gift for her husband to find after her death (23 Aug. 2019)
Industry news: Platelet-rich plasma market to expand at a CAGR of 11.4% from 2019 to 2027 (1 Jan. 2021)
"Drugs don't work if people can't afford them": Big Pharma to raise prices of 300 medications on Jan. 1 (31 Dec. 2020) | Related:
- Reuters exclusive: Drugmakers to hike prices for 2021 as pandemic, political pressure put revenues at risk (31 Dec. 2020)
- Vaccines boost Big Pharma’s image, but won’t change its ways (29 Dec. 2020)
- Covid vaccines offer chance for big pharma to improve its image (4 Dec. 2020)
Aggressive RBC transfusions no help in extremely small babies (30 Dec. 2020) | Related:
- Higher red cell transfusion threshold offers no advantage for treating preterm infants (NIH press release, 30 Dec. 2020)
- Kirpalani H, Bell EF, Hintz SR, et al., for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Higher or lower hemoglobin transfusion thresholds for preterm infants. N Engl J Med 2020; 383:2639-51.
How the COVID-19 vaccine impacts blood donation (29 Dec. 2020)
BMJ's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hub (ongoing updates)
WHO in 'close contact' with UK over new COVID-19 variant (20 Dec. 2020)
AI could lead to faster, better analysis of donated blood, study shows (18 Dec. 2020)
- Doan M, Sebastian JA, Caicedo JC, et al. Objective assessment of stored blood quality by deep learning. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Sep 1;117(35):21381-21390. Epub 2020 Aug 24. (Free full text)
New protocol advances toward lab-made universal red blood cells (17 Dec. 2020)
- Sivalingam J, SuE Y, Lim ZR, et al. A scalable suspension platform for generating high-density cultures of universal red blood cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports. 2020 Nov 27:S2213-6711(20)30456-2. Epub ahead of print. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Canada: In 2020 Canada Post created 'Medical Groundbreakers' stamps - one for Dr. Bruce Chown, leader in treating HDFN, who in 1944 created Winnipeg's Rh Laboratory Related:
- Winnipeg's Rh Laboratory
- In 1971 Bruce Chown, MD and Marion Lewis received AABB's most prestigious award, the Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award
36^thInternational ISBT Congress: Abstracts (Virtual meeting, 12-16 Dec. 2020) | 385 pp. pdf
- Author index
- Abstract Table of Contents
Immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 may remain infectious for much longer than previously thought (14 Dec. 2020)
Sutimlimab reduces CAD hospitalizations, blood transfusions, analysis finds (11 Dec. 2020)
- Röth A, Guillonneau S, Narcisse N,et al. Effect of Sutimlimab treatment on healthcare resource utilization in patients with Cold Agglutinin Disease. ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, Dec. 5-8,2020)
Study details first artificial intelligence tool to help labs rule-out COVID-19 (Press release, 10 Dec. 2020)
- Plante TB, Blau AM, Berg AN,et al. Development and external validation of a machine learning tool to rule out COVID-19 among adults in the emergency department using routine blood tests: a large, multicenter, real-world study. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Dec 2;22(12):e24048. (Free full text)
Short-term mortality higher in transfused TAVR patients (10 Dec. 2020)
- Zimarino M, Barbanti M, Dangas GD, et al. Early adverse impact of transfusion after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a propensity-matched comparison from the TRITAVI Registry. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Dec 4:CIRCINTERVENTIONS120009026. Epub ahead of print.
Conference presentation: Tranexamic acid fails to reduce bleeding for thrombocytopenic patients with blood cancers (4 Dec. 2020) | ASH 2020 Annual Meeting and Exposition
Preoperative blood ordering - choose wisely!!! (2 Dec. 2020)
- Kumar K, Arcot PJ, Coshic P. Pre-operative blood ordering – Choose wisely!! Indian J Surg (2020). Epub 24 Nov. 2020.
Don't want the COVID-19 vaccine? You could lose access to normal life, says U.K. minister (30 Nov/ 2020)
Sweden: Doctoral (PhD) student position in transfusion epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet (Last application date: 29 Nov. 2020)
China demands recovering COVID-19 patients wait six months before donating blood (28 Nov. 2020)
German doctor in doping trial claims he wanted to protect athletes (27 Nov. 2020)
When there is good vaccine news - efficacy is only the beginning of the story (25 Nov. 2020) | Oped by University of Sydney professor
Nature journals reveal terms of landmark open-access option (24 Nov. 2020)
Paper recommends women avoid female mentors, drawing outrage (24 Nov. 2020)
- AlShebli B, Makovi K, Rahwan T. The association between early career informal mentorship in academic collaborations and junior author performance. Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 17;11(1):5855. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Assay for Sickle Cell Anemia is repurposed to diagnose COVID-19 (18 Nov. 2020)
Adverse event rates higher in the early post-RBC transfusion period for those with chronic kidney disease (18 Nov. 2020)
- Provenzano R, Pollock CA, Pecoits-Filho R, et al. Adverse event rates are higher post-transfusion vs. overall follow-up and independent of background anemia treatment in patients with CKD. Presented at Kidney Week 2020 Reimagined, October 19-25, 2020. Poster TH-OR09.
ASCP’s 2019 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States (18 Nov. 2020) | As retirement rates continue to increase, the field needs to intensify its efforts on recruiting the next generation of laboratory personnel.
Minks can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to humans, study shows (13 Nov. 2020)
- Oude Munnink BB, Sikkema RS, Nieuwenhuijse DF,et al. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms between humans and mink and back to humans. Science. 2020 Nov 10:eabe5901. Epub ahead of print. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Doctors consider convalescent T cell therapy for COVID-19 (6 Nov. 2020)
- Ferreras C, Pascual-Miguel B, Mestre-Durán C, et a SARS-CoV-2 specific memory T lymphocytes from COVID-19 convalescent donors: identification, biobanking and large-scale production for Adoptive Cell Therapy. Unreviewed preprint, bioRxiv. (Free full text)
Transfusion during hospitalization does not cause thrombosis: study (13 Nov. 2020)
- Kreuziger LB, Edgren G, Hauser RG, et al. Red blood cell transfusion does not increase risk of venous or arterial thrombosis during hospitalization. Am J Hematol. 2020. Epub 29 Oct. 2020
Film review: The Racer, joint production from Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium about professional cycling and its doping past (7 Nov. 2020) | Movie trailer(1:46 min.)
SARS-CoV-2 survives for 9 hours on human skin (6 Nov. 2020) | Note sample size in study below.
- Hirose R, Ikegaya H, Naito Y, et al. Survival of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus on the human skin: Importance of hand hygiene in COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Oct 3:ciaa1517. Epub ahead of print. (Free full text)
Clinical laboratories need creative staffing strategies to keep and attract hard-to-find medical technologists, as demand for COVID-19 testing increases (2 Nov. 2020)
New genome sequences reveal undescribed African migration (29 Oct. 2020) | Related:
- Choudhury A, Aron S, Botigué LR, Sengupta D, et al. High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health. Nature. 2020 Oct;586(7831):741-8. Epub 2020 Oct 28.(Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Alert cards for Cold Agglutinin Disease (22 Oct. 2020)
World Cord Blood Day (17 Nov. 2020)
New evidence to guide the practice of blood transfusions in children with severe malaria (News release 19 Oct. 2020)
- Ackerman H, Ayestaran A, Olola CHO, et al. The effect of blood transfusion on outcomes among African children admitted to hospital with Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a prospective, multicentre observational study. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Nov;7(11):e789-e797.
Europe’s top court rules for Jehovah’s witness child in medical-bias case vs Latvia's Ministry of Health (29 Oct. 2020)
Impact of preoperative blood transfusion on postoperative outcomes in newborns (28 Oct. 2020)
- Dukleska K, Vinocur CD, Brenn BR, et al. Preoperative blood transfusions and morbidity in neonates undergoing surgery. Pediatrics. 2020 Oct 21:e20193718. Epub ahead of print.
'No one eureka moment': University of Alberta virologist describes decade of work that led to a Nobel Prize (25 Oct. 2020)
Limited efficacy of plasma from cured patients, study finds (24 Oct. 2020)
- Pathak EB. Convalescent plasma is ineffective for covid-19. (editorial) BMJ. 2020 Oct 22;371:m4072. (Free full text)
Solutions to hemolysis in point-of-care testing (23 Oct. 2020)
Critically ill infants given blood transfusions before surgery have poorer outcomes (21 Oct. 2020)
Effective lab leadership (10 Feb. 2020)
My Rh sensitized pregnancy was a total nightmare (19 Oct. 2020)
The virus which killed millions and the Nobel prize 2020 (17 Oct. 2020)
Johnson & Johnson pauses COVID-19 vaccine trials (13 Oct. 2020)
COVID-19 diagnostics: How do saliva tests compare to swabs? (9 Oct. 2020)
- Guyane C, Nacher M, Demar M. Prospective comparison of saliva and nasopharyngeal swab sampling for mass screening for COVID-19. Unreviewed preprint medRxiv 2020.09.23.20150961. Epub 2020 Sep 24. (Free full text)
Harvey Alter’s Nobel Prize honors a half-century quest (9 Oct. 2020)
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2020 awarded jointly to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice "for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus." The announcement in Stockholm (video)
A challenge trial for COVID-19 would not be the first of its kind (8 Oct. 2020)
The Nobel Prize is a reminder of hepatitis C’s dark history (6 Oct. 2020)
Selected presentations (blogs) from AABB 2020 (Oct.4-6, 2020)
- Major changes in blood donor screening
- Professional social media is social
- Rooting out the cause of errors
- Yes, we really can reduce human error in transfusion medicine
- Newborn immunohematology testing practices vary significantly throughout the United States and Canada
- AABB Congratulates Harvey J. Alter, MD, Recipient of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Making Twitter a part of your professional toolbox
- Using the power of “Digital Health” to achieve hemovigilance
- Here’s what happened when IBR updated its DHQ to include transgender, non-binary donors | Interesting demographics
Why did the cruise leave without me? I only needed a blood transfusion! (3 Oct. 2020) | Unsure when this happened. Written by NPO offering free advice and advocacy for consumers.
The Surgisphere scandal: what went wrong? (1 Oct. 2020) | Also see UK below
German doctor accused of masterminding Operation 'Aderlass' admits to 'hobby' doping (29 Sept. 2020)
Online therapy is as effective as going in person, study finds (28 Sept. 2020)
- Jones C, Miguel-Cruz A, Smith-MacDonald L, et al. Virtual trauma-focused Therapy for military members, veterans, and public safety personnel with posttraumatic stress injury: systematic scoping review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Sep 21;8(9):e22079. (Open access)
To ethically tackle COVID-19, Big Pharma needs an overhaul (25 Sept. 2020) | Related:
- Special Report: Big Pharma wages stealth war on drug price watchdog (Reuters, 11 Sept. 2020)
Doping techniques (22 Sept. 2020)
The Lancet alters editorial practices after Surgisphere COVID-19 scandal (22 Sept. 2020) | Related:
- The Editors of The Lancet Group. Learning from a retraction. The Lancet 2020. Epub 2020 Sep 17. (Free full text)
- Who’s to blame? These three scientists are at the heart of the Surgisphere COVID-19 scandal: Indonesian Red Cross (8 June 2020)
Canada: Sanofi and GSK sign agreements with Canada to supply up to 72 million doses of adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine (Press release, 22 Sept. 2020)
Nurse, a co-defendant in the trial of a German sports doctor, weeps as she tells German court of her blood doping role (19 Sept. 2020)
Sickle cell disease patients lack education on transfusions (17 Sept. 2020)
- Lawrence RH, Singleton A, Branscomb J. Blood transfusion: knowledge, perspectives, and experience of individuals with sickle cell disease. J Patient Exp 2020. Epub 10 Sept. 2020. (Free full text)
The immune hallmarks of severe COVID-19 (16 Sept. 2020)
German doctor accused of masterminding international blood doping network (Operation Aderlass) goes on trial (16 Sept. 2020)
Indian study shows no survival benefit of plasma in COVID-19 (15 Sept. 2020)
USA: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial in U.S. on hold (15 Sept. 2020)
WHO supplies Iran with COVID-19 antibody ELISA tests (14 Sept. 2020)
Fast and efficient method to produce red blood cells developed (14 Sept. 2020)
- Zeming KK, Sato Y, Yin L, et al. Microfluidic label-free bioprocessing of human reticulocytes from erythroid culture. Lab Chip. 2020;10.1039/c9lc01128e. Epub 2020 Aug 14. (Free full text)
UK: Imperial College London researchers to test inhaled coronavirus vaccines (14 Sept. 2020)
UK: Oxford University to resume COVID-19 vaccine trial after pause (12 Sept. 2020) | Related:
- AstraZeneca restarts COVID-19 vaccine trial (12 Sept. 2020)
Look back at lessons from 9/11 (USA):
- September 11 blood donations "wasted" (21 Feb. 2002)
- Schmidt PJ. Blood and disaster--supply and demand. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(8):617-20.
- Gordon NT, Schreiber MA. Frozen blood and lessons learned from 9/11. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014;77(3):479-85.
Revisiting the use and management of blood in Europe, in times of crisis and beyond (9 Sept. 2020)
Industry news (AstraZeneca): Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine trial paused after participant falls ill (9 Sept. 2020)
Drop in plasma donations hits immunoglobulin supply (2 Sept. 2020)
Australia researchers: Pre-screening blood key to reducing surgery costs and improving patient outcomes (28 Aug. 2020)
- Trentino KM, Mace HS, Symons K, et al. Screening and treating pre-operative anaemia and suboptimal iron stores in elective colorectal surgery: a cost effectiveness analysis. Anaesthesia. 2020;10.1111/anae.15240. Epub 2020 Aug 27.
New blood, new hope: Transfusions protect the brain from stroke damage (25 Aug. 2020)
WHO urges all countries to join COVAX to ensure everyone has access to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine (19 Aug. 2020)
The push to deploy at-home antigen tests for COVID-19 (17 Aug. 2020)
In Memoriam: Susan Moore Steane, MS, MT(ASCP) SBB
Commentary shares insights about irradiated blood to prevent TA-GVHD. (9 Aug. 2020)
- Ní Loingsigh S, Flegel WA, Hendrickson JE, Tormey CA. Preventing transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease with blood component irradiation: indispensable guidance for a deadly disorder. Br J Haematol. 2020;10.1111/bjh.17016. Epub 2010 Aug 1.
The search for immune responses that stop COVID-19 (24 July 2020)
Study estimates the past and present burden of viral hepatitis through blood transfusions (23 July 2020)
- Dahl V, Ammar M, Wikman A, et al. < Transmission of viral hepatitis through blood transfusion in Sweden, 1968 to 2012. Euro Surveill. 2020;25(29): pii=1900537. (Free full text)
Disposable blood warmer helps transfusions (21 July 2020)
- Roxby D, Sobieraj-Teague M, von Wielligh J, et al. Warming blood prior to transfusion using latent heat. Emerg Med Australas. 2020;10.1111/1742-6723.13471. Epub 2020 Feb 11.
Long standing generation gap in blood donation:
- USA: Blood banks face a generation gap in giving (17 July 2020)
- USA: Shortage at KC blood bank reveals generation gap in donating blood (26 Nov. 2019)
- USA: New survey shows millennials can help avoid blood shortage (13 June 2019)
- UK: Drop in number of young blood donors (14 June 2011)
Damaged human lungs revived for transplant by connecting them to a pig (13 July 2020)
- Hozain AE, O'Neill JD, Pinezich MR, et al. Xenogeneic cross-circulation for extracorporeal recovery of injured human lungs. Nat Med. 2020;26(7):1102-13. Epub 2020 Jul 13. (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Blood transplants from active mice give brain boost to others (12 July 2020)
- Horowitz AM, Fan X, Bieri G, et al. Blood factors transfer beneficial effects of exercise on neurogenesis and cognition to the aged brain. Science. 2020;369(6500):167-73.
WHO: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: implications for infection prevention precautions (Scientific Brief, 9 July 2020)
From the archives: Quality Assurance in Blood Banking and Its Clinical Impact (Proceedings of Seventh Annual Symposium on Blood Transfusion, Groningen, 1982)
- Abstracts and previews available for all entries. Interesting historical tidbits and not just technical issues.Ex:
- Job Descriptions, Competency Testing and Selection of Personnel
- Training Programs for Blood Bank Personnel
- Continuous Education in Blood Banking and Blood Transfusion Practice
Simple bedside test detects bleeding risk in patients after surgery or major injury (26 June 2020)
- Tripathi MM, Tshikudi DM, Hajjarian Z, Hack DC, Van Cott EM, Nadkarni SK. Comprehensive blood coagulation profiling in patients using iCoagLab: comparison against thromboelastography. Thromb Haemost. 2020;10.1055/s-0040-1712956. Epub 2020 Jun 22.
IFPBM: "A world-first study confirms less is safe, even better, when it comes to transfusion - reassuring evidence amid COVID-19 blood shortages." (24 June 2020, press release)
- Trentino, K.M., Farmer, S.L., Leahy, M.F. et al. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses comparing mortality in restrictive and liberal haemoglobin thresholds for red cell transfusion: an overview of systematic reviews. BMC Med 18, 154 (2020).(Free full text)
Ethiopian marathoner given 12-year doping ban (22 June 2020)
Blood doping: How exactly did Lance Armstrong cheat? (14 June 2020) | Includes BBC video (5:34 mins)
Luspatercept-aamt reduces RBC transfusion burden in patients with rare blood disorder (13 June 2020)
- Cappellini MD, Viprakasit V, Taher AT, et al. A phase 3 trial of Luspatercept in patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(13):1219-31.
Pro-Paid Plasma in the media: Bloody well pay them: the case for voluntary remunerated plasma collections (14 June 2020) | Related:
- It's time to think seriously about paying blood donors (15 June 2020)
Three people with inherited diseases successfully treated with CRISPR (12 June 2020)
Argentine Pan Am Games swimmer and medalist Guillermo Bertola receives 4-year ban for blood doping (9 June 2020) Related:
- Argentine swimmer cites mom’s blood for doping ban (19 June 2020)
USA: COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy is safe for patients with severe COVID-19, with 76% of patients improving (2 June 2020) | Note on study size: n=25.
- Salazar E, Perez KK, Ashraf M, et al. Treatment of COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. Am J Pathol. 2020;S0002-9440(20)30257-1. Epub 2020 May 27. (Free full text)
Pharma leaders shoot down WHO voluntary pool for patent rights on Covid-19 products (28 May 2020)
Retrospective: The 60 Minutes report that helped reveal Lance Armstrong's blood doping (25 May 2020)
A promising coronavirus treatment has a dark history (25 May 2020)
- Even with the incentive of cash...most gainfully employed people are not willing to put up with the time and discomfort. Because of that, most collection takes place among people who need money, in low-income neighborhoods — a morally ambiguous situation at best. So while plasma-related therapies have saved countless lives, they’ve always been shadowed by a sense of exploitation and scandal — and human tragedy.
Reforming blood donation in the age of COVID-19 (21 May 2020)
BC PCBO's central transfusion registry: 20 years of data-driven initiatives (ISBT's Transfusion Today, Dec. 2019)
Graphic of WHO's guidelines for PPE use among frontline medical staff (Reuters, 7 May 2020)
New open access journal (May 2020): The Lancet Microbe
Testing an old therapy against a new disease: convalescent plasma for COVID-19 (JAMA, 30 Apr. 2020)
The race for coronavirus vaccines: a graphical guide (28 Apr. 2020)
Wiley offers complimentary access to COVID-19 research Includes journal articles from AABB, ASFA, BBTS, BSH, ISLH ISBT, ISTH
BC PCBO's central transfusion registry: 20 years of data-driven initiatives (ISBT's Transfusion Today, Dec. 2019)
World Hemophilia Day (17 Apr. 2020)
Gotlieb A. At every stage of your career, mentorships are a valuable resource (The Pathologist, 16 July 2019) | Older but of general interest
Blood clots in severe Covid-19 patients leave clinicians with clues about the illness — but no proven treatments (16 Apr. 2020)
- Wang J, Hajizadeh N, Moore EE, McIntyre RC, Moore PK, Veress LA, et al. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment for COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a case series. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
Canada (CBS): Hemophilia’s global impact is greater than previously thought (17 Apr. 2020)
PIVO enables health practitioners to obtain blood samples for med lab tests without a needle stick (6 Apr. 2020) | Velano Vascular Technologies
Reducing mortality of Covid-19 with antibody-rich plasma? Europe may have the answer if it comes together (15 Apr. 2020)
USA: Johns Hopkins researchers publish a how-to guidebook on COVID-19 plasma transfusions (14 Apr. 2020)
- Bloch EM, et al. Deployment of convalescent plasma for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. J Clin Invest. 2020 Apr 7. pii: 138745. [Epub ahead of print]
PAHO warns of potential blood shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic (10 Apr. 2020)
COVID-19 (Brit Med J open access articles)
- Abassi K. The scandals of covid-19 (9 Apr. 2020)
- Greenhalgh T, Schmid MB, Czypionka T, Bassler D, Gruer L. Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis.BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1435.
- Javid B, Weekes MP, Matheson NJ. Covid-19: should the public wear face masks? (Editorial) BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1442.
- Kickbusch I, Leung GM, Bhutta ZA, Matsoso MP, Ihekweazu C, Abbasi K. Covid-19: how a virus is turning the world upside down. BMJ. 2020 Apr 3;369:m1336.
- Stafford N. Covid-19: Why Germany's case fatality rate seems so low. BMJ. 2020 Apr 7;369:m1395.
- Wise J. Covid-19: Doctors and nurses donate samples to study disease. BMJ. 2020 Apr 9;369:m1446.
USA: AABB launches new COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Website
Articles of general interest to health professionals (All open access)
- Allen TC. Pathologists will prevail. (editorial) Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):416-9. Epub 2020 Jan 23.
- Black CC, Motta A. An examination of advocacy education in residency training. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):497-499. Epub 2019 Jul 17.
- Gross DJ, Black-Schaffer WS, Hoffman RD, Karcher DS, Estrada EL, Robboy SJ, Cohen MB. The state of the job market for pathologists: evidence from the College of American Pathologists Practice Leader Survey. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):420-6. Epub 2020 Jan 23.
- Montironi R, Cimadamore A, Scarpelli M. From undergraduate medical school student to visible pathologist. (Letter to the editor). Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Apr;144(4):413-4.
China: Antiviral drug, plasma transfusions show promise in treating COVID-19| Related:
- Shanghai doctors trying plasma infusions to treat patients with coronavirus (17 Feb. 2020)
UK (Brit Med J): Special edition on Racism in Medicine
Understanding Transfusion for Beta-Thalassemia (6:04 min video, HCPLive Peer Exchange)
WHO and FIND formalize strategic collaboration to drive universal access to essential diagnostics (10 Feb. 2020)
New device identifies high-quality blood donors (UBC, 4 Feb. 2020)
- Islamzada E, Matthews K, Guo Q, Santoso AT, Duffy SP, Scott MD, Ma H. Deformability based sorting of stored red blood cells reveals donor-dependent aging curves. Lab Chip. 2020 Jan 21;20(2):226-235. Epub 2019 Dec 4.
Could ‘young’ blood stop us getting old? (2 Feb. 2020)
Digital therapeutics (DTx), a growing trend in life sciences technology (Dark Daily, 27 Jan. 2020)
USA: LabCorp security lapse exposed thousands of medical documents with sensitive health data (28 Jan. 2020)
Human interest: Welshman flown around the world by Canadian cancer patient after he donated bone marrow (30 Jan. 2020)
Luspatercept reduces need for transfusions in some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (8 Jan. 2020)
- Fenaux P, et al. Luspatercept in Patients with Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jan 9;382(2):140-51.
- Note: Scroll to finding disclosures in NEJM 'free preview.'
An overview of red blood cell lysis (30 Jan. 2020)

International

Egypt

COVID-19 update (9 June 2020) | Many fascinating details, including
- Al-Azhar mosque announced that monetizing plasma of patients who've recovered from COVID-19 is forbidden under Sharia.
- Egypt enters into discussions to receive 400 million doses of Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine, scheduled to be released in Sept.
Coronavirus plasma therapy trials are a ‘success’: Health Minister (6 June 2020)

France

Sanofi walks it back after saying U.S. would get COVID-19 vaccine first (14 May 2020)
COVID-19 plasma transfusion clinical trial begins (8 Apr. 2020)

Georgia

EU launches project worth €1.3 m to strengthen Georgia’s blood safety system (17 Sept. 2020)

Ghana

Depleted blood banks: A critical impact of Covid-19 restrictions (17 Feb. 2021)
National Blood Service sees 25.9% drop in blood donation (6 June 2020)

India

Bengaluru - Blood banks fret as donor numbers fall due to COVID-19 (4 Apr. 2021)
Maharashtra again grapples with severe blood shortage (2 Apr. 2021)
PCMC caps rates for blood plasma (13 Mar. 2021)
Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital first in Odisha to install ID-NAT machine (12 Mar. 2021)
WHO - JSSAHER collaborate to strengthen pharma capacity in challenging times (9 Mar. 2021)
Blood bank staff to deliver blood bags at patient’s bed in attempt to eliminate middlemen who sell blood (5 Mar. 2021)
12-yr-old child dies ‘for want of blood’ at RIMS (21 Feb. 2021)
Patients suffer as blood component separator lies unused in Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima (17 Feb. 2021)
Blood banks seek appointment of non-allopathy docs (17 Feb. 2021) | What non-allopathic means? Alternative medicine like homeopathy, which is popular in India.
Preventing wastage of donors' blood (7 Feb. 2021) | 2.8 million units of blood and its components were discarded by blood banks across India between 2012 and 2016.
Blood donor survey: 50% in Indore have Covid antibodies (6 Feb. 2021)
'Glaring gaps in Himachal Pradesh blood banking mechanism' (31 Jan. 2021)
National Aids Control Organization revealed 2,234 persons got transfusion-transmitted HIV infection between Oct. 2014 and Mar. 2016 (27 Jan. 2021)
MGM Medical College, Indore, to begin NAT testing to detect hepatitis, HIV (9 Jan. 2021)
"I am too poor to afford my daughter’s bone marrow transplant" Please help (9 Jan. 2021)
Industry news: Platelet rich plasma for chronic pain management market forecast to 2027 (Dec. 2020) | Related:
- Does platelet-rich plasma injection work? (25 Jan. 2020)
- Health Canada clarifies position on Platelet Rich Plasma treatments(26 Aug. 2019)
Punjab State Legal Services Authority files public interest litigation to ensure relief and rehabilitation for families of thalassaemia-affected children given HIV-positive blood (28 Dec. 2020)
Madras HC directs state to provide monthly monetary assistance to woman transfused with HIV-positive blood (22 Dec. 2020)
Lucknow's KGMU reports a rapid decline in antibodies among COVID-19 victims above 50 years of age (18 Dec. 2020)
Overcharging blood banks in Maharashtra to be fined, patients to be refunded (5 Dec. 2020)
HIV surge in Unnao in 2017 was caused by unsafe injection exposure, says ICMR (5 Dec. 2020)
NGOs protest arrest of thalassaemia society chief (28 Nov. 2020)
Decrease in detection of HIV cases in DK this year (28 Nov. 2020)
3 booked for assault on health officials over transfusion of HIV+ blood (27 Nov. 2020)
4 suspended over HIV blood transfusion (25 Nov. 2020) | Lab, blood bank workers to go on strike as a protest and call for a fair probe
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp. helps NGO set up two blood transfusion centres (23 Nov. 2020)
Former Union Minister Harsimrat demands high-level inquiry into transfusion of HIV+ blood to patients at Bathinda Civil Hospital (20 Nov. 2020)
Don't take convalescent plasma from THIS set of people, doctors warn (19 Nov. 2020)
Court orders doctor to compensate for patient’s death in 2010 (14 Nov. 2020)
To use or not to? Indian doctors’ confusion over plasma therapy worsens after Indian Council of Medical Research’s doubts (6 Nov. 2020)
Couple had a baby just to save their terminally ill son (19 Oct. 2020) | Related:
- Sheldon S, Wilkinson S. Should selecting saviour siblings be banned? J Med Ethics. 2004 Dec;30(6):533-7. (Free full text)
National Human Rights Commission warns Odisha officials in wrong blood transfusion case (19 Oct. 2020)
Woman transfused HIV+ blood faces social stigma, alleges torture by hubby (17 Oct. 2020)
Blood donation down by 50% in Mumbai due to Covid-19 pandemic (17 Oct. 2020)
NGO to move HC after Bathinda cops book one blood bank employee for wrong transfusion (11 Oct. 2020) | Probe had indicted three employees for negligence
Wrong blood transfusion: Health Department suspends Blood bank employee for gross negligence (9 Oct. 2020)
Udupi's Kasturba Hospital launches 'Rare Blood Donor Registry' (1 Oct. 2020)
Blood suckers: Pretending to be donors, crooks answer requests for blood donations, collect money and disappear (30 Sept. 2020)
Legislation vital in ensuring access to safe blood (24 Sept. 2020) | India has a shortage of 1.9 million units of blood. Covid-19 lockdown has further aggravated the blood shortage.
Illegal sale of plasma on the rise across Andhra Pradesh (1 Sept. 2020)
Rs 7 lakh payout to Thane woman who got HIV from hospital transfusion (22 Aug. 2020)
29% of Delhi has antibodies for Covid-19: Second sero-survey (20 Aug. 2020)
'Blood Bank Storekeeper' placed under suspension for misbehaviour with attendant of thalessemic patient (12 Aug. 2020)
‘Off label plasma transfusion will establish its role in cure for COVID-19' (1 Aug. 2020)
Govt. decides to pay Rs.5000 for plasma donors in Andhra Pradesh (31 July 2020)
Poor migrant workers infected with COVID-19 donate plasma to save lives (27 July 2020)
How a team of doctors in Kochi saved a 5-year-old with rare ‘P null’ blood group (24 July 2020)
How illegal traders of plasma taking over the market (24 July 2020)
FDA warns blood banks on plasma donation, tells to check genuine COVID-19 survivors (21 July 2020)
Thalassemic and haemophilic patients can't be told to pay for blood (21 July 2020)
Thalassaemia patients forced to pay for blood in Mumbai (20 July 2020)
4% 'healthy' blood donors in Lucknow found with Covid antibodies (19 July 2020)
Caught in govt-hospital tussle, during COVID-19 K’taka docs unpaid for 16 months (14 July 2020)
Red alert for patients as blood banks run dry in Bengaluru (12 July 2020)
Informal plasma market booming in Hyderabad (11 July 2020)
Doctor’s failure to detect multiple pregnancy is negligence: High Court (4 July 2020)
No charges for receiving plasma, Delhi Plasma Bank clarifies (2 July 2020)
Delhi to set up plasma bank, launch helpline (30 June 2020) | Related:
- ‘Anyone who has ever been pregnant can’t donate plasma’: ILBS director (3 July 2020)
Plasma bank to be functional in Delhi in 2 days, ₹1 crore compensation to kin of LNJP doctor who died fighting coronavirus (29 June 2020)
Man posing as plasma donor arrested in Delhi for cheating people (23 June 2020)
Health Ministry issues fresh clinical management protocol for COVID-19 patients (13 June 2020)
Woman with rare Bombay blood group finds donor for C-section (2 June 2020)
Blood banks face shortages (1 June 2020) | Related:
- Blood availability and safety amid Covid-19 (1 June 2020) | The inefficiency of decentralized transfusion services compels the need for reforms in our country.
80% of stored blood used up; Mumbai stares at acute shortage (17 May 2020)
500 Rupees will be paid on donation of plasma as a journey allowance (3 May 2020) | 500 INR is ~$9.38 CDN
Arunachal: Blood scarcity in hospitals amid Covid-19 lockdown (2 May 2020)
Denying other patients may lead to hospital registration being cancelled (30 Apr. 2020)
With 811 new Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra records highest single-day jump (26 Apr. 2020)
- Maharashtra has also started giving hydroxychloroquine to asymptomatic patients and relatives of patients in densely populated areas such as the Dharavi slum in Mumbai.
Mumbai: After hospitals shut temporarily due to doctors and nurses testing positive for COVID-19, BMC to hire private doctors (15 Apr. 2020)
PGIMER to inject hope with plasma therapy trials in critical Covid patients (14 Apr. 2020) | PGIMER
COVID-19 lockdown causes blood shortage (11 Apr. 2020)
Enact separate law for blood banks, says doc (12 Feb. 2020)
Two days on, no arrests yet in Phagwara blood bank case (11 Feb. 2020)
Unsafe transfusion. Regulatory mechanism is a must for blood banks (editorial) (6 Feb. 2020) | Related:
- Phagwara blood bank blunders yet again, govt orders its closure (7 Feb. 2020)
- Punjab CM orders probe following reports of infected blood transfusion in Phagwara hospital (7 Feb. 2020)
Bangalore hospital performs India's first live liver transplant on Jehovah's Witnesses from Nigeria (26 Jan. 2020)
What story of man with Bombay blood group who needed an urgent transfusion can teach us (20 Jan. 2020)
KGMU lodges police complaint against touts who forged head of transfusion medicine's signature on fake requisitions to procure donor blood to sell to patients (3 Jan. 2020) | KGMU
State Government ordered to pay Rs 3 lakh to compensate husband of woman who died due to wrong blood transfusion (5 Jan. 2020) [Rs 3 lakh=~$4,172 USD)

Indonesia

Indonesian Red Cross Society & Catchplay movie channel team up for humanitarian cause during Ramadan (13 Apr. 2021) | Every blood donor including regular and convalescent plasma donation will get one free 30-day Catchplay+ subscription.
Hunting for blood (14 Jan. 2021) | Ongoing shortages due to pandemic
Rising demand, fewer donors, blood supply running out (23 Sept. 2020)
Jakarta’s blood supply is running dry (29 Aug. 2020)
Blood shortage common in Ramadan, but COVID-19 makes matters worse: Indonesian Red Cross (14 May 2020)

Ireland

Kilkenney man raffles off dream home to raise funds for his daughter's battle with leukemia: report (18 Nov. 2020)
Cork City Council calls on blood donors to give lifesaving blood on Nov. 9-10 (6 Nov. 2020)
Blood donations drop as challenges posed by COVID-19 hits supply (10 July 2020)
Irish patients to be involved in trials for Covid-19 drug treatments (27 Apr. 2020)
Over two years 70 men not allowed to donate blood because they had sex with other men (7 Apr. 2020)
IBTS - No evidence of coronavirus transmission through blood (1 Apr. 2020)
Blood supply remains stable, as IBTS debunks hoax message (23 Mar. 2020)
Trinity Students' Union will start campaign to end IBTS 12-month deferral for MSM donors (29 Jan. 2020)

Israel

Seriously ill COVID-19 patient, age 29, treated with plasma from Jerusalem donor (11 Apr. 2020)

Jamaica

COVID-19 cluster at National Blood Bank Services (6 Feb. 2021)
Kingston Blood Bank under probe following claims of irregularities (23 Nov. 2020)
Several medical technologists at the NBTS called in sick to press government to address management issues (13 Nov. 2020)
Hospitals facing blood crisis - Doc urges J’cans to consider donations as birthday gifts (18 June 2020) | There's an error in the article about the shelf life of blood

Japan

Coronavirus threatens Tokyo's blood (26 Dec. 2020)
Nation faces pet blood transfusion crisis (24 Jan. 2020)

Kenya

Meru sets Up 1,000-unit blood bank at referral hospital (17 Feb. 2021)
Blood transfusion agency records low donor turnout despite Valentine’s campaign (13 Feb. 2021)
Government plans to convert KNTBS into a parastatal to improve efficiency and management of blood (10 Feb. 2021)
Blood banks run empty as MPs drag their feet on transfusion bill (28 Oct. 2020)
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission investigates allegations of corruption at the NBTS (17 Aug. 2020)
Pregnant women at risk due to COVID-19 related blood shortages (27 July 2020)
Country relies on youth to donate ~80% of its supply & study shows their blood is not safer as expected (29 June 2020) | Related:
- Kenya's blood bank unprepared for PEPFAR cuts, health insiders say (3 Oct. 2019)
Blood donor services are a unit of medical laboratory services, which are considered security installations (23 May 2020) | Oped by former officer in charge of programmes at the blood transfusion service, Ministry of Health
Health Secretary calls for views on National Blood Transfusion Service Bill (27 Apr. 2020)
DCI probes how blood donated by Kenyans is illegally sold in Somalia (11 Mar. 2020) | Officers of Kenya's National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) may be part of a cartel.
Hospital ejects 10 cancer patients over lack of blood (22 Feb. 2020)
Washington Post examines Kenya’s blood supply, impact of PEPFAR Aid withdrawal ( 31 Jan. 2020)

Korea

Shincheonji church members make mass plasma donations on Red Cross buses to aid Covid-19 vaccine research (13 July 2020)
‘Plasma therapy effective on Covid-19 despite blood type mismatch’ (2 July 2020)
- Im JH, et al. Convalescent plasma therapy in coronavirus disease 2019: a case report and suggestions to overcome obstacles. J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Jul 06;35(26):e239. English. Epub Jun 26, 2020. (Free full text)

Latvia

Founded in 1941, blood service marks 80 years of blood donation services (18 Mar. 2021)

Luxembourg

The importance of animal blood donors (14 Feb. 2021) | Luxembourg has no animal blood banks.
Complication in blood donations and transfusions on the rise (16 Jan. 2020)

Malawi

Man wrongly diagnosed as HIV-positive demands K40m from Blood Transfusion Service (9 Nov. 2020) | 40 million Malawi Kwacha is ~$51,278 USD

Malaysia

Mother appeals for ‘O+ R1R1 JKA’ blood for thalassemic boy (25 Feb. 2021) | Assume it might be Jk(b-) blood?
Terengganu hospital calls on blood donors as supply runs out (23 Jan. 2021)
Thalassaemia patients in Sabah risk death if blood supply remains low (22 Jan. 2021)

Malta

Hospital postpones non-urgent operations due to blood shortage (16 Jan. 2020)

Morocco

COVID-19 crisis brings blood banks to critical low (17 Aug. 2020)

Namibia

Blood stocks low due to COVID-19 restrictions (14 Jan. 2021)
Blood supplies low due to COVID-19 (3 Sept. 2020)

Nepal

High-tech blood transfusion center to be built in Pokhara (12 Jan. 2021)
Scarcity of blood across country due to prohibitory orders (23 Aug. 2020)
Red Cross Society’s Blood Transfusion Service completes 54 years (27 July 2020) | Interesting statistics. Note: Nepal's population is 29 million.

Netherlands

Dutch T-cell therapy firm Neogene Therapeutics wins massive €93M series A funds to treat solid tumors (14 Sept. 2020)
Study shows coronavirus antibodies in 5.5% of Dutch blood donors (2 June 2020)

Nigeria

Man in court for allegedly stealing items worth N8m from Blood Transfusion Service (5 Feb. 2021) | 8 million Nigerian Nair = $2,079,900 USD
Sickle cell carriers can marry each other – Expert (4 Sept. 2020)
Former president tells government to invest more money in blood transfusion (3 Sept. 2020)
Pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia at higher risk of COVID-19 infection - Expert (5 July 2020)
New sickle cell disease testing on newborns (2 July 2020)
Blood Transfusion Bill will ensure safe, affordable blood for patients — Lawmaker (19 June 2020)
‘Fake doctor’ arrested over transfusion death of 3-yr-old girl (4 Feb. 2020)
80 Sickle Cell patients died due to blood shortage in Kano (9 Jan. 2020)

Pakistan

Capital City Police Officer Lahore visited Sundas Foundation Headquarters to inspect blood transfusion, medical treatment given to thalassemia and hemophilia affected children (20 Feb. 2021)
Three new blood banks to be established in Punjab: Health Minister (17 Feb. 2021) | Related:
- Yasmin Rashid says action being taken against unregistered blood banks (17 Feb. 2021)
'Ban Chughtai Lab' trends on Twitter after allegedly wrong report leads to woman’s kidney failure (16 Feb. 2021)
Red Crescent Society organises donation camp to address serious blood shortage due to coronavirus pandemic (4 Feb. 2021)
Health Minister suspends Medical Superintendent in District Headquarters Hospital, Okara South (31 Jan. 2021)
Minister orders crackdown on unregistered blood banks (1 Jan. 2021)
First Haemophilia Center opens in Karachi (19 Dec. 2020)
Punjab Home Dept seeks report on illegal plasma transfusions at high prices (2 Sept. 2020)
Blood banks without licence illegal, says minister (21 July 2020)
Expert complains of plasma therapy hype, state’s indifference (12 July 2020)
Unsafe injection practices contribute to HIV outbreak among children (9 July 2020)
Around 183,000 AIDS patients get free treatment, NA told (10 July 2020)
Punjab Healthcare Commission bans unauthorised COVID-19 plasma transfusion (23 June 2020)
Covid-19 survivors earn small fortune in black market plasma trade (17 June 2020) | Related:
- Plasma therapy no cure for virus: ministry (17 June 2020)
Committee formed to prepare plasma for treating coronavirus patients (6 Apr. 2020)
First patient who recovered from coronavirus donates blood plasma for treatment (2 Apr. 2020)
Experts urge volunteers to donate blood as thalassaemia patients face shortage (22 Mar. 2020)
Curbing hepatitis C (3 Feb. 2020)

Papua New Guinea

Appeal for boy, 3, suffering from thalassemia (5 Aug. 2020)

Philippines

Blood disorder takes toll on teenager’s body (18 Mar. 2021)
Local government units must lead in blood drives for COVID-19 convalescent plasma (15 Jan. 2021) | Priority should be given to eliminating family/replacement and paid donor systems.
Hospital visits tougher under ‘new normal’ for brothers with blood disorder (28 Nov. 2020)
Suicide for survival? Crazy! (6 Aug. 2020) | COVID-19 related | Related:
- DOH warns plasma traders (10 Aug. 2020)
Celebrated journalist Howie Severino donates convalescent COVID-19 plasma for the last time as his antibody levels dropped (5 Aug. 2020)
DOH slams illegal blood plasma trade (8 July 2020)
Anti-HIV drugs didn't work in COVID-19 cases - DOH (6 July 2020)
Gov’t warns against ‘middlemen’ buying, selling plasma for COVID-19 patients in Central Visayas (3 July 2020)

Russia

Moscow doctors note improvements in coronavirus patients after plasma transfusion (28 Apr. 2020)
Blood plasma from coronavirus survivors transfused to first patients in Moscow (9 Apr. 2020)

Rwanda

How can the country tackle its blood donation shortfall? (16 June 2020)

Seychelles

Students boost blood bank drive as health system seeks more donors (5 Nov. 2020)
Health officials see shortage of blood donors, hope more will give consistently (3 Mar. 2020)

Singapore

Fewer blood donors in 2020, but collection at 5-year high (7 Mar. 2021)
Private hospitals now required to draw blood samples twice for pretransfusion tests (7 Jan. 2020)

South Africa

SANBS starts to see a decline in blood stocks (16 Aug. 2020)
SANBS anticipates critical blood shortages due to COVID-19 (4 Aug. 2020)

South Korea

Infected patients in South Korea donated blood before testing positive for CoVID-19 (9 Mar. 2020)

Spain

Blood Transfusion Center in Almuñecar put out an urgent call for blood donations (31 Jan. 2021)
Madrid doubles vital blood donation goal with historic response to appeal (16 Jan. 2021)
In COVID-19 emergency blood bank stocks in Costa Del Sol hospitals are alarmingly low (18 Mar. 2020) | Donor instructions are interesting.

Sri Lanka

National BTS - Hotlines and online platform for uninterrupted blood donations amidst COVID-19 (26 Apr. 2020)

Taiwan

Blood supplies run critically low (16 Jan. 2021)

Tanzania

City medics, nurses train to receive hemophilia patients (13 Apr. 2021)
NBTS official calls for more blood donation to save lives (8 Feb. 2021)
Unidentified disease kills 15 (7 Feb. 2021)

Turkey

Red Crescent warns blood supplies dwindling amid COVID-19 outbreak (1 Apr. 2020)

Switzerland

University Hospital Basel transfuses first two COVID-19 patients with INTERCEPT treated coronavirus convalescent plasma (Cerus press release, 2 Apr. 2020)

UAE

Vaccinated people may donate blood within 14 days of first or second dose (25 Feb. 2021)
Statistics from Dubai Blood Donation Centre, which received more than 41,000 donors in 2020 (31 Aug. 2020)

Uganda

Maternal deaths due to blood shortage worry medics (18 Dec. 2020)
Health ministry gets high-tech blood testing machines (21 Nov. 2020)
Blood donors demand payment as shortages continue (3 Sept. 2020)
UBTS boss blames hospitals for failing to collect blood (14 Jan. 2020)

UK

Jump to Infected Blood Inquiry
Jump to Hadiza Bawa-Garba case
Patient rang 999 from hospital bed after being refused oxygen, inquest hears (1 Apr. 2021)
- It seems to me that if a patient is identified as having a sickle cell disease, it should be flagged up to the haematology team....a member of that team should be available should a patient show signs of sickle cell crisis.
Organ donation 'opt out' system begins in Scotland (26 Mar. 2021)
NHSBT: Transition of the plasma programme (18 Mar. 2021)
EU may restrict exports of covid-19 vaccine to UK (17 Mar. 2021)
Blood transfusions at vets saved young whippet's life (14 Mar. 2021) | She was diagnosed with immune mediated haemolytic anaemia
NHSBT: Funding boost to promote blood and organ donation amongst Black and Asian communities (11 Mar. 2021)
Yorkshire's Avacta Life Sciences's Covid-19 test can detect highly transmissible Kent strain (8 Mar. 2021) Related:
- Avacta shares leap as test detects new Covid variants (8 Mar. 2021)
Scientists set to revolutionise military medicine with man-made blood (6 Mar. 2021)
NHSBT and National Institute of Health Research announces funding competition (4 Mar. 2021)
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance appeals for help to raise £30,000 to keep ‘Blood on Board’ (4 Mar. 2021)
Ban lifted to allow UK blood plasma to be used for life-saving treatments (UK govt. press release, 25 Feb. 2021) | Related:
- NHSBT welcomes government decision to lift ban on plasma for fractionation after review by MHRA and CHM (25 Feb. 2021)
Teen is first to have lifesaving blood transfusion at the scene by Cornwall Air Ambulance (25 Feb. 2021)
Recovered Covid patients urged to donate plasma to help fight against the virus (20 Feb. 2021)
N. Ireland: Appeal for donors as blood donations drop by almost 700 this January (15 Feb. 2021)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rejects bluebird bio’s gene therapy Zynteglo for patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia in draft guidance (12 Feb. 2021) | Related:
- NICE Appraisal consultation document: Betibeglogene autotemcel for treating transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia (Feb. 2021)
- NICE Draft Guidance recommends patients be denied access to bluebird bio’s gene therapy for life-limiting rare blood disease (blue bird press release,11 Feb. 2021)
Air ambulance crew pedalling 654 miles for lifesaving transfusion kit (8 Feb. 2021)
'Convalescent plasma no benefit to hospital patients' (4 Feb. 2021)
NHSBT: Patient Blood Management launches Blood Assist app to support and promote safe blood component administration(1 Feb. 2021) | App can be downloaded onto personal devices or centrally in clinical areas.
Cumbrian vet in need of more dog blood donors - here's how you can get involved (25 Jan. 2021)
Associate lecturer receives OBE for services to blood transfusion and patient care (21 Jan. 2021).
NHS: Convalescent plasma donations for COVID-19 restarting (20 Jan. 2021)
Scotland: First regional hub laboratory for COVID-19 goes live (15 Dec. 2020)
NHSBT: Men who have sex with men in a long-term relationship will be able to donate blood (Press release,14 Dec. 2020) | 3 month deferral for MSM axed
Essex Air Ambulance reaches blood transfusion milestone (4 Dec. 2020)
JPAC: Transfusion 2024 report - five-year plan supporting patient care across the NHS (3 Dec. 2020)
Man’s death following transfusion infected with hepatitis E is referred to NHS blood inquiry (29 Nov. 2020)
Scotland: Blood Transfusion Service hoping to persuade more clubs to make stadiums available (21 Nov. 2020)
Great North Air Ambulance 'Blood on Board' project copied in Italy (18 Nov. 2020)
Women and girls face greater difficulties accessing treatment, diagnosis and referral for bleeding disorders (12 Nov. 2020) | Related:
- All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood
- Final Report (Nov. 2020)
Jehovah’s Witness teen with SCD must have life-saving blood transfusion despite refusing (11 Nov. 2020)
BSH issues updated guidelines for irradiated blood components (30 Oct. 2020)
- Foukaneli T, Kerr P, Bolton-Maggs PHB, et al; British Society for Haematology Guidelines Transfusion Task Force. Guidelines on the use of irradiated blood components. Br J Haematol. 2020 Aug 18. Epub ahead of print
Britain to pursue first COVID-19 human challenge trials (20 Oct. 2020)
NHS Blood Service makes appeal for more black donors (20 Oct. 2020)
Facebook partners with NHS to roll out blood its blood donation feature (15 Sept. 2020)
NHS: Men must step up and donate their plasma to help defeat coronavirus (5 Sept. 2020)
Northern Ireland: Victims of contaminated blood scandal welcome increased financial support (2 Sept. 2020)
NHSBT and NHS labs gather COVID-19 seroprevalence data by testing blood donor samples & more in England (15 July 2020)
2019 SHOT Report
Resources: SHOT Bites
2020 Annual SHOT Symposium is deferred to 2021 due to COVID-19
NHSBT: Collaborative report into evidence on gay and bisexual men and blood donation still due in 2020 (29 May 2020) | Related:
- Blood donor selection policy: the work of the FAIR steering group (29 Oct. 2019)
Scotland: Blood bank bosses hail donor surge alongside plea for Covid-19 convalescent plasma from virus survivors (17 May 2020)
Northern Ireland: Journalist donates blood to see how blood service works under the coronavirus (8 May 2020) | 3:01 min. video
Scotland: Haemochromatosis patients claim NHS England treatment better (9 May 2020)
Coronavirus: Plasma treatment to be trialled (20 Apr. 2020) | Related:
- NHSBT clinical trial
Northern Ireland: Blood donation staff 'should get full PPE', union says (17 Apr. 2020)
Wales plays leading role in ‘antibody transfusion’ treatment for coronavirus patients (14 Apr. 2020)
Coronavirus: Blood donors needed after 15% drop, says NHS (23 Mar. 2020)
Scotland: Aberfeldy blood donation service closes (21 Feb. 2020)
- SNBTS spokesperson: “Savings generated...can be reinvested in new technologies and new services, as well as modernising and improving our existing services."
NHS urges more men in Hackney to give blood to tackle gender imbalance among new donors (16 Jan. 2020)
Infected Blood Inquiry+
Latest videos from the inquiry
Timetable for hearings 9 Feb. to May (8 Feb. 2021)
8 presentations by haemophilia clinicians in 2021 (15 Jan. 2021) | Videos
Restriction order by Chair Brian Langstaff (14 Jan. 2021) | Grants continued anonymity to Witness W1303
Update following latest coronavirus restrictions (5 Jan. 2021)
Update from Sir Brian Langstaff following new coronavirus restrictions (2 Nov. 2020)
Evidence submitted for Haemophilia Clinicians Public Hearings Weeks 5-7, 27 Oct. - 20 Nov.)
Registration opens for first three weeks of hearings (28 Aug. 2020)
Financial Report (30 Apr. 2020)
Inquiry publishes individual written statements (27 Apr. 2020)
- Individual written statements
Further instruction letters for expert groups published (20 Mar. 2020)
Inquiry files paperwork in judicial review - Court asked to review decision-making process (19 Mar. 2020)
Change to dates for next hearings due to Coronavirus (17 Mar. 2020)
Chair of Inquiry Langstaffe calls for specialist psychological support across the UK (5 Mar. 2020)
Expert reports published (4 Feb. 2020):
- Psycho social issues
- Hepatitis
- HIV
- Bleeding disorders and blood disorders
Schedule of 2020 meetings
Inquiry website
Terms of Reference
Tainted blood timeline | Excellent site with links to resources in UK, Canada, etc.
**Infected Blood Inquiry NEWS ITEMS**
‘Our brave daddy suffered all his life’ (13 Apr. 2021)
Widow of Hartlepool blood scandal victim welcomes 'significant step' in increased payments (5 Apr. 2021)
Belfast doctor fights back tears recalling those who died of AIDs during evidence (2 Apr. 2021)
Newport parents' 30-year battle for justice (26 Mar. 2021)
Contaminated blood scandal victims to get equal support (25 Mar. 2021)
Widow of man who died from infected blood scandal, praises The Northern Echo’s campaign for compensation (25 Mar. 2021)
NHS blood infection scandal payments to increase (25 Mar. 2021)
Victims welcome review into compensation payments (25 Mar. 2021)
'The government will pay us compensation now it is being forced to act' (23 Mar. 2021)
"I can't forgive them" says daughter of Thornton man who died after being infected by contaminated blood at Blackpool Victoria Hospital (23 Mar. 2021)
Victims of contaminated blood scandal denied financial support by arbitrary cut-off date (21 Mar. 2021)
Victims to be compensated by government (21 Mar. 2021)
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu on why black people’s voices must be heard (4 Mar. 2021) | UK's first ever sickle cell nurse wants to make sure black people's voices are heard in inquiry looking into how NHS treated people with infected blood ~50 years ago.
More financial support for N. Ireland victims of contaminated blood scandal (1 Mar. 2021)
Victims of blood scandal tell of crusade for truth on N. Ireland TV show (25 Feb. 2021)
Charity chairman admits 'disgraceful' comments (24 Feb. 2021)
Differences between the Scottish Penrose Inquiry & UK's Inquiry (5 Feb. 2021)
Newcastle doctor said Government and NHS made 'fatal mistake' (3 Feb. 2021)
Man 'not told of AIDS diagnosis for 18 months' (2 Feb. 2021)
Summary of hearings the week of 12 Jan. (18 Jan. 2021) | By UK Haemophilia Society
Patients ask why they were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C 40 years ago – and were not told they were part of a test (17 Jan. 2021)
Haemophilia professor ‘glad’ he did not face haemophilia treatment decisions earlier (9 Dec. 2020)
Haemophiliac children treated with ‘more reliable’ commercial blood products (7 Dec. 2020)
Treatments were unchanged due to ‘small risk of AIDS transmission’ (7 Dec. 2020)
AIDS deaths highlighted by infected blood inquiry chairman on World AIDS Day (6 Dec. 2020)
Overcharging blood banks in Maharashtra to be fined, patients to be refunded (5 Dec. 2020)
HIV surge in Unnao in 2017 was caused by unsafe injection exposure, says ICMR (5 Dec. 2020)
Medics more concerned about HIV transmission than hepatitis, blood inquiry told (4 Dec. 2020)
Patients not told they had HIV until two years after infection, inquiry told (3 Dec. 2020)
Haemophilia home therapy patients treated ‘in a bit of a crisis’, says professor (1 Dec. 2020)
Experts knew HIV spreading through infected blood years before scandal came out (28 Nov. 2020)
Blood scandal inquiry to hear from Scots medics (21 Nov. 2020)
Family's hope for 'justice' as inquiry into infected blood scandal continues (30 Oct. 2020)
Former Bradford Haemophilia Centre boss's tearful evidence (29 Oct. 2020)
Ex-Royal Free medic rejects ‘liability’ while colleague points finger at government over scale of treatment disaster (26 Oct. 2020)
Former health secretary calls for compensation for scandal victims – and Sir Keir Starmer backs campaigners (22 Oct. 2020)
Key witness disagrees with compensation 'as it suggests liability' (21 Oct. 2020)
Contaminated blood scandal victims prepare for ex-Royal Free doctors to give evidence at inquiry (16 Oct. 2020)
Grieving daughter fighting for justice after dad received contaminated blood (3 Oct. 2020)
Doctors were aware of risks of hep C and HIV to haemophiliacs during 1970s and 1980s, inquiry hears (30 Sept. 2020)
Fury as HIV contaminated blood documents destroyed when scandal emerged (26 Sept. 2020)
UK government warned about contaminated blood risk for haemophiliacs, new documentary reveals (26 Sept. 2020) | Related:
- ITV documentary In Cold Blood delves into chilling 1980s haemophilia scandal (25 Sept. 2020)
Camden family devastated by contaminated blood scandal shocked to find daughter also tested for viruses without consent (24 Sept. 2020)
US blood was too freely imported to UK in 70s and 80s, David Owen tells inquiry (22 Sept. 2020)
Treasury refuses to publish key documents on treatment of haemophiliacs infected with HIV (21 Sept. 2020) | Reason: Would be “disruptive” and material might be “distorted” by the media.
Welsh victims 'still waiting for equal payments' (10 Sept. 2020)
Northern Ireland Health Minister increases contaminated blood payments (30 Aug. 2020)
Ex-Royal Free haemophilia director to address Inquiry in October (29 Aug. 2020) | Scroll to hear audio clip of the haemophilia director's comments
Inquiry plans to resume in September with doctors to be quizzed after coronavirus saw summer hearings cancelled (20 July 2020)
Fury as victims NOT listed as 'vulnerable' during coronavirus (9 May 2020)
‘The victims are dying’: Lawyer critical of speed of the Inquiry (7 May 2020)
Contaminated blood scandal campaigners reiterate demand for compensation (28 Apr. 2020)
Widow of Hartlepool man who died in infected blood scandal fights for equal payments (21 Apr. 2020)
N. Ireland Health Minister announces additional Infected Blood Payments (23 Mar. 2020)
Infected blood patients ‘suffered more’ due to lack of psychological support, inquiry told (28 Feb. 2020)
Expert* testimony welcomed by victims of contaminated blood scandal (26 Feb. 2020) | *Social workers & psycho-social experts
Guilt and anger surface as infected blood inquiry hears evidence (24 Feb. 2020)
Head of Haemophilia Doctors’ Organisation hailed a jailed HIV-scandal medic as man of 'high integrity' (23 Feb. 2020)
Expert reports re-affirm devastating impact of contaminated blood (21 Feb. 2020)
Woman given Hepatitis C as a teenager meets blood contamination inquiry experts (14 Feb. 2020)
NI contaminated blood victims 'no closer' to support parity (13 Feb. 2020)
Infected blood payments announced by NI Health Minister (27 Jan. 2020)
Brothers call for more to be done for NI blood victims (29 Jan. 2020)
Ministers reject calls for immediate compensation for infected blood victims (28 Jan. 2020)
Wales will offer psychology service for victims (22 Jan. 2020)
Contaminated blood campaigners fed up with ‘going over old ground’ and urge Government to act (22 Jan. 2020)
Contaminated blood inquiry to visit Norwich in February (16 Jan. 2020)
Minister urged to address Northern Ireland's payment disparity (15 Jan. 2020)
Inquest told of haematologist's 'regret' over misunderstanding after a mother bled to death (8 Jan. 2010)
Refusing Scottish help a 'grave error' in blood scandal, letter says (3 Jan. 2020)
Widow of Hartlepool man who died in infected blood scandal prepares to give evidence at inquiry (1 Jan. 2020) | She will give evidence twice at the inquiry in 2020, as both a widow and an award-winning researcher.

USA^

NIH: COVID-19 treatment guidelines panel’s statement on the emergency use authorization of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of COVID-19 (Updated, 8 Apr. 2021)
Those donating blood to ARC in April could win a VIP trip for 4 to the 2022 Indianapolis 500 (4 Apr. 2021) | Also eligible to win one of five $1,000 e-gift cards to a merchant of choice.
Arizona's blood supply critically low (4 Apr. 2021)
Washington blood donations running low due to vaccine misconceptions (31 Mar. 2021)
FDA authorizes machine learning-based screening device to identify biomarkers that may indicate COVID-19 infection (23 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- FDA news release (19 Mar. 2021)
The hype has faded, but don’t count out convalescent plasma in Covid battle (22 Mar. 2021)
Black blood bank inventor Dr. Charles Drew’s daughter says the health care inequities her father fought still exist today (18 Mar. 2021) | Drew worked with the ARC but resigned in the early 1940s as blood banks became segregated, separating the blood of Black patients from that of white patients.
Texas man donates 120 gallons of platelets over 37 years (16 Mar. 2021)
FDA: Combat Medical Systems, LLC, recalls Valkyrie LTOWB Collection, Valkyrie LTOWB Administration, Low Titer Type O FWB Transfusion Set, Fresh Whole Blood Transfusion Set, Fresh Whole Blood Donor Set for possible broken or bent needles (12 Mar. 2021)
Business is booming for the $24 billion plasma industry, but it may be putting vulnerable donors at risk (11 Mar. 2021)
FDA sends Nevada-based Reno Integrative Medical Center letter re-its marketing of a “dendritic cell vaccine therapy” to treat and prevent cancer (10 Mar. 2021)
Penn State students could earn $700/mth for donating convalescent #COVID-19 plasma (9 Mar. 2021)
CDC: Interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people (8 Mar. 2021)
Nearly half of patients with multiple myeloma die in the hospital (3 Mar. 2021) | Related:
- Abbasi S, McClune B, Abdallah A-O, et al. Hospitalization at the end of life in myeloma patients: lessons from the National Inpatient Sample (Oral abstract, ASH Meeting Dec. 5-8, 2020)
'Their blood has the death shot in it!' Anti-vaxxers freaking out over blood donations from the vaccinated (28 Feb. 2021)
NIH: Guidance for COVID-19 and people with HIV (26 Feb. 2021)
UCLA COVID-19 patient registry increases plasma donations, aids in research studies (23 Feb. 2021)
Texas: MD Anderson, Gulf Coast Blood Center desperate for blood donations after winter storm (23 Feb. 2021)
Blood supplies critically low in the Lehigh Valley as pandemic, relentless snow hinder donations (19 Feb. 2021)
Can COVID survivors' blood plasma help combat new variants? Here's what researchers say (18 Feb. 2021)
FDA: Letter to Pacific Stem Cells LLC for marketing unapproved uses of stem cells and more (17 Feb. 2021)
HHS published report on the adequacy of national blood supply (AABB: 17 Feb. 2021) | Related:
- HHS Report: Adequacy of the National Blood Supply, Report to Congress 2020 (105 pp.)
Versiti Blood Centers in need of blood and platelet donations amid severe winter weather (16 Feb. 2021)
Industry news: Bluebird bio halts sickle cell trials after leukemia diagnosis (16 Feb. 2021)
Industry news (Bluebird bio): Betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel), a one-time gene therapy, enabled durable transfusion independence in most patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia (15 Feb. 2021)
Combating COVID-19 blood shortages in cancer treatment (12 Feb. 2021)
FDA issues EUA that authorizes Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 (Press release, 9 Feb. 2021)
Black History Month: Charles Richard Drew (9 Feb. 2021) Related: Charles Richard Drew, “Father of the Blood Bank”
Republican member of Missouri House of Reps indicted for fraudulently stem cell COVID-19 cure (5 Feb. 2021) | Also indicted for illegally providing prescription drugs to patients of those clinics. Related:
- United States of America v. Patricia Ashton Derges | Unsealed 2 Feb. 2021
FDA updates emergency use authorization for COVID-19 convalescent plasma to reflect new data (4 Feb. 2021)
Still no match for La Jolla mom’s rare blood type despite surge of donations (4 Feb. 2021) | Kp^b is found in >99.9% of caucasians,blacks and Chinese people of eastern Asia and USA
Red Cross offers free COVID antibody testing of blood donations (4 Feb. 2021)
Goodyear, AZ cancer patient denied blood transfusion stemming from nationwide issue (3 Feb. 2021)
Government awards $231 million contract to Australia's Ellume to produce COVID-19 home test kit (1 Feb. 2021)
Industry news: Mammoth Biosciences teams with Agilent Technologies to launch its CRISPR-based DETECTR assay test for COVID-19 (28 Jan. 2021)
NIH: NHLBI awards Versiti Blood Research Institute $12.3m grant for research on role of cell surface sugars in regulating blood cell production in health and disease (29 Jan. 2021)
Valkyrie - emergency fresh whole blood transfusion enhances 15th Marine expeditionary unit's medical capabilities (30 Jan. 2021)
National Blood Donor Month: Donors needed to help fill Army's blood supply shortage (28 Jan. 2021)
Federal agencies will study Covid vaccine effectiveness on ‘mutant’ strains, Fauci says (27 Jan. 2021)
La Jolla mother of three needs rare blood type to fight bone cancer (25 Jan. 2021)
Joe Biden names top geneticist Eric Lander as science adviser (16 Jan. 2021)
HHS allocates $300M for Abbott COVID-19 rapid tests or 'equivalent' testing tech (8 Jan. 2021)
One American dies from Covid-19 every 33 seconds as the vaccine rollout hits snags (5 Jan. 2021)
CSL Plasma paying Rhode Islanders $100 for COVID-19 plasma donations (4 Jan. 2021)
FDA considers lifting restrictions on blood donations by gay and bi men (28 Dec. 2020) | Related:
- FDA funded pilot study: Assessing Donor Variability And New Concepts in Eligibility (ADVANCE)
NYC blood banks are at a critical low: donating can save a life, it saved mine (27 Dec. 2020)
HHS to supply vulnerable populations with 30M more Abbott COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (18 Dec. 2020)
FDA Guidance for industry: Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood Collection Establishments and Transfusion Services to Enhance the Safety and Availability of Platelets for Transfusion (Dec. 2020)
AABB publishes summary of deferral information to assist members considering an update to COVID-19-related blood donor deferral policies (15 Dec. 2020)
AABB and IDSA release considerations for clinicians on emergency use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (15 Dec. 2020)
AABB, ABC, ARC joint statement: Donors needed as hospital demand for convalescent plasma exceeding donations this holiday season (10 Dec. 2020)
Bexar County’s pay-for-plasma program hits snag as Covid-19 cases surge (10 Dec. 2020)
FDA authorized LabCorp's COVID-19 test kit to be sold over-the-counter without requiring a prescription (9 Dec. 2020)
FDA approves Cerus Corporation’s INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation and two products (3 Dec. 2020)
End-tidal carbon dioxide and the need for transfusion (1 Dec. 2020)
- Wilson BR, Bruno J, Duckwitz M, et al. Prehospital end-tidal CO2 as an early marker for transfusion requirement in trauma patients. Am J Emerg Med. 2020 Aug 22:S0735-6757(20)30750-6. Epub ahead of print.
Should people be paid to get the COVID-19 vaccine? (30 Nov. 2020)
COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns about potential blood shortage (29 Nov. 2020) | Remote learning a factor as high schools and colleges make up ~20%-30% of ARC donor base.
'Alarmingly low': US facing another blood shortage amid ongoing school closures (24 Nov. 2020)
Rush on coronavirus testing strains laboratories, drives supply shortages (17 Nov. 2020)
Donate blood through Vitalant, get free food delivery from Bite Squad (17 Nov. 2020)
HHS calls on FDA to speed up reviews of lab-developed COVID-19 tests after backlog (16 Nov. 2020)
Moderna announces results of experimental COVID-19 vaccine: 94.5% effective (16 Nov. 2020) | Vaccine can be stored in freezer at 25°F (–4°C) and, once thawed, is stable up to 30 days at normal refrigerated temperatures.
Pfizer and BioNTech announce results of experimental COVID-19 vaccine: more than 90% effective (9 Nov. 2020) | Vaccine must be stored in ultracold freezers capable of –94°F (–70°C) and, once thawed can be refrigerated for only five days.
Blood donations needed in Quad cities; estimated 35k donations lost due to COVID-19 pandemic (13 Nov. 2020)
The pandemic is pushing blood supplies to the brink (11 Nov. 2020)
LifeServe Blood Center says it’s running out of convalescent plasma to assist COVID-19 patients as hospitalizations increase (11 Nov. 2020)
Covid plasma trials for vaccine underway at Wayne State, paid volunteers (up to $200) needed (3 Nov. 2020)
AABB, ABC, ARC ask FDA for a 90-day extension to transition to new labeling requirements for emergency use authorization COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP), plus to distribute current stockpiles of investigational CCP. (2 Nov. 2020)
OBI offers chance to win $500 gift card if donors donate during shortage emergency (30 Oct. 2020)
AABB: Graphic summaries of COVID-19 weekly hospital transfusion services surveys
OBI experiences emergency blood shortage (28 Oct. 2020)
BYU-Idaho threatens suspension for students intentionally getting COVID-19 to sell plasma (13 Oct. 2020)
Baby with COVID becomes youngest patient to receive experimental convalescent plasma transfusion (1 Oct. 2020)
ARC pleads for Black blood donors (24 Sept. 2020)
New free antibody program at KY Blood Center for blood donors is praised as COVID-19 antibody test is too expensive in U.S. (18 Sept. 2020) | Related:
- KFF study finds cost of COVID-19 tests range from $20 to $850 (Press release,15 July 2020) | Full report
- Cost of coronavirus test depends on many factors (7 Mar. 2020)
AABB: Graphic summaries of COVID-19 weekly hospital transfusion services surveys | Latest: 14-16 Sept. 2020
McKinsey Report - Improving the fragile US supply of blood (15 Sept. 2020)
FDA issues an 'untitled letter' to Laguna Beach Aesthetics, Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Center regarding its marketing of an unapproved cellular product derived from adipose tissue (3 Sept. 2020) | Product is marketed as 'stem cell therapy'; Untitled letters explained
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial in U.S. on hold (15 Sept. 2020)
Texas county plans to pay COVID-19 survivors up to $100/donation for plasma (12 Sept. 2020)
More African American blood donors needed to help sickle cell patients (11 Sept. 2020)
Arlington County Fire Department to start administering field blood transfusions (10 Sept. 2020)
Dozens of hospitals poised to defy FDA order on emergency use of COVID-19 plasma in favor of clinical trial (4 Sept. 2020)
‘Back to school’ blood drives scheduled for University of Kentucky campus to help combat donation shortage due to COVID-19. (28 Aug. 2020) | Gifts are being offered.
AABB: COVID-19 convalescent plasma under FDA's Emergency Use Authorization (28 Aug. 2020)
FDA: Warning letter to Banco Vida Corp,San Juan, Puerto Rico (12 Aug. 2020) | Deals with violations related to the company’s human umbilical cord products
FDA: Recommendations to reduce the possible risk of transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by blood and blood components. Guidance for Industry (Aug. 2020)
- AABB: Comparison of August 2020 CJD-vCJD Guidance wIth April 2020 CJD-vCJD Guidance (Aug. 2020)
Thousands of coronavirus infections stemmed from conference held by Biogen in Boston in February (26 Aug. 2020)
MichBio issues statement on FDA's new Emergency Use Authorization labeling requirements for convalescent plasma (26 Aug. 2020)
With help from llamas, California researchers are developing a spray to prevent COVID-19 (25 Aug. 2020)
‘Valkyrie’ blood transfusion system hopes to give marines, sailors fighting chance on the battlefield (18 Aug. 2020)
Marines implement Emergency Transfusion Program in Middle East (13 Aug. 2020)
ASH's clinical practice guidelines on AML in older adults (11 Aug. 2020) | Full Guideline (6 Aug. 2020)
Moderna backtracks to open Covid vaccine trial to those with HIV (6 Aug. 2020)
Public health experts write letter urging rigorous FDA review of Covid vaccine data (5 Aug. 2020)
CDC revises Travel Health Notices website for COVID-19
Donor criteria eased amid COVID-19-related blood supply shortages (3 Aug. 2020)
Blood donations by people taking drugs to treat, prevent HIV could be ‘cause for concern’ (28 July 2020)
- Custer B, Quiner CA, Haaland R, et al. HIV antiretroviral therapy and prevention use in US blood donors: A new blood safety concern. Blood. 2020;blood.2020006890. Epub 2020 Jul 9.
Blood money - Plasma saves lives but questions persist about how it's obtained (23 July 2020)
Government agrees to pay $1.95 billion for 100 million doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE (22 July 2020) | Related:
- Pfizer vaccine deal at US$20 a dose sets ceiling for rivals (22 July 2020)
AABB: Patient blood management in hematology and oncology (July 2020)
Research group will pay Sacramentans to participate in coronavirus vaccine trial (16 July 2020)
Florida: Plasma donations critically needed: donors can get paid $1000/mth or more (13 July 2020)
Haemonetics:How a device shelved for health reasons in France remained in use in U.S. (1 July 2020)
Whole Blood in the rural EMS environment (27 June 2020) | Related:
- Designing an EMS massive transfusion program (25 Apr. 2019)
Hospitals in 'dire need' of blood as elective surgeries restart (17 June 2020)
HHS Office for Civil Rights: Guidance on HIPAA and Contacting Former COVID-19 Patients about Blood and Plasma Donation
NIH launches analytics platform to harness nationwide COVID-19 patient data to speed treatments (15 June 2020, news release) | Related:
- National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C)
- N3C Demonstration
Viruses like the one that causes COVID-19 have long been Dr. Anthony Fauci's 'worst nightmare' (10 June 2020)
AABB leaders issue statement on the death of George Floyd, health equity.
Dr. saves gunshot victim's life with innovative transfusion in the back of an ambulance (5 June 2020)
FDA issues warning letter to EUCYT Laboratories LLC (4 June 2020) | EUCYT was marketing unapproved human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), including one exosome product marketed to prevent or treat COVID-19
Oklahoma Blood Institute offers free COVID-19 antibody testing for all donors (5 June 2020)
AABB submitted joint comments with ABC, ARC and the PPTA this week regarding the FDA's April 2020 HIV Risk Guidance. (5 June 2020)
- FDA: Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of HIV Transmission by Blood and Blood Products. Guidance for Industry. April 2020.
FDA: Recommendations to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components. (Guidance for Industry, April 2020)
FDA: Revised Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria (Guidance for Industry, April 2020)
AABB: New guidance to Standard 5.14.5 in the 32nd ed. of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services
FDA issues warning letter to EUCYT Laboratories LLC (4 June 2020) | EUCYT was marketing unapproved human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), including one exosome product marketed to prevent or treat COVID-19
Texas Blood Institute offering free COVID-19 antibody testing for donors. (3 June 2020)
COVID-19 survivor blood becomes a pricey commodity with a milliliter selling for $1,000 (31 May 2020)
Antibody tests were hailed as way to end lockdowns. Instead, they cause confusion. (28 May 2020)
Blood brokers pay up to $1,000 for samples from recovered COVID-19 patients (29 May 2020)
Red Cross reports 50% drop in blood donations from African American donors (27 May 2020)
FDA issues letters to two companies promoting human cell, tissue, or cellular or tissue-based products (HCT/P) without valid biologics license application or IND application:
- Dr. Henry Small, TX (27 Apr. 2020): For marketing umbilical cord blood-derived cellular product to treat Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia, lupus | Dr. Small's website
- Sparrow Health Performance, AL (11 May 2020): For marketing cellular products derived from adipose tissue as "stem cell therapy" to treat many diseases/conditions, including COVID-19. | Sparrow Clinic
FDA: Sanofi’s Biologics License Application for sutimlimab to treat hemolysis in adult patients with cold agglutinin disease granted FDA priority review (14 May 2020)
Have you recovered from COVID-19? You could get paid up to $700 for a study (30 Apr. 2020)
AABB: Patient hemovigilance | Includes Common Transfusion Reaction Reporting Form, v. 2.0 (updated) and more
FDA (CBER): Letter to Sponsors, Applicants and Regulated Entities on COVID-19 (30 Apr. 2020)
UW Health transfusion service vital to bringing convalescent plasma to COVID-19 patients (28 Apr. 2020) | Includes 1:02 video
Judge delays criminal trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes due to COVID-19 (15 Apr. 2020)
FDA tightens enforcement on COVID-19 antibody tests (14 Apr. 2020)
Seattle: First COVID-19 plasma donor rolls up sleeves for research (13 Apr. 2020) | Includes video.
ARC seeks people fully recovered from COVID-19 who may be able to donate plasma
FDA (COVID-19 related):
- FDA launches Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) | Related: FDA Continues to Accelerate Development of Novel Therapies for COVID-19 (31 Mar. 2020)
- Guidance for Industry,Investigators, and Institutional Review Boards: Guidance on Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products during COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated April 2, 2020)
- Guidance for Industry: Notifying FDA of a Permanent Discontinuance or Interruption in Manufacturing Under Section 506C of the FDC Act Guidance for Industry (March 2020)
- Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products (April 2020) | One year deferral for MSM reduced to 3 months
Houston Methodist performs the nation’s first plasma transfusion to treat COVID-19 (31 Mar. 2020) | Related:
- Shen C, Wang Z, Zhao F, Yang Y, Li J, Yuan J, et al. Treatment of 5 critically ill patients with COVID-19 with convalescent plasma. JAMA. 2020 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print] (Free full text) | PubMed abstract
FDA - COVID-19 developments:
- Licensed physician must request Emergency IND (eIND) and obtain COVID-19 convalescent plasma from a blood center. (24 Mar. 2020)
- FDA Alerts Consumers About Unauthorized Fraudulent COVID-19 Test Kits (20 Mar. 2020)
- Medical glove conservation strategies: letter to health care providers (20 Mar. 2020)
- More: AABB Coronavirus Resources
Mayo Clinic races with high-powered alliance to produce plasma treatment for coronavirus (23 Mar. 2020)
- Also see: Shanghai doctors trying plasma infusions to treat patients with coronavirus (17 Feb. 2020)
Possible COVID-19 treatment: transfusion of antibodies from recovered patients’ blood (23 Mar. 2020; WUSTL press release)
Coronavirus fears threaten America's blood supply (12 Mar. 2020) | Blood drives are canceled and donors stay home
No increase in HIV in blood donations since rules for gay men were relaxed (11 Mar. 2020)
- Greb E, et al. No HIV incidence increase in first-time blood donors with 12-month deferral for MSM (Abstract, Conference On Retroviruses And Opportunistic Infections, Mar. 8–11, 2020)
Battlefield-inspired blood transfusion cooler is saving lives in Upstate SC (11 Mar. 2020)
Blood drives - and donors - fall off as Coronavirus worries grow (7 Mar. 2020)
FDA: Important Information for Blood Establishments Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (4 Feb. 2020)
Girl with one of the world’s rarest blood types* in remission after global search for donors (26 Feb. 2020) | * In(b-)
Do patients pay for donated blood? (5:12 min video, 25 Feb. 2020)
Albany city council votes to restrict blood plasma centers (20 Feb. 2020)
Delmarva Peninsula blood supply needs more diversity among donors (oped, 20 Feb. 2020)
Mayo Clinic asks people potentially exposed to novel coronavirus to wait 28 days to donate blood (18 Feb. 2020)
Theranos gets a win as judge narrows scope of fraud case (12 Feb. 2020) | Related:
- Founder Elizabeth Holmes’ lawyer hints at trial defense in court hearing (10 Feb. 2020)
Human interest: Georgia man helped save ~750 lives over two decades of platelet donations (9 Feb. 2020)
FDA: Use of Serological Tests To Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Types I and II; Guidance for Industry; Availability (6 Feb. 2020)
FDA/FTC: Joint Statement of the Food & Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission Regarding a Collaboration to Advance Competition in the Biologic Marketplace (3 Feb. 2020)
FDA: Recommendations to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components (Draft Guidance for Industry, Jan. 2020)
Army Reserve Warrior Medics support critical Armed Services Blood Program (30 Jan. 2020)
AABB: Impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus on Blood Donation (22 Jan. 2020)
- CDC Update: Information for Healthcare Professionals on 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Vietnam

Blood shortage in hospitals as coronavirus fears keep donors away (2 Feb. 2020)

Yemen

Blood banks face severe shortage as demand surges (16 Feb. 2021)

Zimbabwe

Woman seeks USD $40k for son's bone marrow transplant (15 Sept. 2020) | Doctor in India said that since he was an only child the family will need to pay an extra US$10,000 to get a matching donor.

International

GENERAL

International

Albania

Argentina

Australia / New Zealand (Down Under)

Borneo

Cambodia

China/Hong Kong

Croatia

Cyprus

Denmark

Egypt

France

Georgia

Ghana

India

Indonesia

Ireland

Israel

Jamaica

Japan

Kenya

Korea

Latvia

Luxembourg

Malawi

Malaysia

Malta

Morocco

Namibia

Nepal

Netherlands

Nigeria

Pakistan

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Russia

Rwanda

Seychelles

Singapore

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Tanzania

Turkey

Switzerland

UAE

Uganda

UK

USA^

Vietnam

Yemen

Zimbabwe