[The German interdisciplinary taskforce for clinical hemotherapy IAKH and its national critical incident reporting system specifically for blood transfusion].

The German interdisciplinary task force for clinical hemotherapy (IAKH) is an independent association of clinicians. It aims for the improvement of blood transfusion application processes, procedures and safety in the absence of a German hemovigilance system. Whereas the producers of blood products concentrate on product safety, the IAKH focuses on administrative needs such as forms and regulations associated with the administration of blood products.

Leukodepletion of autologous whole blood has no impact on perioperative infection rate and length of hospital stay.

Background: Several mechanisms have been proposed as possible causes of transfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM) after allogeneic transfusion. If one of these mechanisms, the release of mediators of immunity and inflammation ("biologic response modifiers"[BRMs]) from disintegrating blood cells during storage of blood products, really causes TRIM, it should in principle also occur after autologous transfusion. As a consequence, prestorage leukoreduction of autologous blood should be able to prevent the clinical consequences of TRIM after autologous transfusion.

In-line filtration of autologous whole blood.

Background: Experimental data suggest that autologous white blood cells (WBCs) might exert an immunomodulatory effect. Leukodepletion of autologous blood is considered to prevent this unwanted side effect of autologous transfusion. In some cases, however, prolonged filtration or filtration failures occur.