Blood Banking Market to witness excellent Long-Term Growth Outlook →

 

HTF MI published a new industry research that focuses on Blood Banking market and delivers in-depth market analysis and future prospects of Global Blood Banking market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people get ready-to-access and self-analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. The study is segmented by Application/ end users [Hospitals & Blood Center], products type [by Blood Components & by Equipments] and various important geographies like United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia]. 

The research covers the current market size of the Global Blood Banking market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers. The in-depth information by segments of Blood Banking market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the Global Blood Banking Market. 

The study provides company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of key manufacturers of Global Blood Banking Market, some of them listed here are Abbott Laboratories (USA), American Red Cross (USA), Americas Blood Centers (USA), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (USA), Becton, Dickinson and Company (USA), Bio Products Laboratory Ltd. (UK), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (USA), bioMrieux SA (France), Biotest AG (Germany), Canadian Blood Services (Canada), Cerus Corporation (USA), China Biologic Products, Inc. (China), CSL Behring LLC (USA), Fenwal Inc. (USA), Fresenius Kabi AG (Germany), Grifols S.A. (Spain), Haemonetics Corporation (USA), Huanlan Biological Engineering Inc. (China), Immucor Inc. (USA), Japan Red Cross Society (Japan), Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. (Japan), Kedrion S.p.A. (Italy), MacoPharma SA (France), New York Blood Center (USA), Octapharma AG (Switzerland), Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. (USA), Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd. (China), Shire plc (Ireland), Sichuan Yuanda Shuyang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (China) & Terumo BCT Inc. (USA). The market is growing at a very rapid pace and with rise in technological innovation, competition and M&A activities in the industry many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new manufacturer entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology. 

Global Blood Banking (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as by Blood Components & by Equipments. Further the research study is segmented by Application such as Hospitals & Blood Center with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate. 
Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Blood Banking in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2017 to 2022. 

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There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Blood Banking market. 

Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Blood Banking, Applications of Blood Banking, Market Segment by Regions; 
Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure; 
Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Blood Banking, Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis; 
Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment); 
Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia, Blood Banking Segment Market Analysis (by Type); 
Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Blood Banking Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis of Blood Banking; 
Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [by Blood Components & by Equipments], Market Trend by Application [Hospitals & Blood Center]; 
Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis; 
Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global Blood Banking; 
Chapter 12,13, 14 and 15, to describe Blood Banking sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source. 

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What this Research Study Offers: 

Global Blood Banking Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments
Market share analysis of the top industry players
Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
Market forecasts for a minimum of 5 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets
Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) 
Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

About Author: 
HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the “Accurate Forecast” in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their “Goals & Objectives”.

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ASBP’s Low Titer Type O Whole Blood Helps Save Lives On The Battlefield

The Armed Services Blood Program is working with the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment to bring low titer type O whole blood farther forward and closer to the point of injury. According to Army Lt. Col. Ethan Miles, 75th Ranger Regiment surgeon, it’s a blood product that could save more lives on the battlefield. 

“Historically, we have done very well treating preventable death at the point of injury. This program aims to treat hemorrhagic shock which is the leading cause of potentially survivable death on the battlefield,” Miles said. “By enabling our medics to have a practical way to administer whole blood at the point of injury, we seek to extend the period of survivability for non-compressible hemorrhage enabling successful transport to definitive surgical care.” 

The low titer type O whole blood program is different than a normal type O donation. Donors for this program are group O donors prescreened for IgM antibodies to group A and group B blood. If the levels come back at less than 1:256, the donor is considered “O low titer.” Donors are also prescreened for infectious disease. Once they are cleared, their blood is considered universal and safe to be transfused to anyone regardless of the injured patient’s blood type. 

“By pre-identifying these individuals, we greatly increase the speed and safety for performing blood transfusions far forward in the combat environment,” Miles said. “Once cleared, they serve as a walking blood bank on target, thus enabling us to draw blood from within the assault force.” 

In addition to the prescreening process, low titer type O whole blood is also not separated into three components as a regular blood donation would be. 

“The program is a way to provide a more efficacious blood product far forward on the battlefield,” said Army Lt. Col. Jason Corley, deputy director of the Army Blood Program. “So we don’t have to bring forward three different bags for three different components — red blood cells, plasma and platelets. We can give a patient at the point of injury what they need all in one bag.” 

“Given the logistical constraints with providing frozen plasma and platelet components, whole blood can be stored in a standard refrigerator and used at all roles of care. A whole blood unit is often the only source of platelets for forward surgical teams or in pre-hospital settings,” said Army Col. Audra Taylor, director of the Army Blood Program.

The Army Blood Program prescreened the first Ranger Regiment donors in May 2015. Several months later, elements of the Ranger Regiment deployed and were able to use prescreened low titer O donors to support combat operations. 

While deployed, Dr. Miles coordinated with the theater blood program to utilize low titer O whole blood collected and manufactured in the United States, and shipped around the world using military airlift. Shipping in this whole blood product helped to greatly expand the available inventory to deployed Rangers.

The program has been growing ever since. In just 18 months, the program went from concept to implementation. The Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Pacific Northwest at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, sent the first shipment of low titer type O whole blood to Afghanistan in March 2016. 

“Since then, we’ve provided over 1,000 units to CENTCOM,” Taylor said. “We are also expanding the program to make it a tri-service endeavor. With more donor centers collecting and producing this product, we are able to make sure that our service members downrange have the products they need when they need it the most.” 

The Keesler Air Force Base Blood Donor Center and two additional Army Blood Donor Centers recently started manufacturing and shipping low titer O whole blood. The Navy Blood Program will be making the product within another month.

According to Corley, the Navy and Air Force blood programs are also working with their special operations communities to develop donor prescreening procedures. The goal is to develop processes which are very similar across the services so that all donors will be prescreened to the same standard. 

“This is a great product that will certainly help save lives of our service members,” said Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, director of the Armed Services Blood Program. “By expanding this program and making it a true tri-service effort, we are able to increase the amount of low titer type O whole blood we are producing which, of course, equates to more lives saved.” 

In addition to manufacturing more of the blood product in the United States, Miles said the program is already spreading throughout the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Department of Defense. 

“Next up for the O-low titer blood use is the medevac system,” he said. “Recently, the medevac Vampire system guidelines have been updated to include the use of whole blood. We are also seeing increased use and demand by surgical teams. As more medical providers switch over to whole blood, the availability will increase while waste decreases.” 

In March, the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger O Low Titer Whole Blood Program was recognized by the Army Material Command as the winner of the Army’s Greatest Innovation Award. 

“It is a true honor to receive an award like this, although nothing compares to knowing we are providing the best care possible to Rangers every day,” Miles said. “Most importantly it brings highlight to saving lives on the battlefield and furthers the support for whole blood forward. Our nation’s wars are still ongoing and we are putting our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in harm’s way every night. We owe them the best care possible and this is one way we can do that.”

“None of this would be getting done if it hadn’t been for the Rangers initially pushing this idea on whole blood use,” Corley said. “Big credit goes to Dr. Andre Cap and his team for being the research and technical push and support behind all of this. They came up with the ideas and the Army Blood Program just helped to operationalize it.” 

According to Miles, while the award was a great honor the most important aspect of the program is the ability to save lives of injured service members deployed downrange. Fahie credits the researchers, doctors, medics and command leadership for making it possible. 

“This program is also an example of what can happen when a military unit puts emphasis on the importance of combat casualty care,” Miles continued. “The 75th Ranger Regiment has historically placed medical as a top priority and continues to do so today. With this backing and support, we have been given the freedom and ability to pursue excellence in the field and I believe this will pay off for generations to come both inside and outside of the 75th Ranger Regiment.” 

About the Armed Services Blood Program
Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the United States military. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families worldwide. As one of four national blood collection organizations trusted to ensure the nation has a safe, potent blood supply, the ASBP works closely with our civilian counterparts by sharing donors on military installations where there are no military blood collection centers and by sharing blood products in times of need to maximize availability of this national treasure. To find out more about the ASBP or to schedule an appointment to donate, please visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with ASBP staff members, see more photos or get the latest news, follow @militaryblood on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest. Find the drop. Donate.

The Armed Services Blood Program is a proud recipient of the Army Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs award for journalism.

As analyzers evolve, so does transfusion medicine

As analyzers evolve, so does transfusion medicine

By: Fernando Chaves   

September 21, 2017

Today, labs face growing pressure to do more with less and produce the most accurate results for the best patient outcomes. These issues are even more severe in blood banking because it is a specialty with one of the highest overall vacancy rates in the United States.1 In part as a response to these pressures, transfusion medicine is experiencing a breakthrough in blood bank solutions.

Immunohematology is the science of blood compatibility, whose application is to ensure that each patient receiving a blood transfusion is matched correctly to the transfusion that he or she receives. Tests to identify antigens and antibodies in both the blood of the donor and the recipient have historically been performed by manual tube techniques, which are time consuming and prone to human subjective interpretation. Due to this limitation, blood banking has focused primarily on identifying those blood type incompatibilities most relevant to patients, because they can cause immediate and potentially fatal transfusion reactions. That’s why the blood types most commonly known are A, B, AB or O, and Rh, whether positive or negative.

Blood analyzers in transfusion medicine

Traditionally, immunohematology testing was done manually. The cells of the donor and the serum of the recipient are mixed together in a single tube, and the blood banker makes a visual assessment to determine the results. Compatibility is determined primarily by whether the cells are clumping together. This approach presents challenges in that the results are subject to human interpretation and error and testing is labor-intensive.

Analyzers were available for testing in other areas of medicine long before they were developed for transfusion medicine about 20 years ago. The technology offered a way to remove human error from testing and improve lab efficiency. The fundamental advantages of blood analyzers are the decrease in labor required and the increase in the consistency and efficiency of results. They may also use computer algorithms to determine results, providing a standardization of measurement.

More recently, analyzers have helped labs optimize their blood bank capabilities, going beyond types and screens to offer a full range of testing, including serial dilutions for titration studies and selected cell panels. They combine secure monitoring technology and dynamic workflow management to enhance accuracy and efficiency. They also provide responsive safety checks and balances to give blood bankers the ability to monitor and record every step of the automated process. There are several different kinds of analyzers for transfusion medicine. Some are designed to respond to challenges unique to each lab with customization features and the adaptability to accommodate unpredictable workflows while reducing the need for batch testing.

Because automation in transfusion medicine has made labs more efficient, it also has helped ease the effect that a lack of specialized technicians has had on the industry. In the past few years, there has been a trend for laboratorians to be generalized. Blood banking, which is critical to the basic function of any hospital, has suffered a particularly serious need for highly trained personnel.

As a result, analyzers have been widely adopted by blood banks in the U.S.; however, this has not been the case in every country around the world. One challenge to incorporating analyzers is the need for a sufficient volume of testing to justify the investment in the instrument. For labs whose volumes do not justify fully automated solutions, semi-automated systems have been created to manually perform the test and use an analyzer to read results. This saves on labor and provides the desired consistency and accuracy even for mid- to low-volume laboratories.

Anticipated breakthroughs

To date, analyzers in immunohematology have primarily addressed efficiency needs such as throughput, cost, and turnaround time. The time has come for the focus to be on improvements that can clinically impact blood recipients. Beyond the ABO and Rh blood typing systems, there are many other antibodies and antigens which can impact patients. It is easy to forget them simply because we don’t routinely test for them all of the time; it would be economically and logistically prohibitive to do so with currently available technology.

Therefore, the next challenge for technology in immunohematology is the offering of clinical improvements for patients, through improved blood matching for as many antigen-antibody combinations as possible.

Such comprehensive immunohematology testing is more critical for some patients than others. There are hundreds of weaker antigens that can cause the development of antibodies that a person may have in their blood. They might not cause a reaction in a patient with a first transfusion; however, that patient’s immune system could build a resistance against any particular antigen. With subsequent transfusions, if the donated blood contains the same antigen, the patient’s reaction could become strong and more serious. Over time, the immune system builds up so much resistance to certain antigens that it becomes very difficult to find blood that will not cause a reaction.

The development of new technologies is underway that will make it possible to test for at least dozens of those weaker antigens and antibodies and provide patients with more compatible blood. This may help avoid the sensitization of patients who need multiple transfusions and promote better outcomes. Furthermore, the technology also will be able to accomplish all this testing in the same amount of time it takes to do less testing today. As technologies advance, labs become more efficient and better able to handle the shortage of specialized staff.

Automation has made immunohematology testing more manageable and reliable. Now, leaders in the industry are driven to continue advancing the technology to provide healthier, safe outcomes for all transfusion patients.

 

 

REFERENCE

  1. Garcia, E, Ali AM, Soles RM, Lewis DG. The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2014 Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2015;144(3);432-443.

Current U.S. Blood Supply Now Adequate to Handle Demands Resulting from Hurricane Harvey

Current U.S. Blood Supply Now Adequate to Handle Demands Resulting from Hurricane Harvey

Blood Centers Continue to Encourage Donations to Ensure that Blood Will Be Available When Needed

ethesda, Md. – The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism has determined that the current blood supply in the United States is now adequate to meet the needs of patients in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Thanks to the support and donations of blood donors nationwide in the aftermath of the disaster, blood supply needs are being met in Southeast Texas and other impacted areas.

“Blood centers across the country rallied to provide blood to Houston in the days following the storm when donor centers there were closed and blood drives couldn't be held,” said Dennis Todd, chair of the Task Force. “However, as always, we encourage eligible individuals to give blood and platelets regularly so that the U.S. blood supply remains sufficient.”

The Task Force applauds those who wish to help and encourages all eligible individuals to schedule regular blood and platelet donation appointments so that blood is available whenever and wherever it is needed. 

Those interested in donating blood may contact the following organizations to find a local blood drive or donation center and to schedule an appointment:

AABB: www.aabb.org; +1.301.907.6977

America’s Blood Centers: www.americasblood.org; +1.202.393.5725

American Red Cross: www.redcrossblood.org; +1.800.RED CROSS (+1.800.733.2767)

Armed Services Blood Program: www.militaryblood.dod.mil; +1.703.681.8024

The Task Force was formed in January 2002 to help make certain that blood collection efforts resulting from domestic disasters and acts of terrorism are managed properly and to deliver clear and consistent messages to the public regarding the status of America’s blood supply. The Task Force is composed of representatives from U.S. blood services, associations and commercial entities, as well as liaisons from governmental agencies, who work together in an effort to ensure that safe and adequate blood product inventories are in place at all times in preparation for disasters. In addition, the task force operates as a mechanism to assess the need for collections and/or transportation of blood should a disaster occur. 

AABB serves as the designated coordinating entity for the Task Force. In addition to AABB, members include AdvaMed, America's Blood Centers, American Association of Tissue Banks, American Hospital Association, American Red Cross, Blood Centers of America, College of American Pathologists, National Marrow Donor Program and the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association. Liaisons from the following government agencies also participate in task force discussions: Armed Services Blood Program and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.


About AABB

AABB is an international, not-for-profit association representing individuals and institutions involved in the fields of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. The association is committed to improving health through the development and delivery of standards, accreditation and educational programs that focus on optimizing patient and donor care and safety. AABB membership includes physicians, nurses, scientists, researchers, administrators, medical technologists and other health care providers. AABB members are located in more than 80 countries and AABB accredits institutions in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit www.aabb.org.

Platelets In The 21st Century

The Annual Meeting is now less than three weeks away.  A highlight of the program will be the panel discussion "Platelets in the 21st Century" with Richard Pinkowitz, MD Vice President, Immunetics, Inc., Laurence Corash M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Cerus and Paul Mintz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Verax Biomedical.  We anticipate a robust and insightful interchange that should help provide timely information to attendees regarding changes in platelet component production and testing that will directly impact both blood centers and hospitals.

Questions and Answers About Pathogen-Reduced Apheresis Platelet Components

Prepared by the AABB Pathogen Inactivation Technology Review Work Group
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies that can be employed as an additional safety measure to help maintain a safe blood supply. The FDA has approved the INTERCEPT Blood System (Cerus Corp, Concord, CA) for pathogen reduction of 1) apheresis platelets stored in plasma and platelet additive solution (PAS) and 2) plasma. The FDA has also approved an additional pathogen-reduced plasma product, Octaplas (Octapharma, Vienna, Austria) that uses a solvent/detergent method. This document focuses solely on pathogen-reduced platelets treated using the INTERCEPT Blood System method.

Read the full article here

Board of Directors & Officers 2016-2017

Pascal George, President
Vicki Wille, 1st Vice President
Janet Busse, Secretary

Grace Tenorio, Immediate Past President
Joanne Basket, 2nd Vice President
Susan Kusic, Treasurer

 
Board Members
•    Jerrold Grossman, PhD
•    Greg Francis
•    John Johann
•    David Moolten, MD
•    Pat Kennedy
•    Rob Purvis
•    Brian Sauers
•    Charles Wilson
•    Pilar Brahim
•    Manimala Roy
•    Joanne Toscano-Kluczek, MT (ASCP), SBB
•    Kip Kuttner, DO

Past Presidents & Honorary Members
•    Susan Kusic, MPA, MT (ASCP) BB
•    Gwendolyn Jones, BS, (ASCP) SBB
•    Joy Thomsen, BS, MT (ASCP) SBB
•    Pilar Brahim, MS, MT (ASCP) SBB
•    Rao Andavolu, MD
•    Arpad Szallasi, MD
•    Dae Un Kim, MD
•    Charles Grossenbacher
•    Gerald Kaplan
•    Mercy Kuriyan
•    Tina Llao
•    Sally M. Wells
•    Jeff Miripol
•    Rose Campbell
•    Colleen Hinrichsen
 

Blog Post: Annual Meeting Update

October 12-15, 2013

As a blood bank supervisor, I always appreciate the opportunity that I have to attend the Annual AABB meetings. This year’s meeting was held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver Colorado and was full of great learning programs; peer to peer learning groups, and CTTEXPO visits and networking opportunities. Since the recent transfusion medicine focus (for me and my colleagues)has been in providing the right blood product to the right patient at the right time, I chose to spend approximately one third of my educational time attending patient blood management sessions and the rest of my time in Colorado attending scientific,technical/clinical, and quality/education programs as well as visiting the vendors in the CTTEXPO.

Membership by Year

Our membership has exploded!

Before the learning sessions began, the annual meeting opened with Aron Ralston, “fearless adventurer” and subject of the film“127 Hours”. I was hesitant about going to the session because I was uncertain how being trapped in Utah for 6 days had anything to do with the blood bank industry. Since I am an optimist, I decided to attend the session and found myself intrigued by his story and very moved by it.  He spoke in detail about his journey while being trapped for 127 hours which included the onerous task of cutting off his arm. There were both mental and physical preparations in order for him to accomplish this, but in the end when he finally figured out how to go about doing so, it saved his life. As he spoke, it became apparent that he was an optimistic person who regained his strength (after failing multiple times) by thinking about the people in his life who were very important to him (family & friends) and the experiences that he still had to live for. Later on that same day while I was reflecting on the contents of Aron’s presentation, I realized that in any career or personal journey it’s the failures that mold us and make us stronger and it’s the individuals in our lives (family, friends, coworkers) that help us to recover from those failures and come out stronger in the end.

The first learning session that I attended after Aron Ralston’s eye opening presentation was a technical program entitled: “CSI –Who DAT?”. The program was presented by 3 BB specialists (SBBs) using case studies that compared warm autoimmune hemolyticanemia due to delayed transfusion reactions to drug induced hemolytic anemias (which can sometimes mimic a delayed transfusion reaction). The presenters spoke knowledgeably about the cases and reminded the audience that serologic testing is not always clear cut and in order to provide additional data and provide blood for future transfusions, genotyping is often necessary.

A short time later that same day, I attended a patient blood management class entitled:  “How We set up a Preoperative Anemia Management Program”. It was presented by Aryeh Shander, MD, Thomas Vetter, MD, MPH, and Andy Patterson, RN, MSHA. The  three presenters were excellent speakers and shared their own experiences from both an Anesthesiologists’ point of view and from an RN/Hospital Administrator’s point of view. The two MD presenters highlighted studies and shared data that supports the fact that post-operative outcomes are better in the non-transfused population (both cardiac and Orthopedic). They also discussed that patients who are followed and treated pre-operatively for their anemia require less transfusion and their post-operative infection rates and mortality rates are much lower as compared to their transfused counterparts. The third presenter started out his career as an RN and is now a Hospital Administrator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).  He spoke about his experiences as a transfusing RN and then discussed the importance of hospital administration’s “buy-in” for the support of a pre-operative anemia management program. While highlighting the successes of the UAB program he shared the acronym “PACT”(Preoperative Assessment Consultation and Treatment Clinic) which is used at UAB to describe their program. He also indicated that it takes a network of individuals for pre-operative anemia management to work as designed and that ongoing educational initiatives for the physicians and transfusionists is necessary for safe patient transfusing practices.

New to the AABB annual meeting this year were Peer to Peer learning and round table discussions. The sessions were informal and were held in the CTTXPO hall. They were facilitated by AABB staff/assessors. The topics included Management/Staffing Issues,Navigating Your Career Path, Adapting to Industry Changes and Staying Informed. I attended the Management/Staffing Issues round table discussion with 3 other individuals and we discussed staffing shortages, competencies, and the effects of the aging population of technologists on the future of laboratory medicine. Overall I felt that it was an hour of worthwhile discussion/conversation that was also an opportunity for networking with other individuals who experience similar issues in the blood bank industry.

Another learning session that I found interesting was a program entitled: “A Bridge to Somewhere: Making Connections Between Your Transfusion Service and the Rest of the Hospital”. The presenters were Karen Dallas, MD from Saskatchewan, Canada

and Justin Kreuter, MD from the Mayo Clinic. The focus of this session was on identifying key stakeholders outside the laboratory(Nursing, IT, Risk Management, Emergency Dept., Operating room) that the blood bank staff could interact with and influence for the purpose of aligning goals, behaviors and processes. Dr. Dallas spoke about the eight steps towards leading change. Those steps include establishing a sense of urgency, forming a powerful & guiding coalition, creating a vision and communicating that vision,empowering others to act & believe in the vision, planning for and celebrating short term wins, consolidating improvements and producing more change, and finally institutionalizing new approaches. Dr. Kreuter discussed the importance of medical education and the utilization of electronic options for ongoing education within the medical community.

As in past meetings, I attended the CTTEXPO on two occasions during the weekend in order to visit with vendors and network with other blood bankers. There appeared to be fewer vendors set up this year but the interest in the vendors was still apparent as was in past meetings.

In my three and a half days in Denver, I attended the opening session, 8 educational sessions, the CTTEXPO, and one peer to peer round table discussion. Overall my take away from the Annual AABB meeting was returning to New Jersey prepared to tackle additional Blood Management initiatives as well as to improve my department’s communication and interactions with those outside the laboratory in the hopes of having a positive impact on patient safety.

I’m already looking forward to attending the 2014 AABB meeting in Philadelphia.