AABB Association News
Free audioconference to highlight benefits of participation in AABB's patient safety organization
AABB SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
A free audioconference on Wednesday will describe AABB's patient safety organization, the Patient and Donor Safety Center, and how it works with hospital members to help them better recognize, report and analyze adverse reactions and incidents occurring in the transfusion process. Learn more. Register for the event, or contact AABB's Patient and Donor Safety Center at +1.301.215.6588 or by e-mail for more information.
Reminder: Candidates announced for open positions on 2012-13 AABB Board of Directors
AABB SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
The slate of candidates has been announced for the open officer and at-large directors positions on the 2012-13 AABB Board of Directors. According to AABB bylaws, members can submit nominations -- due Aug. 9 -- through the petition process. Any nominee successfully submitted by petition will be included on the ballot. All candidate biographies will be available online and will appear in an upcoming issue of AABB News. Voting begins Aug. 23. View the slate of candidates or learn more about the petition process.
Reminder: AABB publishes new patient blood management resource
AABB SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
"Citations in Patient Blood Management" is now available in AABB's Digital Downloads library. The document contains a list of approximately 1,800 references, compiled from multiple AABB publications on PBM. The references have been categorized by topic for easy searching. The resource can be used alone or as a companion to "Getting Started in Patient Blood Management," which describes the five major concepts of PBM and provides rationale for limiting transfusions. These publications, each available as PDF files, are free to AABB members. Nonmembers can purchase them for a nominal fee. Visit the AABB Marketplace to access "Citations in Patient Blood Management" or "Getting Started in Patient Blood Management."
Reminder: Join AABB's Transfusion Safety Group within CDC's NHSN Hemovigilance Module
AABB SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Transfusion services are encouraged to join AABB's Transfusion Safety Group within the Hemovigilance Module of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network. AABB personnel and additional experts will analyze the group's hemovigilance data with the intent of developing interventions that will improve patient safety -- an essential mission of the U.S. Biovigilance Network. AABB is working with hospitals in the group to benchmark and review event data on a confidential basis with the goal to provide in-depth analyses and recommendations for enhancements to patient safety at those facilities. For more information, contact AABB's Patient and Donor Safety Center at +1.301.215.6574 or by e-mail.
Reminder: Deadline approaching for eligible individuals and organizations to buy tickets for NBF raffle; winner will receive 3-year lease on bloodmobile
AABB SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
Eligible individuals and organizations have until May 31 to purchase tickets for the National Blood Foundation's raffle; the winner will receive a three-year lease for a newly equipped bloodmobile, generously donated to NBF by Terumo BCT. The proceeds of all ticket sales will support the NBF's mission to fund scientific research to benefit patients and donors. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on World Blood Donor Day, June 14. Read the official rules.
May issue of AABB News looks at patient blood management
AABB SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
The latest issue of AABB News examines the growing area of patient blood management, or PBM. One feature article focuses on five elements of a PBM program for facilities to consider implementing: preoperative anemia evaluation, perioperative blood management, intensive care unit and postoperative care, review of blood utilization and physician education. Another feature explores how PBM can be beneficial for different patient populations, such as pediatric, surgery, cardiology and oncology patients. See a preview of the May issue.
Reminder: Summary available of recent AABB FDA Liaison Committee meeting with CBER representatives
AABB SmartBrief | May 18, 2012
AABB's FDA Liaison Committee met recently with representatives from the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to discuss a variety of subjects, including CBER's establishment of communications with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research to review warnings against blood donation in FDA-approved package inserts; plasma components made following a 24-hour hold; potential methods to label products with historical RBC antigen testing results; an update on studies related to blood donor deferral policies relating to men who have sex with men; and point-of-issue bacterial testing. The meeting also featured a discussion of the primary initiatives and priorities of AABB and the FDA. Visit the AABB website to access the summary.
Reminder: CT subsections post their projects, opportunities to join
AABB SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
New resources created by several AABB cellular therapy subsections are now available on the AABB website. The CT Business Management subsection posted a business planning outline that provides information on constructing an effective business plan. The Novel Therapies and CT Product Development subsection's checklist on the "Implementation of Manufacturing and Clinical Trial Logistics" also is available. Enroll in any of the subsections through the AABB website, or visit the frequently asked questions for more information.
Participate in the HPC Triggers Practice Snapshot
AABB SmartBrief | May 16, 2012
AABB's CT Product Collection and Clinical Practices Subsection is encouraging participation in the HPC Triggers Practice Snapshot. This questionnaire captures information on collection activity, collection triggers and mobilization regimens used in hematopoietic progenitor cell collection by apheresis. Data gathered will help elucidate current clinical practice. The survey questions refer to each program's activity during the 2010 or 2011 calendar year, including the laboratory triggers for HPC collection, the number of HPC collections performed, and the standard target number of HPCs required for different indications of autologous stem cell transplantation. Click here to participate.
All chapters of "Immunoglobulin Therapy" now available as digital downloads
AABB SmartBrief | May 15, 2012
All chapters of the AABB Press book "Immunoglobulin Therapy" are now available as digital downloads and can be accessed immediately upon purchase. The PDF files can be read on laptops, iPads, desktops, smartphones and other devices. Beginning with the chapter "Basic Concepts and Practical Considerations of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy," this book contains information about intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG, products and their use in clinical practice. Chapter content includes not only IVIG and anti-D but also hyperimmune immunoglobulins and therapeutic monoclonal immunoglobulins. Visit the AABB Marketplace to purchase this and other AABB Digital Downloads.
Candidates announced for open positions on 2012-13 AABB Board of Directors
AABB SmartBrief | May 11, 2012
The slate of candidates has been announced for the open officer and at-large directors positions on the 2012-13 AABB Board of Directors. According to AABB bylaws, members can submit nominations -- due Aug. 9 -- through the petition process. Any nominee submitted by petition will be included on the ballot. All candidate biographies will be available online and will appear in an upcoming issue of AABB News. Voting begins Aug. 23. View the slate of candidates or learn more about the petition process.
Summary available of recent AABB FDA Liaison Committee meeting with CBER representatives
AABB SmartBrief | May 10, 2012
AABB's FDA Liaison Committee met recently with representatives from FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to discuss a variety of subjects, including CBER's establishment of communications with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research to review warnings against blood donation in FDA-approved package inserts; plasma components made following a 24-hour hold; potential methods to label products with historical RBC antigen testing results; an update on studies related to MSM blood donor deferral policies; and point of issue bacterial testing. The meeting also featured a discussion of the primary initiatives and priorities of AABB and FDA. Visit the AABB website to access the summary.
Reminder: AABB/SABM to hold webinar on ICU patient blood management case studies
AABB SmartBrief | May 08, 2012
Intensive care unit patient blood management case studies will be the focus of a joint AABB/SABM webinar to be held Thursday. The webinar will feature a review of the findings of randomized controlled trials addressing outcomes of patients receiving a restrictive versus a liberal transfusion approach. The presentation also will highlight research still in progress aimed at determining the biological mechanisms through which transfusions increase morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Sign up here.
AABB to host audioconference Wednesday on drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia
AABB SmartBrief | May 07, 2012
On Wednesday, AABB will host an audioconference to review the pathophysiology of drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia, or DIIHA, as well as laboratory investigations of this condition and case histories. The presentation will highlight the different mechanisms of DIIHA, identify drugs commonly associated with immune hemolysis, list laboratory tests useful for making the diagnosis of DIIHA, and assess the serologic findings associated with DIIHA. Sign up here.
AABB Digital Downloads library updated to include additional chapters from pathogen inactivation book
AABB SmartBrief | May 04, 2012
AABB has made chapters 10 through 17 of the book, "Pathogen Inactivation: The Penultimate Paradigm Shift," available in its Digital Downloads library. Topics include the U.K.'s use of methylene-blue-treated plasma from the U.S., France's use of Cerus Corporation's Intercept platelets and plasma, and the status of pathogen inactivation in the U.S and Europe. Chapters 1 through 9 were previously posted. The chapters are accessible as PDF files, which can be read easily on laptops, iPads, desktops, smartphones and other devices. Visit the AABB Marketplace to purchase this and other AABB Digital Downloads.
CT subsections post their projects, opportunities to join
AABB SmartBrief | May 02, 2012
New resources created by several AABB cellular therapy subsections are now available on the AABB website. The CT Business Management subsection posted a business planning outline that provides information on constructing an effective business plan. The Novel Therapies and CT Product Development subsection's checklist on the "Implementation of Manufacturing and Clinical Trial Logistics" also is available. Enroll in any of the subsections through the AABB website, or visit the frequently asked questions for more information.
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