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BackgroundAt the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, widespread blood shortages were anticipated. We sought to determine how hospital blood supply and blood utilization were affected by the first wave of COVID-19.Study design and methodsWeekly red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) inventory, transfusion, and outdate data were collected from 13 institutions in the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Denmark from March 1st to December 31st of 2020 and 2019. Data from the sites were aligned based on each site's local first peak of COVID-19 cases, and data from 2020 (pandemic year) were compared with data from the corresponding period in 2019 (pre-pandemic baseline).ResultsRBC inventories were 3% lower in 2020 than in 2019 (680 vs. 704, p

The United States Food and Drug Administration Final Guidance for Industry titled, "Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood Collection Establishments and Transfusion Services to Enhance the Safety and Availability of Platelets for Transfusion" provides nine strategies for platelet bacterial risk mitigation. Even if it is assumed all strategies are comparable in terms of safety and efficacy, the decision of which to implement remains challenging. Some additional factors that warrant evaluation before selecting a strategy include the financial impact, process for implementation, logistics upon implementation, institutional acceptance by blood bank staff, administration and clinicians, and effect on platelet availability. To assist with this difficult choice, a panel of transfusion service physicians who have expertise on the topic and have already selected strategies for their transfusion services were recruited to provide varied perspectives. In addition, the use of a decision-making tool that objectively evaluates defined criteria for assessment of the nine strategies is described.

This document is a systematic review that discusses the challenges and inconsistencies in diagnosing cold agglutinins (CA), which are IgM autoantibodies that can cause hemolysis. The review aims to inform future research on the diagnostic investigation and interpretation of CA by describing serological techniques and cut-offs for diagnosing cold agglutinin disease (CAD) or cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS). The authors conducted a literature search and included 56 articles in their analysis, which revealed a lack of standardized definitions and thresholds for diagnosing clinically significant CA. The document provides a summary of various studies and case series related to cold agglutinins (CA), examining different aspects such as the number of participants with CA, the underlying clinical diseases studied, and the definition of CA. It presents a range of perspectives and findings from different studies. The article discusses the lack of consistency in defining the characteristics of cold agglutinin disease (CAD) in autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). The most commonly used laboratory test for diagnosing CAD is the direct antiglobulin test (DAT), which detects complement deposition on red blood cells. However, the clinical utility of DAT testing and the interpretation of results are variable. CA titers, which reflect the concentration and avidity of cold agglutinins, are also widely used but do not always correlate with disease severity. The determination of thermal amplitude [Extracted from the article]

Background: Immunoglobulin (IG) therapy is widely used to treat primary and secondary immune deficiencies and as immunomodulatory agent for various disorders. There is great concern that shortages of IG may rise, potentially affecting medical treatment options. Study Design and Methods: An international survey was developed to study how intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are used and managed within hospitals in case of shortages. Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted by the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative. The survey was directed to hospital pharmacists and blood bank transfusion professionals and disseminated through members of the BEST Collaborative network. Results: Survey respondents from institutions in the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia (n = 13) confirmed that the primary specialties utilizing IG are neurology, hematology, and immunology. More than 60% of respondents reported IG supply shortages, but mitigation strategies were not well developed. Discussion: As IG is the leading driver in plasma demand, more studies are needed to understand current and future demand for IG from the clinical perspective. Necessity lies in establishing clinical guidance to address shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the critical shortage of Rh immune globulin (RhIG) in the United States due to manufacturing defects and increased demand. This shortage may impact countries outside the U.S. as well. The authors provide recommendations for optimizing the use of RhIG to prevent poor medical outcomes for DNEG pregnant women and their future children. They suggest specific actions for blood banks, transfusion services, and healthcare providers to address the shortage and ensure the standard of care for RhIG immunoprophylaxis is maintained. [Extracted from the article]