Serological Profile of SARS-CoV-2 in Unvaccinated Blood Donors: A Nationwide Study During the Fifth Wave of the Pandemic in Iran

Background: Serological studies can demonstrate pathogen circulation in regional populations and reflect public health mea-sures' effectiveness during different pandemic phases. By late November 2021, coinciding with the third pandemic wave, the sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies among the Iranian population was 32.63%. Objective(s): This study aimed to assess the Iranian population's seroprevalence during the fifth pandemic wave by analyzing donated blood samples. Method(s): This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Iranian blood donors referred to all 31 main provincial capitals between August 2021 and September 2021. The participants selected through quota sampling were asked to complete a questionnaire on socio-demographics and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related information. Also, SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies were measured in serum samples using SARS-CoV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The seroprevalence was weighted based on the gender and age groups of the population and then adjusted for test performance. Result(s): Totally 3,339 blood donors participated in this study. The overall population-weighted seroprevalence adjusted for test performance was 52.67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 50.14-55.21). Seroprevalence was higher among participants with a high school diploma (55.45%, 95% CI 50.61-60.29), a positive history of close contact with COVID-19 patients (65.23%, 95% CI 60.83-69.63), and previous positive COVID-19 PCR tests (86.51%, 95% CI 82.32-90.7). Conclusion(s): More than half of the study population was exposed to SARS-CoV-2, indicating a 1.7-fold increase in the seroprevalence between late November 2020 and mid-September 2021. Our finding illuminated the pattern of Iran's fifth wave of the pandemic.Copyright © 2023, Author(s).

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among blood donors in Uganda: 2019-2022.

BACKGROUND: The true burden of COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries remains poorly characterized, especially in Africa. Even prior to the availability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, countries in Africa had lower numbers of reported COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths than other regions globally. METHODS: Ugandan blood donors were evaluated between October 2019 and April 2022 for IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N), spike (S), and five variants of the S protein using multiplexed electrochemiluminescence immunoassays (MesoScale Diagnostics, Rockville, MD). Seropositivity for N and S was assigned using manufacturer-provided cutoffs and trends in seroprevalence were estimated by quarter. Statistically significant associations between N and S antibody seropositivity and donor characteristics in November-December 2021 were assessed by chi-square tests. RESULTS: A total of 5393 blood unit samples from donors were evaluated. N and S seropositivity increased throughout the pandemic to 82.6% in January-April 2022. Among seropositive individuals, N and S antibody levels increased ≥9-fold over the study period. In November-December 2021, seropositivity to N and S antibody was higher among repeat donors (61.3%) compared with new donors (55.1%; p = .043) and among donors from Kampala (capital city of Uganda) compared with rural regions (p = .007). Seropositivity to S antibody was significantly lower among HIV-seropositive individuals (58.8% vs. 84.9%; p = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Despite previously reported low numbers of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in Uganda, high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and increasing antibody levels among blood donors indicated that the country experienced high levels of infection over the course of the pandemic.

Virus-Specific T Cells From Cryopreserved Blood During an Emergent Virus Outbreak for a Potential Off-the-Shelf Therapy.

During the first outbreak of an emergent virus, methods need to be developed to rapidly establish suitable therapies for patients with high risk of severe disease caused by the pathogen. Considering the importance of the T-cell response in controlling viral infections, adoptive cell therapy with virus-specific T cells has been used as a safe and effective antiviral prophylaxis and treatment for immunocompromised patients. The main objective of this study was to establish an effective and safe method to cryostore whole blood as starting material and to adapt a T-cell activation and expansion protocol to generate an off-the-shelf antiviral therapeutic option. Additionally, we studied how memory T-cell phenotype, clonality based on T-cell receptor, and antigen specificity could condition characteristics of the final expanded T-cell product. Twenty-nine healthy blood donors were selected from a database of convalescent plasma donors with a confirmed history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Blood was processed using a fully automated, clinical-grade, and 2-step closed system. Eight cryopreserved bags were advanced to the second phase of the protocol to obtain purified mononucleated cells. We adapted the T-cell activation and expansion protocol, without specialized antigen-presenting cells or presenting molecular structures, in a G-Rex culture system with IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 cytokine stimulation. The adapted protocol successfully activated and expanded virus-specific T cells to generate a T-cell therapeutic product. We observed no major impact of post-symptom onset time of donation on the initial memory T-cell phenotype or clonotypes resulting in minor differences in the final expanded T-cell product. We showed that antigen competition in the expansion of T-cell clones affected the T-cell clonality based on the T-cell receptor ß repertoire. We demonstrated that good manufacturing practice of blood preprocessing and cryopreserving is a successful procedure to obtain an initial cell source able to activate and expand without a specialized antigen-presenting agent. Our 2-step blood processing allowed recruitment of the cell donors independently of the expansion cell protocol timing, facilitating donor, staff, and facility needs. Moreover, the resulting virus-specific T cells could be also banked for further use, notably maintaining viability and antigen specificity after cryopreservation.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma utilization in the United States: data from the National Inpatient Sample.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) use between October-December 2020 was characterized using the National Inpatient Sample database. CCP was administered in 18.0% of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations, and was strongly associated with older age and increased disease severity. There were disparities in the receipt of CCP by race and ethnicity, geography, and insurance.

Blood donation from gay and bisexual men: contextualizing the approval of the federal supreme court / Donación de sangre de hombres homosexuales y bisexuales: contextualizando la aprobación del supremo tribunal federal / Doação de sangue de homens gays e bissexuais: contextualizando a aprovação do supremo tribunal federal

ABSTRACT Objective: to discuss the process of allowing blood donation by the LGBTQIAP+ community by the Federal Supreme Court in contrast to the Legislation of the Regulatory Agency for Blood and Blood Components. Method: this is a reflective study, considering the principles and concepts of Pierre Bourdieu's symbolic capital as a theoretical-methodological framework. Analysis was carried out in documents that dealt with the permission of blood donation by gay and bisexual men, such as bills, FSC decisions and media materials relevant to the proposed theme. Results: we argue that two historical events were decisive for the vote on the act of unconstitutionality by the Federal Supreme Court: the mobilization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender social movements and the coronavirus pandemic. Conclusion: validation of the right to blood donation contributes to the exercise of citizenship of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

RESUMEN Objetivo: discutir el proceso de autorización de la donación de sangre por parte de la comunidad LGBTQIAP+ por parte del Supremo Tribunal Federal en contraste con la Legislación de la Agencia Reguladora de Sangre y Hemoderivados. Método: estudio reflexivo, considerando los principios y conceptos del capital simbólico de Pierre Bourdieu como marco teórico-metodológico. El análisis se llevó a cabo en los documentos que trataban sobre el permiso de donación de sangre por parte de hombres homosexuales y bisexuales, como proyectos de ley, decisiones del STF y materiales de prensa relevantes para el tema propuesto. Resultados: argumentamos que dos hechos históricos fueron decisivos para la votación del acto de inconstitucionalidad por parte del Supremo Tribunal Federal: la movilización de los movimientos sociales de lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transexuales y la pandemia del coronavirus. Conclusión: la validación del derecho a la donación de sangre contribuye al ejercicio de la ciudadanía de las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgénero.

RESUMO Objetivo: discutir o processo de permissão da doação de sangue pela comunidade LGBTQIAP+ pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal em contraponto à Legislação da Agência Reguladora de Sangue e Hemoderivados. Método: estudo do tipo reflexivo, considerando os princípios e conceitos do capital simbólico de Pierre Bourdieu como referencial teórico-metodológico. A análise foi realizada nos documentos que tratavam da permissão da doação de sangue por homens gays e bissexuais tais como: projetos de lei, decisões do STF e materiais de mídias pertinentes ao tema proposto. Resultados: argumentamos que dois eventos históricos foram decisivos para a votação do ato de inconstitucionalidade pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal: a mobilização dos movimentos sociais de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais e Transgênero e a Pandemia de Coronavírus. Conclusão: a validação do direito à doação de sangue contribui para o exercício da cidadania das pessoas Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais e Transgênero.

Early Outcomes of Adult Heart Transplantation From COVID-19 Infected Donors.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on heart transplantation (HT) using COVID-19 donors. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated COVID-19 donor use, donor and recipient characteristics, and early post-HT outcomes. METHODS: Between May 2020 and June 2022, study investigators identified 27,862 donors in the United Network for Organ Sharing, with 60,699 COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) performed before procurement and with available organ disposition. Donors were considered "COVID-19 donors" if they were NAT positive at any time during terminal hospitalization. These donors were subclassified as "active COVID-19" (aCOV) donors if they were NAT positive within 2 days of organ procurement, or "recently resolved COVID-19" (rrCOV) donors if they were NAT positive initially but became NAT negative before procurement. Donors with NAT-positive status >2 days before procurement were considered aCOV unless there was evidence of a subsequent NAT-negative result ≥48 hours after the last NAT-positive result. HT outcomes were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,445 "COVID-19 donors" (COVID-19 NAT positive) were identified; 1,017 of these were aCOV, and 428 were rrCOV. Overall, 309 HTs used COVID-19 donors, and 239 adult HTs from COVID-19 donors (150 aCOV, 89 rrCOV) met study criteria. Compared with non-COV, COVID-19 donors used for adult HT were younger and mostly male (∼80%). Compared with HTs from non-COV donors, recipients of HTs from aCOV donors had increased mortality at 6 months (Cox HR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.02-2.96; P = 0.043) and 1 year (Cox HR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.22-3.22; P = 0.006). Recipients of HTs from rrCOV and non-COV donors had similar 6-month and 1-year mortality. Results were similar in propensity-matched cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In this early analysis, although HTs from aCOV donors had increased mortality at 6 months and 1 year, HTs from rrCOV donors had survival similar to that seen in recipients of HTs from non-COV donors. Continued evaluation and a more nuanced approach to this donor pool are needed.

Milk donation and pandemic: human milk as a global good

The human milk donation has been an undervalued and very biasedly examined subject until relatively recently, in comparison with other types of human donation (organs, tissues, fluids), not being recognized its dimension of bodily altruistic and philanthropic act in the same way as other (mildly) analogous realities, as well as in its approach from the perspective of feminist and gender studies. On the other hand, although the COVID-19 pandemic and the various lockdown processes have had an onerous impact on human breastfeeding in general, we find data on the global increase in breastfeeding donation as a specific altruistic gesture during the pandemic in Spain and, even, on the decisions in the most complicated moments of the state of alarm about donating one's own milk in the tragedy of perinatal death. These altruistic donations contribute to carrying out the fulfillment of what has already been declared a human right and one of the social investments with the most advantageous cost-benefit index. The recognized, intensified and amplified need for milk banks in a pandemic brings to the fore in a specific way the condition of human milk as capital physiological resource, and, ultimately, as a global good. This article is dedicated to delving into a critical hermeneutics of milk donation in light of the pandemic and as an opportunity to rethink the studies of recent decades in this regard.

Generosity and Gender: Philanthropic Models for Women Donors and the Fund Development Professionals Who Support Them

The social, political, and economic environment is ripe with opportunity to engage women and their philanthropy. Professionals working in the field of philanthropy want ideas, practical information, research, and guidance about how to work with women donors, how to build women's philanthropy initiatives, and how to integrate this subset of donors into their current fund development departments. This book offers insight into the three historical waves of women's philanthropy and provides a summary of current research and inspiring stories collected from interviews with more than 70 women philanthropists and leaders. Each chapter begins with current research, followed by interviews and examples, and ends with suggestions for fundraisers on how to implement the information into a women's philanthropy initiative using a six-step process: Awareness, Assessment, Alignment, Action, Acknowledgement and Achievement. The last several chapters focus on lessons learned from successful programs in traditional organizational settings-healthcare, higher education, and environment-and what we have yet to learn from the new and emerging philanthropic models led by Laurene Powell Jobs, Priscilla Chan, Melinda Gates, Nancy Roob, and MacKenzie Scott. Throughout the book, themes of equity, diversity, and inclusion are evident and featured in stories and programs led by women of color and younger donors. Additionally, COVID has impacted how fundraisers work, requiring the philanthropy community to adapt and create new ways to reach women donors. The final chapter is a call to action to all women, to give bigger and bolder as the fourth wave of women's philanthropy rises. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022, corrected publication 2022.

Psychosocial Programming in Uganda: Adaptations during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic brought concerns about mental health to the fore. While more and more people struggle with the mental health effects of experiencing a global pandemic, people in humanitarian settings may be even more at risk. In humanitarian settings, it may be more challenging to ensure accessible to mental health services and support staff who are implementing essential programmes amidst concerns for their own health. We present a report of programme adaptations during COVID-19, including measures to support staff wellbeing, communicate with donors to support protective measures, and adapt programmes to be safer and more accessible for beneficiaries. Lessons learned from adaptations during COVID-19 can inform additional programming in humanitarian settings, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

A French single-center experience on allogeneic stem cell transplant cryopreservation during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a curative treatment for chemo-resistant hematological malignancies. Because of transport restriction imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, regulatory bodies and societies recommended graft cryopreservation before recipient conditioning. However, the freezing and thawing processes, including washing steps, might impair CD34+ cell recovery and viability, thereby impacting the recipient engraftment. Over 1 year (between March 2020 and May 2021), we aimed to analyze the results of frozen/thawed peripheral blood stem cell allografts in terms of stem cell quality and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Transplant quality was evaluated by comparing total nucleated cells (TNCs), CD34+ cells and colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM)/kg numbers as well as TNC and CD34+ cell viabilities before and after thawing. Intrinsic biological parameters such as granulocyte, platelet and CD34+ cell concentrations were analyzed, as they might be responsible for a quality loss. The impact of the CD34+ cell richness of the graft on TNC and CD34 yields was evaluated by designing three groups of transplants based on their CD34 /kg value at collection: >8 × 10 6/kg, between 6 and 8 × 106/kg and <6 × 106/kg. The consequences of cryopreservation were compared in the fresh and thawed group by evaluating the main transplant outcomes. RESULTS: Over 1 year, 76 recipients were included in the study; 57 patients received a thawed and 19 patients a fresh allo-SCT. None received allo-SCT from a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive donor. The freezing of 57 transplants led to the storage of 309 bags, for a mean storage time (between freezing and thawing) of 14 days. For the fresh transplant group, only 41 bags were stored for potential future donor lymphocyte infusions. Regarding the graft characteristics at collection, median number of cryopreserved TNC and CD34+ cells/kg were greater than those for fresh infusions. After thawing, median yields were 74.0%, 69.0% and 48.0% for TNC, CD34+ cells and CFU-GM, respectively. The median TNC dose/kg obtained after thawing was 5.8 × 108, with a median viability of 76%. The median CD34+ cells/kg was 5 × 106, with a median viability of 87%. In the fresh transplant group, the median TNC/kg was 5.9 × 108/kg, and the median CD34+ cells/kg and CFU-GM/kg were 6 × 106/kg and 276.5 × 104/kg, respectively. Sixty-one percent of the thawed transplants were out of specifications regarding the CD34+ cells/ kg requested cell dose (6 × 106/kg) and 85% of them would have had this dose if their hematopoietic stem cell transplant had been infused fresh. Regarding fresh grafts, 15.8% contained less than 6 × 106 CD34+ cells /kg and came from peripheral blood stem cells that did not reach 6 × 106 CD34+ cells /kg at collection. Regarding the factor that impaired CD34 and TNC yield after thawing, no significant impact of the granulocyte count, the platelet count or the CD34+ cells concentration/µL was observed. However, grafts containing more than 8 × 10 6/kg at collection showed a significantly lower TNC and CD34 yield. CONCLUSIONS: Transplant outcomes (engraftment, graft-versus-host disease, infections, relapse or death) were not significantly different between the two groups.

Trajectory and Demographic Correlates of Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid in Recently Infected Blood Donors, United States.

We evaluated antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 in a large cohort of blood donors in the United States who were recently infected with the virus. Antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 indicate previous infection but are subject to waning, potentially affecting epidemiologic studies. We longitudinally evaluated a cohort of 19,323 blood donors who had evidence of recent infection by using a widely available serologic test to determine the dynamics of such waning. We analyzed overall signal-to-cutoff values for 48,330 donations (average 2.5 donations/person) that had an average observation period of 102 days. The observed peak signal-to-cutoff value varied widely, but the waning rate was consistent across the range, with a half-life of 122 days. Within the cohort, only 0.75% of persons became seronegative. Factors predictive of higher peak values and longer time to seroreversion included increasing age, male sex, higher body mass index, and non-Caucasian race.

Narratives of the convalescent plasma donor in a Peruvian social security hospital.: motivations, fears, expectations and experiences

Objectives: To know and explore from convalescent plasma donators' voices the experience in the blood donation process at a social security hospital. Methods: Qualitative study with a phenomenological design. The investigation was carried out in 01 hospitals of the social security of Peru. Semi-structured interviews were carried out. Results: Eleven donors of convalescent plasma were interviewed. The main motivations for donating were being able to contribute to national research and supporting patients affected by COVID-19. Fears focus on the possible risk of contagion within the hospital. Donors emphasised the attention and support of health personnel alongside the donation procedure. The main expectations and suggestions point towards greater dissemination of donation campaigns with special emphasis on safety. Likewise, an improvement in the time of the donation procedure (from enrolment to the extraction of convalescent plasma), and the implementation of friendly spaces to encourage future blood donation campaigns were highlighted. Conclusions: The experience of the convalescent plasma donors was positive. However, improvements must be made in terms of processes and infrastructure to ensure future successful blood donation campaigns.

The correlation between severe complications and blood group types in COVID-19 patients, with possible role of T polyagglutination in promoting thrombotic tendencies

Introduction: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still posing detrimental effects on people. An association between contracting COVID-19 and the ABO blood group type has been determined. However, factors that determine the severity of COVID-19 are not yet fully understood. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate whether the ABO blood group type has a role in the severity of complications due to COVID-19. Materials and methods: Eighty-Six ICU-admitted COVID-19 patients and 80 matched -healthy controls were recruited in the study from Baish general hospital, Saudi Arabia. ABO blood grouping, complete blood count (CBC), CBC-derived inflammatory markers, coagulation profile, D-Dimer and anti-T antigen were reported. Results: Our data showed that patients with blood groups O and B are more protective against severe complications from COVID-19, as compared to patients with blood groups A and AB. This could be partially attributed to the presence of anti-T in blood group A individuals, compared to non-blood group A. Conclusion: The current study reports an association between the ABO blood group and the susceptibility to severe complications from COVID-19, with a possible role of anti-T in driving the mechanism of the thrombotic tendency, as it was also correlated with an elevation in D-dimer levels.

Formation of Collective Immunity against a New Coronavirus Infection Covid-19 in Blood Donors

Introduction. The new coronavirus infection COVID-19, first detected at the end of 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, caused a worldwide pandemic. High mortality among people with chronic diseases, a high frequency of the severe form of the disease, and an unspecified number of asymptomatic carriers are all causes for heavy burden on the healthcare system, including the blood bank service. Aim - to assess the SARS-CoV-2 antibody formation in blood donors. Materials and methods. The research included test results for 12,314 blood samples of donors who donated blood during 04.29.2020 - 08.04.2021 at the National Medical Research Center for Hematology (Russia). Anti-RBD-SARS IgG were tested by "SARS-CoV-2-IgG-ELISA", manufactured by the National Medical Research Center for Hematology, LLC "HEMA" (Russia). Results. Among 12,314 blood samples from donors, 3,219 (26.14 %) were positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Antibodies detection rate increased from 8.52 to 58.09 % during the observation period. For representative evaluation of donors' anti-SARS antibodies growth profile, the results of detection were analyzed within two-week periods (including holidays). This approach made it possible to avoid counting the same donor twice. In the profile of the growth of collective immunity in donors, two periods were identified: May - November 2020 and November 2020 - April 2021. The period of May - November 2020 proved no significant change in antibodies detection in donors. Detection rate was stable at about 15 % (13.10-16.24 %). The second period, from November 2020 to April 2021, demonstrated sustainable growth of this parameter from 16.20 to 58.09 %. This is likely due to the start of the second wave of COVID-19 in Russia (starting from November 2020) and an active campaign for mass vaccination that started in December 2020. To assess the true rate of increase of specific immunity in donors, the frequency of primary detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in donors in relation to those donors in whom antibodies were detected earlier was analyzed. The contribution of cases of primary detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was wave-like and corresponded to the epidemiological situation. Conclusion. An increase in the frequency of detection of antiviral antibodies in gratuitous blood donors was found during the spread of the second wave of COVID-19 and the n the beginning of mass vaccination. The increase in the overall frequency of antibody detection was due to donors with newly and re-detected antibodies. The surge in the frequency of primary detection of antibodies in blood donors corresponded to the second wave of infection.

Who Deserves European Solidarity? How Recipient Characteristics Shaped Public Support for International Medical and Financial Aid during COVID-19

International solidarity is indispensable for coping with global crises;however, solidarity is frequently constrained by public opinion. Past research has examined who, on the donor side, is willing to support European and international aid. However, we know less about who, on the recipient side, is perceived to deserve solidarity. The article argues that potential donors consider situational circumstances and those relational features that link them to the recipients. Using factorial survey experiments, we analyse public support for international medical and financial aid in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that recipient countries' situational need and control, as well as political community criteria, namely, group membership, adherence to shared values and reciprocity, played a crucial role in explaining public support for aid. Important policy implications result: on the donor side, fault-attribution frames matter;on the recipient side, honouring community norms is key to receiving aid.

Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Prevalence of Antibodies in a Large, Repetitive Cross-Sectional Study of Blood Donors in Germany-Results from the SeBluCo Study 2020-2022.

SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance is important to adapt infection control measures and estimate the degree of underreporting. Blood donor samples can be used as a proxy for the healthy adult population. In a repeated cross-sectional study from April 2020 to April 2021, September 2021, and April/May 2022, 13 blood establishments collected 134,510 anonymised specimens from blood donors in 28 study regions across Germany. These were tested for antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nucleocapsid, including neutralising capacity. Seroprevalence was adjusted for test performance and sampling and weighted for demographic differences between the sample and the general population. Seroprevalence estimates were compared to notified COVID-19 cases. The overall adjusted SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence remained below 2% until December 2020 and increased to 18.1% in April 2021, 89.4% in September 2021, and to 100% in April/May 2022. Neutralising capacity was found in 74% of all positive specimens until April 2021 and in 98% in April/May 2022. Our serosurveillance allowed for repeated estimations of underreporting from the early stage of the pandemic onwards. Underreporting ranged between factors 5.1 and 1.1 in the first two waves of the pandemic and remained well below 2 afterwards, indicating an adequate test strategy and notification system in Germany.

Military Blood Service in Poland.

Introduction: On 24 February 2022, the Russia-Ukraine military conflict unfolded just across the eastern border of the European Union. It made everyone realize how important it is to secure blood supplies to health-care units in the event of an armed conflict. This paper presents the principles of functioning of the Military Blood Donation Service and the Military Center for Blood Donation and Hemotherapy in Poland. Methods: The study used data collected in the "Military Blood Bank" information processing system and data from annual reports (2010-2021) sent to the Minister of Health of the Republic of Poland. The reports concerned, among others: demographic data on donors, reasons of permanent disqualifications, numbers of complete and incomplete donations, etc. Results: Since 2005, the number of donors registered in military blood donation centers ranged between 15 and 35 thousand/year. The most dramatic declines in donors were observed in 2010 and 2020. Successful donations accounted for more than 98% of all donations/year (except 2015), and their number varied between 20 and 32 thousand/year. Among the blood donors, men always predominated and the dominant age group (except for 2010) was 25-44 years. The reasons for permanent disqualification have varied over time: their proportions decreased for viral hepatitis and cardiovascular disease, and increased for respiratory and endocrine/metabolic diseases. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/2021, these proportions have sometimes been reversed. Discussion: The Military Blood Donation Service has been functioning in Poland for several decades. It is specialized in supplying blood and blood products to the Armed Forces. Unfortunately, it was not possible to refer to the functioning of similar institutions in other countries. Therefore, when evaluating the functioning of Polish military blood donation, we had to rely on numerical values (eg, number of donors/year, donor profile, etc.), which prove a very good organization of blood donation centers. However, it should be noted that, as in other countries, a more active promotion of blood donation in the media is advisable in order to encourage as many young people as possible to donate blood.

Virtual peer teaching in the gross anatomy lab: a format of peer teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Peer teaching is a powerful educational tool utilized in medical school curricula. Previously, first year medical students taught their peers about the gross anatomical structures they had dissected in the anatomy lab. While this strategy provided an opportunity for students to learn from one another, there were unintended outcomes including difficulty engaging all students. Considering these observations, along with needing to limit student numbers in the lab due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a strategy was developed where students could conduct their anatomy peer teaching in a virtual environment. The goal was to establish an effective and efficient means for students to teach and learn from one another virtually. Methods: Students, working in groups of four, were tasked to: 1) Find and label 4-5 assigned structures on cadaver-based images; 2) Provide a rationale for labeling; 3) Discuss something relevant about the structure; 4) Prepare a 5-minute video presentation of steps 1-3; and 5) Review and provide meaningful feedback on another group's presentation. Student performance on virtual peer teaching assignments was evaluated using a structured rubric and grades were weighted based on two separate faculty assessments.  Student feedback was obtained via discussions with the course director, a semi-structured 1-hour virtual focus interview and from course evaluation data. Results: While students performed well on these assignments, feedback from students indicated several drawbacks such as excess time editing their videos, concerns about the validity of information provided by their peers, and the timing of peer teaching to be non-conducive to learning. Conclusions: Although the students viewed the virtual peer teaching negatively, we were successful in developing a platform in which students participated more equally in peer teaching. Recommendations to those considering this platform include careful consideration of timing of peer teaching activities and faculty feedback as well as technology used.