Our study showed the positive, sustained, impact of implementing a TP SOP. Twelve months after introducing the SOP our Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine Services' plasma wastage and discard were dramatically reduced, saving thousands of dollars. Initiating a TP SOP just makes sense; it is easy to implement, conserves plasma, and saves cents.

No abstract

This article provides a concise overview of therapeutic apheresis medicine instrumentation. Three instrument modalities are discussed: (1) centrifugation-based instruments, (2) extracorporeal photopheresis instruments (a subset of centrifugation-based instruments), and (3) column-based instruments.

Therapeutic Apheresis Medicine Services work closely with Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine Services (BBTMS). The BBTMS performs patient testing and provides blood components for patients undergoing therapeutic apheresis procedures. This article will provide an overview of blood component descriptions, patient testing, and blood component options and preparations for therapeutic apheresis procedures.

BACKGROUNDBlood collection centers are charged with creating donor educational materials (DnEM) that are easily understood across all prospective donor populations, while addressing mandates and recommendations from regulatory agencies and professional standard setting organizations. Donors must have sufficient information to understand the donation process with its risks and benefits, time to consider options before deciding, and opportunity to choose whether to proceed with or decline donating. The goal of this multisite randomized controlled trial was to evaluate knowledge acquired using standardized DnEM. America's Blood Centers' Working Group (WG) for Donor Education and Communication was formed to evaluate and suggest modifications of these documents. Based on pilot work, a randomized clinical trial was designed to test donor knowledge across a variety of populations. The WG identified several shortcomings in the current DnEM and proposed new DnEM. The new DnEM were tested against the same, current DnEM being used at all three sites (Blood Donor Educational Material, 2016 version 2.0, published in conjunction with the AABB uniform donor history questionnaire).METHODS AND MATERIALSOne‐hundred sixty‐five first time and returning donors were randomized in a 2x2 model to review either new DnEM or current DnEM. Every participant completed a pre‐ and post‐quiz that tested their understanding of the DnEM.RESULTSReturning donors had greater baseline knowledge compared to new donors, but new donors improved more versus returning donors. Donors using the new DnEM showed greater improvement in knowledge than those using current DnEM.CONCLUSIONComprehension of DnEM can be improved. With this sample size the results suggest that the findings are independent of demographic characteristics, but a larger study would be necessary to confirm this.