Transfusion medicine

Recent Updates

Published:

Aug 8, 2019

Donor Selection, Donor Testing and Pathogen Reduction

Chapter 6

All blood transfused in Canada is collected from volunteer donors. To ensure the safety of the blood products, donors are carefully screened against an extended list of eligibility criteria. In addition, the donated blood is tested to identify the donor’s blood group and to detect blood group antibodies and transfusion-transmissible pathogens. Donor eligibility criteria and testing also benefit the donors by, for example, reducing potential blood donation-related health risks.

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Published:

Sep 10, 2019

Fractionated Blood Products and Associated Pathogen Safety

Chapter 7

Background

Originally all plasma fractionation products were derived from pooled human plasma. Increasingly, many plasma proteins are manufactured by biotechnology as recombinant proteins, without need for donated plasma; depending on the plasma protein product, either a recombinant or fractionated product, or both are available in Canada.

Modified on:

Oct 17, 2019

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Surveillance report

We are pleased to present the seventh annual report describing transmissible blood-borne infection surveillance. High quality and timely surveillance is central to the safety of the blood supply.

Upcoming Events

U of T Rounds: CBS - New in Components

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When

November 28, 2019 | 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Where

Toronto/Webinar

Details to follow.

Note: The session is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Topic Teaching: What Goes into the Development of a Guideline

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When

December 3, 2019 | 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Where

Toronto/Webinar

Details to follow.

Note: The session is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

61st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition, ASH 2019

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When

December 7, 2019 | 8:00AM to December 10, 2019 | 4:00PM

Where

Orlando, Florida

For information, please click here

Blog

Modified on:

Nov 13, 2019

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AABB 2019 – A knowledge infusion for our trainees!

The AABB Annual Meeting is a must-attend event for those in the fields of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. AABB 2019 took place last month in San Antonio, Texas. Canadian Blood Services trainees Dr. Narges Hadjesfandiari and Dr. Olga Mykhailova were there and report back on meeting highlights.

Modified on:

Nov 6, 2019

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Dr. Donald Branch honoured by AABB for his career achievements

Last month, Dr. Donald Branch, a scientist at Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for Innovation and professor at the University of Toronto, received a prestigious international award honouring his more than 40 years of major contributions to transfusion medicine and hematology.

Modified on:

Oct 30, 2019

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The science behind young blood

Drinking the blood of the young, and thereby somehow capturing their youth, is a common literary trope. The ghoulish notion speaks to our cultural fascination with youth, but also to our dread of aging.

There’s no evidence-based therapy using the blood of young people to counteract or prevent the effects of aging, but young blood is an area where science might be beginning to imitate art — at least, sort of.