Blood Management System in Japan / 대한수혈학회지

ABSTRACT

Information on the blood safety management system in Japan was collected by visiting the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japanese Red Cross Blood Service Headquarter, Kanto-Koshinetsu Block Blood Center, and Yurakucho Blood Room of Tokyo Metropolitan Blood Center, in July 2014, to improve the quality of the blood management system in Korea. In Japan, all blood products are supplied by the Japanese Red Cross Blood Service. In April 2012, the function of screening tests and blood product production of the provincial blood centers was transferred to the block blood centers. Donor suitability is assessed by medical doctors and EKG was tested for donors over 40 years old annually. To prevent bacterial contamination, the shelf life of platelets was shortened to 4 days after production, but routine bacterial screening test was not performed. Adverse reactions and infection following transfusions are reported to MHLW through the Red Cross Blood Service, and the case was reviewed by Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Before transfusion, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, and HCVcAg of the recipient is tested, and testing for HIV antigen is performed if the recipient has risk factors for HIV infection. Even when hepatitis B NAT is positive, look back is not performed if anti-HBc is negative and there is no history of blood donation within 125 days before the current donation. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for blood centers was introduced in the 1990s and PMDA performs the test every 5 years. In introduction of GMP in Korea, it is necessary to decide how to absorb the expense.