Blood Policy/Safety

Blood Policy

Blood safety was thrust in to the spotlight as a consequence of the tragic transfusion transmission of hepatitis C and HIV to thousands of transfusion recipients. Many lessons can be learned from the Canadian blood systems response to this tragedy.

We have completed two detailed policy analyses which provide insights into the reformed Canadian blood system.

Our policy analysis of major decisions related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and the blood supply examines decision-making on issues of risk before and after the blood system underwent structural reform.

Our policy analysis of the implications of a chargeback payment system on the delivery of transfusion services examines strategies to address the challenge of increasing blood system costs and the increased use of blood products.

Blood Policy and CJD Publications

Risk Factors for Red Cell Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. A Systematic Review. Vox Sanguinis

Implications of a third case of transfusion transmission of vCJD infection. Lancet

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and the Canadian Blood Supply after the tainted blood tragedy. Soc Sci Med.

Application of the Precautionary Principle by Senior Policy Officials: Results of a Canadian Survey. Risk Analysis

Factors Affecting Perioperative Transfusion Decisions in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Anesthesiology

A new human genotype prone to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. BMJ

The success of precaution? Managing the risk of transfusion transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Transfusion 
 
The societal cost of allogeneic red blood cells and red blood cell transfusion in Canada. Transfusion

vCJD transfusion transmission. A crisis avoided? Lancet

Understanding the impact of intergovernmental relations on public health: Lessons from reform initiatives in the blood system and health surveillance. Canadian Public Policy

Use of intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of neurological conditions: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Transfusion

Reducing the amount of blood transfused: a systematic review of behavioural interventions to change physicians transfusion practice. Archives of Internal Medicine

Does a perception of increased blood safety mean increased blood transfusion: an assessment of the risk compensation theory in Canada. BMC Public Health

Panel Statement from Consensus Conference on vCJD Screening on Blood donors. Transfusion

The reporting of theoretical health risk by the media: Canadian newspaper reporting of potential blood transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. BMC Public Health  

The cost of allogeneic red blood cells – a systematic review. Transfusion Medicine

How Should Canada Fund the Blood System? An Evaluation of the Chargeback Proposal. Hospital Quarterly

The Challenge of an increasingly expensive blood system. (Commentary) Canadian Medical Association Journal

The application of the precautionary principal to the blood system: The Canadian blood system’s vCJD donor deferral policy. Transfusion Medicine Reviews http://www.tmreviews.com/article/S0887-7963(03)90000-9/abstract

The effectiveness of interventions to reduce physician’s levels of inappropriate transfusion. What can be learned from a systematic review of the literature? Transfusion

A policy analysis of major decisions related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and the blood supply. CMAJ

The risk of acquiring Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from blood transfusions. A systematic review of case-control studies. BMJ

Human Mad Cow disease and the effective use of the precautionary principle. Risk Management in Canadian Health Care

Book Review: AuBuchon JP, Petz L, Fink A. Policy Alternatives in Transfusion Medicine. Transfusion Medicine Reviews

Commentary on “Association between thimerosol-containing vaccine and autism” by Hviid et al. Pps 81-82 in The Yearbook of Pediatrics