May 8
REACTIVATED DISCUSSION: Quality assurance and monitoring of leuko-reduction

May 7
REACTIVATED DISCUSSION: Antibody titer studies in pregnant women at risk for bearing an infant with hemolytic disease of the newborn

REACTIVATED DISCUSSION: Should volunteer whole blood donors be allowed to donate more often than every 8 weeks during critical blood shortages?

April 20
Puzzling Hemolysis in Donor Sample Tubes ADDENDA Apr. 22 & 24, May 7

Should Blood Establishment Computer Software be regulated any differently than the manufacturing software used by drug and medical device companies? ADDENDA Apr. 26

April 17
Use of educational materials that include information on the possible effects of blood donation on athletic performance

April 9
REACTIVATED DISCUSSIONS: Should consent for transfusion be required for plasma derivatives? and Informed Consent for Transfusion of Blood Components and/or Plasma Derivatives

April 5
REACTIVATED DISCUSSION: Reconstituting blood for exchange transfusion in neonates ADDENDA April 15

March 27
Routine use of newer (fresher) RBC products ADDENDA Mar. 28, 30 & 31; April 4, 15 & 22, May 2

REACTIVATED DISCUSSION:When considering Rh immunoprophylaxis for an Rh negative woman, if a test for D on her newborn baby is negative, what methods are used to rule out the possibility that the newborn has a "Weak D" phenotype?

January 25
Use of biometrics in blood banking to identify donors and transfusion recipients ADDENDA Mar. 4 & April 7

The CBBS Website is supported in part by American Red Cross

May 8
FDA Enforcement Report: May 7, 2008 (FDA/DHHS)

May 2
Federal Register Notice: Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability on May 29-30, 2008. Of particular note: The Committee will be asked to discuss and make recommendations on reports of adverse outcomes associated with transfusion of older red cells. Also see e-Network Forum discussion

Viscosity Enhancers Curb Bleeding Complications (US News & World Report)

April 26
FDA News: FDA Clears Glove Made from New Type of Latex

April 25
Draft Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of West Nile Virus from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion and Donors of Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps) (FDA/CBER)

April 24
AABB Association Bulletin #08-03: West Nile Virus – Revised Recommendations for Triggering Individual Donation Nucleic Acid Testing and Use of Communication Plans (AABB membership required to access)

April 22
Recall: Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) Hyper RHO S/D, Mini-Dose (FDA/CBER)

Medical Device Notification (PSN-08-03): Sunquest Laboratory Blood Bank and Blood Donor Modules (FDA/CBER)

Outbreak Notice: Reinstatement of Malaria Recommendations for Great Exuma, Bahamas (CDC)

Red Cross Immunohematology Reference Laboratory Conference: April 11-13, 2008 in Scottsdale, AZ. Focus on current serologic, clinical and management issues affecting serologists. Get full conference details.
Practice Guidelines for Blood Transfusion: American Red Cross physicians offer the 2nd edition of this compilation from peer-reviewed literature. Download the Practice Guidelines.
Featured Research: Despite universal bacterial testing of apheresis platelets, a Red Cross study finds that bacterial contamination remains a significant residual risk in transfusion, especially for older platelets collected without a sample first diversion strategy. Read the full article.
Additional Resources: Visit www.redcross.org/hospitals for more information and available resources.