27 Apil 2018 (Friday) - NHSBT Update

This morning I received the monthly update from NHSBT. Some interesting little snippets – nothing earth-shattering, but actually useful for day-to-day working in a blood bank.

I don’t think I’ve seen one of these updates for a while… I wonder why that is?

24 April 2018 (Tuesday) - Transfusion News email

The Transfusion News email arrived today. As always there were some useful snippets:

Zika Virus RNA Can Shed for More Than 6 Months in Semen from Some Infected Men

April 18, 2018
The Zika virus (ZIKV), which has now spread to at least 48 countries including the United States, is associated with adverse birth outcomes. While commonly transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, ZIKV transmission may also occur via other modes including via transfusion and sexual routes. Since sexual transmission may pose a greater risk to growing fetuses, researchers [Read More]

Costs are High for Administrating Blood Transfusions

April 11, 2018
A recent micro-costing study in the United Kingdom suggests administration costs are high for blood transfusions. Researchers collected detailed data on key inputs for blood transfusions for all laboratory supplies and staff time, including all laboratory personal and nurses at two large hospitals in Oxford and Reading. The cost of wasted blood products was also [Read More]

Secondary Bacterial Culture for Platelets Reduces Transfusion Risk and Complies with FDA Draft Guidance for Platelet Safety

April 4, 2018
Platelets are most susceptible to bacterial contamination due to their storage conditions. In order to decrease the risk of bacterial contamination, in 2016, the FDA issued a draft guidance suggesting additional safety measures beyond a primary bacterial culture for platelets—namely pathogen reduction or secondary bacterial testing. Pathogen reduction and point-of-release [Read More]

19 April 2018 (Thursday) - Oncologist email

The Oncologist newsletter arrived in my in-box today. Several useful articles including one on oral anticoagulants:

 

Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Cancer: Practical Considerations for the Management of Patients with Nausea or Vomiting

Hanno Riess et al.

 

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offer several advantages over traditional anticoagulants, including ease of administration and the lack of need for routine monitoring. However, the management of patients with an indication for anticoagulation and concomitant cancer, who are at high risk of thromboembolic events, presents several challenges for administering oral therapies, particularly with regard to the risk of nausea and vomiting. In the absence of robust data from randomized trials and specific guidelines, consensus recommendations were developed for healthcare professionals regarding the use of DOACs in patients with cancer, with a focus on the management of patients who are at risk of nausea and vomiting.