Blood transfusion service in Poland in 2018

Abstract

Background: Assessment of the basic aspects of the activity of the Polish Regional Blood Transfusion Centers (hereinafter referred to as Centers) in 2018. Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of the 2018-data supplied by the Centers. Results: In 2018, blood and blood components were collected in 21 Centers and 132 local collection sites as well as during 13 189 mobile collections. The overall number of blood donors was estimated at 590 470; the majority were non-remunerated donors (589 897-including 37 824 responders to donation appeals), 73 remunerated donors and 500 autologous donors. Most frequent were whole blood collections (1 184 311), least frequent-granulocyte concentrate collections (116) and red blood cell (RBC) collection by apheresis (31 donations). Whole blood was collected mostly in local collection sites (44.85%), less frequently in Centers (28.47%) and at mobile collection sites (26.67%). Most frequently prepared blood components were RBC-1 161 600 units) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP-1 298 216 units; 20.93% dedicated for clinical use). Platelet concentrates (PCs) collected by apheresis amounted to 50 255 units and 83 598 were whole blood-derived. Additional processing methods such as leukocyte depletion and irradiation were more frequently applied to PCs (32.56% leukocyte depleted, 1.37% irradiated, 58.07% both leukocyte depleted and irradiated) than to RBCs (17.29% leukocyte depleted, 0.31% irradiated, 8.94% both leukocyte depleted and irradiated). Pathogen reduction technologies were applied to 11.74% of PCs and 10.23% units of FFP issued for transfusion. In 2018-for various reasons-14 067 units of whole blood, 30 521 units of RBC, 49 979 units of FFP, 1376 units of cryoprecipitate, 5186 units of pooled PCs and 1625 of apheresis PCs were wasted. Conclusions: The study data may contribute to evaluation of the tendencies observed in Centers and may serve practical-benchmarking which in turn may prove beneficial to the transfusion community as a whole.

What weighs more—low compliance with self‐deferral or minor medical procedures? Explaining the high rate of hepatitis C virus window‐period donations in Poland

“…Polish blood donors are voluntary and nonremunerated. There are more than 150 blood donation collection sites (21 regional blood centers with over 130 local collection sites), which carry out 1.2 million blood donations annually and provide blood supply to more than 600 hospitals . All blood donation collection sites in Poland use uniform guidelines for the assessment of blood donor eligibility .…”

“…There are more than 150 blood donation collection sites (21 regional blood centers with over 130 local collection sites), which carry out 1.2 million blood donations annually and provide blood supply to more than 600 hospitals. 16,17 All blood donation collection sites in Poland use uniform guidelines for the assessment of blood donor eligibility. 18 The donor deferral policy in place is expected to effectively reduce the number of infections detected through self-deferral of prospective donors if they are aware of having been exposed to any risk of blood-borne pathogens, such as HCV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis, after reviewing the donor educational brochures.…”

Current status and achievements of Polish transfusion medicine

“…Currently, about 40% of PCs issued for clinical purposes are obtained with cell separators as is approximately 12% of plasma units for clinical use. The use of apheresis technique is however limited with regard to red blood cell concentrates (RBCCs) due to high cost of the procedure and special donor requirements [20,21].…”

Plasma pooling in combination with amotosalen/UVA pathogen inactivation to increase standardisation and safety of therapeutic plasma units

“…Currently, the residual risk of donations in the diagnostic window period in Poland is higher for HIV than for HBV and HCV (Piotr Grabarczyk, unpublished data). To address concerns regarding the transmission of blood borne viruses, the requirement to conduct either quarantine of SDP until second negative test of the donor (qSDP) or pathogen inactivation‐treatment (PI‐SDP) was introduced in Poland already in 2008 4 . Currently the riboflavin/UVB light pathogen reduction system (Mirasol™), the methylene blue/visible light (Theraflex™ MB) and amotosalen/UVA light (INTERCEPT™ Blood System) pathogen inactivation systems are used in Polish blood centres.…”

“…Currently the riboflavin/UVB light pathogen reduction system (Mirasol™), the methylene blue/visible light (Theraflex™ MB) and amotosalen/UVA light (INTERCEPT™ Blood System) pathogen inactivation systems are used in Polish blood centres. 10.23% of plasma units in Poland were pathogen‐reduced in 2018 4 . Additionally, SD‐plasma (solvent‐detergent, Octaplas™) is available through pharmacies.…”