Sampling methods to the statistical control of the production of blood components.

The control of blood components specifications is a requirement generalized in Europe by the European Commission Directives and in the US by the AABB standards. The use of a statistical process control methodology is recommended in the related literature, including the EDQM guideline. The control reliability is dependent of the sampling.

[The response of intensive care medicine in situations of multiple victims and catastrophe].

There is a change in attitude regarding critical patients in situations of multiple victims and disasters in order to give the better treatment to the largest number of patients. Recent large-scale accidents, including terrorist attacks and biological warfare as the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002/2003 and pandemic influenza have demonstrated the need for an adequate response from Intensive Care Medicine in those contexts. It is essential, according to risk analysis, organizing and planning the response of the Intensive Care Units in accordance with its strategy to increase the capacity of beds in intensive care.