Transfusion medicine

Canadian Blood Services supports best practices in transfusion medicine through the development of educational resources. Written by subject-matter experts from across Canada, our transfusion medicine resources support clinical practice and help health-care professionals stay current in an ever-changing field.

If you are a health-care professional working in transfusion medicine and have a comment or suggestions for new resources, please get in touch.

A smiling woman with dark hair wearing a black shirt.

Aditi Khandelwal
Transfusion Medicine Specialist and Hematologist

The importance of iron for whole blood donors: a Canadian perspective

This updated article examines the effect of blood donation on donor iron levels and the steps taken by Canadian Blood Services to protect the health of its donors. In 2023, Canadian Blood Services started ferritin testing in select frequent donors at the highest risk of iron deficiency.

FAQ: Solvent detergent (S/D) treated plasma (Octaplasma)

As part of Canadian Blood Services’ transition to a pathogen-reduced blood component inventory, the current restrictions to Octaplasma will be lifted and the product available for ordering as of March 27, 2023. An FAQ and additional resources were developed in collaboration with Octapharma to support hospitals in transitioning to pathogen-reduced plasma.

Therapeutic apheresis

Updated in February 2023, Chapter 14 of the Clinical guide to transfusion reviews information on indications, rationale, and techniques for therapeutic apheresis procedures, as well as the care of the apheresis patient.
Announcement
Canadian health-care providers: Share your perspectives on whole blood, leukocytes reduced (LrWB)

An online survey by the National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products is gathering perspectives from Canadian health-care providers on the non-military use of whole blood, leukocytes reduced (LrWB).

Health-care providers who are practicing in Canada are invited to complete the online survey before April 15, 2023, and read our FAQ for more information on LrWB at Canadian Blood Services.