Fourteen-year experience of a tertiary hospital transfusion committee in West Africa.

Background: Hospital transfusion committees (HTCs) have been established in the United States to link producers and users as well as to ensure appropriate use of blood. The HTC has been little reported in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), although it has been established in some hospitals.

Study Design And Methods: The minutes of three to four HTC meetings per year in a tertiary hospital hosting its own blood service have been reviewed to examine the HTC role over a period of 14 years.

Can family or replacement blood donors become regular volunteer donors?

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) confirmed viral marker prevalence between family donors (FDs) and first-time volunteer nonremunerated donors (VNRDs) is similar. In a blood service collecting 10 units/1000 inhabitants, a questionnaire examined FD donation conditions and willingness of becoming repeat VNRDs.

Study Design And Methods: Four areas were explored: circumstances of visit to hospital, external pressure, experience of donating, and potential repeat donation.

Relative safety of first-time volunteer and replacement donors in West Africa.

Background: A significantly higher level of safety between nonremunerated volunteer and replacement donor blood is assumed. This is supported by global data without stratifying between genuine replacement and paid donors, for first-time or repeat volunteer, or according to age.

Study Design And Methods: In 2008, first-time volunteer and replacement donors were identified, and confirmed human immunodeficiency virus antibody (anti-HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV)-positive screening results were collated.