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Abstract: This commentary highlights some of current controversial and emerging issues in Transfusion Medicine, including: Immunomodulation; Rational use of blood; Migration in Transfusion and Immunohaematology; Clinical use of therapeutic bloodletting; Nanotechnology and Haemovigilance, discussed by experts in the field, in the recent Iberian ESTM residential course. The main bulk of this commentary was compiled and translated by Drs de Sousa and Muñiz-Diaz. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The screening laboratory has a critical role in the post-transfusion safety. The success of its targets and efficiency depends on the management system used. Even though the European Union directive 2002/98/EC requires a quality management system in blood establishments, its requirements for screening laboratories are generic. Complementary approaches are needed to implement a quality management system focused on screening laboratories. This article briefly discusses the current good manufacturing practices and good laboratory practices, as well as the trends in quality management system standards. ISO 9001 is widely accepted in some European Union blood establishments as the quality management standard, however this is not synonymous of its successful application. The ISO "risk-based thinking" is interrelated with the quality risk-management process of the EuBIS "Standards and criteria for the inspection of blood establishments". ISO 15189 should be the next step on the quality assurance of a screening laboratory, since it is focused on medical laboratory. To standardize the quality management systems in blood establishments' screening laboratories, new national and European claims focused on technical requirements following ISO 15189 is needed., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)