Whole Blood Donation Affects the Interpretation of Hemoglobin A1c.

Introduction: Several factors, including changed dynamics of erythrocyte formation and degradation, can influence the degree of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) formation thereby affecting its use in monitoring diabetes. This study determines the influence of whole blood donation on HbA1c in both non-diabetic blood donors and blood donors with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In this observational study, 23 non-diabetic blood donors and 21 blood donors with type 2 diabetes donated 475 mL whole blood and were followed prospectively for nine weeks.

A Q Fever Outbreak in the Netherlands: Consequences for Tissue Banking.

BACKGROUND: Emerging infectious diseases can compromise the safety of tissues for transplantations. A recent outbreak of Q fever, a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, in the Netherlands compelled the Dutch tissue banks to assess the risk of Q fever transmission through tissue transplantation in order to maintain optimal safety. MATHODS: This article describes the systematic approach that was followed in the Netherlands.

Physical examination of potential tissue donors: results of a risk management procedure to identify the critical elements of the physical examination.

To identify critical elements of physical examination (PE) of potential tissue donors that could help to improve the safety of tissue transplantation. Physical signs were identified that can indicate the presence of a contraindication mentioned in EU Directive 2006/17/EC and that can theoretically be detected at PE. A risk assessment was designed, according to the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis model.

Risk factors for rejection for morphological reasons of heart valves for transplantation.

The study aim was to identify risk factors for morphological rejection of aortic and pulmonary valves for transplantation that could be used to optimize donor selection. The files of all Dutch heart valve donors, donating in a 2.5 years period, whose hearts were processed at Heart Valve Bank Rotterdam, were reviewed for all factors that could be relevant for valve rejection and related to outcome of morphological assessment of the valves.

The value of autopsy and other histological examinations for the safety of tissue transplantation.

Directive 2006/17/EC requires that all available medical information, including autopsy reports, is evaluated before releasing tissues for transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether evaluation of results of autopsy and other histological examinations contributes to the safety of tissue transplantation. From the files of all deceased Dutch donors, from whom tissues were retrieved in a 6-month period, results of autopsy and other histological examinations (remnant heart after valve donation and biopsies obtained during retrieval) were evaluated for contraindications for transplantation.

Factors involved in the occurrence of bleeding complications after enucleation for cornea donation.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for the occurrence of bleeding complications after enucleation for cornea donation, in order to develop preventive activities to reduce the occurrence of bleeding complications and especially the development of ocular hematomas.

Methods: From all Dutch cornea donors deceased in the year 2006, donor characteristics, retrieval characteristics, and bleeding complication data were collected. First, univariate relations between donor and retrieval factors and bleeding complications were determined.

Allocation of corneas in europe.

Background: To safeguard a fair distribution of available corneas, (inter)national and regional allocation principles have to be developed and implemented.

Methods: To obtain information about allocation principles over the world, a literature search was done. Allocation in Europe was investigated by international data of Bio Implant Services Foundation (BIS) over the period 2002-2007.

EATB Donor Case Workshop 2007.

The European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) Donor Case Workshop is a forum held within the programme of the EATB annual Congress since 2003. This workshop has been used to discuss clinical donor cases with peer review of practice. It was agreed in advance that the experience of the 2007 workshop should be shared by publication as an example of participative learning which can be extended to other fields within tissue banking and which may be applicable in other disciplines.

Evaluation of the autopsy report before releasing musculoskeletal tissue donors; what is the benefit? EATB International Conference, October 17-20, Budapest, Hungary.

EU directive 2006/17/EC requires that all available medical information, including the autopsy report, is evaluated before releasing tissues for transplantation. The study objective was to investigate whether evaluation of autopsy results of musculoskeletal tissue donors contributes to safety and availability of transplantable tissues. The files of all donors of whom musculoskeletal tissues were retrieved by BIS in 2006 were reviewed for death cause and autopsy results.