Macronutrient content of pasteurised donor human milk: Variability between batches from single-donor pools at an Australian milk bank.

Aim: This study aimed to characterise the between-batch variability of pasteurised donor human milk (PDHM) produced from single-donor pools at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood's milk bank and identify key donor characteristics that predict macronutrient content.

Methods: Macronutrient content from 200 batches of PDHM was measured using a mid-infrared human milk analyser (Miris, Uppsala, Sweden). Linear mixed models were used to study the impact of stage of lactation and gestational age on macronutrient content.

Donor and recipient safety in human milk banking.

Aim: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood supplies pasteurised donor human milk (PDHM) to more than 30 partner hospitals across Australia. Preterm infants who receive PDHM are a highly vulnerable population but formal biovigilance programs are rare in human milk banking. Lifeblood Milk performs ongoing surveillance for both donor and recipient adverse events.

What are Optimal Bacteriological Screening Test Cut-Offs for Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Intended for Feeding Preterm Infants?

Background: Definitive criteria for microbial screening of pasteurized donor human milk are not well established and international recommendations vary.

Aims: (1) To review pasteurized donor human milk batch discard due to failed microbial screening criteria at our milk bank (following United Kingdom National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines), and (2) to compare our known milk discard proportion with estimated milk discard proportions that would be required by other international milk bank guidelines.

Methods: We reviewed our microbial screening results ( = 783) over 18-months (July 2018-December 2019) and compared our known milk discard proportion with estimated milk discard proportions using other international milk bank guidelines.

Development and evaluation of formal guidelines for donor selection for human milk banks.

Aim: Donor selection for milk banks is essential to ensure the safety and nutritional quality of the donor milk, and to ensure that the prospective donor and her breastfeeding infant do not come to harm through donating. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Milk went through a robust process to develop a set of criteria for the selection and screening of potential breast milk donors, which included development of a Donor Questionnaire (DQ), supported by a formal set of Guidelines for the Selection of Milk Donors. Key screening questions from the DQ were made available to prospective donors to self-screen prior to the formal assessment process.