January 28
FDA Enforcement Report: Jan. 25, 2012

January 25, 2012 Approval Letter -TISSEEL (FDA/CBER)

Public Workshop Presentations- Data and Data Needs to Advance Risk Assessment for Emerging Infectious Diseases Relevant to Blood and Blood Products (FDA/CBER)

December 28
Early View Article: Wang D, et al. Transfusion of older stored blood and risk of death: a meta-analysis. Transfusion. Article first published online: 21 Dec 2011.

December 4
Public Workshop Transcript: Quarantine Release Errors in Blood Establishments (FDA/CBER)

November 30
Public Workshop Transcripts - Hemoglobin Standards and Maintaining Adequate Iron Stores in Blood Donors (FDA/CBER)

November 29
Draft Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests on Pooled and Individual Samples from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components, including Source Plasma, to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (FDA/CBER)

November 27
Direct Recall Classification Program (Blood and Plasma) (FDA/CBER)

Interactive Guide to Laboratory Software and Instrumentation: Blood bank information systems, October 2011 (CAP Today)

January 16
TraQ December Newsletter (Transfusion Quality Management Program Canada) and latest BLOG Stand by me (Musings on bullying by health professionals) in On Traq. 

September 9
Blood service will continue to refuse donations from gay men in spite of a change in policy announced in Britain yesterday (Irish Times)

Press Release: Lifetime blood donation ban lifted for men who have had sex with men for England, Scotland and Wales (UK Dept. of Health)

August 31
Taiwan investigates organ transplants from HIV-positive donor (CNN)

July 28
HIQA says vCJD blood filter not justified (Irish Health) Also see the HIQA report: A health technology assessment of prion filtration of red cell concentrates to reduce the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease transmission in Ireland

SCABBinar:
The Challenge of Managing Jehovah’s Witness Patients, Jan. 31, 2012.

CBBS Regional Seminar, presented by the Quality, Safety & Compliance Committee, Feb. 4, 2012. Oakland & Downey.

CBBS Regional Seminar, presented by the Apheresis/Nursing Committee, Feb. 24, 2012. Mather & Pomona.

2012 CBBS Annual Meeting April 3-6, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco.

The CBBS Website is supported in part by American Red Cross.

In this new publication, A Compendium of Transfusion Practice Guidelines, American Red Cross Medical Directors offer an updated compilation of peer-reviewed literature covering the utilization of red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitated-AHF, as well as the role of transfusion committees and the side effects and hazards of blood transfusion.

NEW: The shift to predominantly male plasma has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of reported TRALI fatalities. As many as six deaths a year might have been prevented by limiting transfusion of WBC antibody–containing plasma components.. Read the full article.

Additional Resources: Visit this link for more information and available resources.

September 9
Original Research: Herwaldt BL, et al. Transfusion-Associated Babesiosis in the United States: A Description of Cases. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Sep 5. [Epub ahead of print].

March 17
Article: Gallardo-Godoy A, et al. 2-Aminothiazoles as Therapeutic Leads for Prion Diseases. J. Med. Chem., 2011, 54(4):1010-21.

February 15
Full Text Article: Edgeworth JA, et al. Detection of prion infection in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a blood-based assay. The Lancet, 5 Feb. 2011. 377(976): 487-93. Also see: Comment: Gregori, L. A prototype assay to detect vCJD-infected blood,The Lancet, 5 Feb. 2011. 377(976): 444-6 (Free Registration Required). Also see: Blood test for vCJD 'could identify carriers' (BBC News)

January 20
Outbreak Notice Update: Dengue, Tropical and Subtropical Regions (CDC Travelers' Health, Jan. 18, 2011)

Registration is now open for the 2012 CBBS Regional Seminars! The seminar presented by the Quality, Safety & Compliance Committee, will be held on Feb. 4, 2012 in Oakland & Downey. The seminar presented by the Apheresis/Nursing Committee will be held Feb. 24, 2012 in Mather & Pomona. Click HERE for full details!

Click HERE to access the login page for handouts from all current year's seminars, as made available by each speaker. Handouts are available for registered attendees, and will be archived in the CBBS members area approximately one year following each seminar. The user ID and password assigned to you will automatically log you into the handout area for which you registered.

Register NOW for the 2012 CBBS Annual Meeting to be held April 3-6, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. Educational sessions will fill your days, while the selection of fabulous and diverse San Francisco restaurants and entertainment will fill your evenings!

CBBS Today is now available as an online publication. Click HERE to access.

Join or renew your CBBS Membership for 2012! Click HERE for more information and online processing.

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The CBBS website now has two new areas for news and updates on our CBBS colleagues. See these areas as listed below:

• Member News Items
• Members We Miss (In Memoriam- updated Jan 15)