AABB PulsePoints

The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), on October 1, 2003, issued Association Bulletin #03-12, "Further Guidance on Methods to Detect Bacterial Contamination of Platelet Components." This Association Bulletin provides assistance to members to facilitate implementation of Standard 5.1.5.1 of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, 22nd edition. The suggestions contained in this Association Bulletin do not create new accreditation requirements, nor are they intended to represent the only technical approaches or investigatory algorithms that may be applied.

The Association Bulletin is divided into three sections. The first (Appendix I) provides background information on the risk to recipient safety posed by bacterial contamination of platelets and the underpinnings of the approaches that have been considered to limit and detect this contamination. The second (Appendix II) provides some practical guidance on the implementation of some of these techniques. The third section (Appendix III) includes figures and tables referenced in Appendices I and II.

A copy of Association Bulletin #03-12 is posted in the "Content/Members_Area/Association_Bulletins" section of the AABB Web site:

http://www.aabb.org/Content/Members_Area/Association_Bulletins/ab03-12.htm

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