Insights into the diversity of blood donation practice across Asia: How blood collection agencies adapt donor criteria and processes to their population.

Background And Objectives: Securing an adequate blood supply relies on accurate knowledge of blood donors and donation practices. As published evidence on Asian populations is sparse, this study aims to gather up-to-date information on blood donors and donation practices in Asia to assist planning and strategy development.

Materials And Methods: Ten blood collection agencies (BCAs) provided 12 months' data on donors who met eligibility criteria or were deferred, as well as details of their donation practices.

The contribution and potential of older blood donors in Asia Pacific regions.

Objectives: To investigate the blood supply contribution of older donors in five Asia Pacific regions.

Background: Older people are often the largest blood user group. Thus, as the population ages blood supply needs increase.

Frequency of rare, serious donor reactions: International perspective.

Background: Severe blood donor adverse events are rare, but due to their rarity studying them can be difficult. To get an accurate estimate of their frequency and rate in the donor population it may be necessary to combine donation data across countries.

Study Design And Methods: International blood collection organizations (BCOs) provided data on rare/severe donor reactions as well as denominator information for their donor populations from 2015 to 2017.

Variations in hemoglobin measurement and eligibility criteria across blood donation services are associated with differing low-hemoglobin deferral rates: a BEST Collaborative study.

Background: Determination of blood donor hemoglobin (Hb) levels is a pre-requisite to ensure donor safety and blood product quality. We aimed to identify Hb measurement practices across blood donation services and to what extent differences associate with low-Hb deferral rates.

Methods: An online survey was performed among Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative members, extended with published data.

The Crossmatch/Issue Ratio: Use of a Novel Quality Indicator and Results of an International Survey on RBC Crossmatching and Issuing Practices.

Objectives: To understand the worldwide scope of RBC crossmatching and issuing practices and measure efficiency using a novel quality indicator, the crossmatch/issue (C/I) ratio.

Methods: An electronic survey was disseminated to hospital transfusion services collecting details about RBC crossmatching and issuing practices. Respondents were asked to enumerate the number of RBCs crossmatched and issued at their institutions during the 2014 calendar year to calculate the C/I ratio.