ABSTRACT
In the framework of a European Community (EC)-supported project, a survey of practices and attitudes towards quality assurance, inspection and accreditation in Blood Collection Establishments (BCEs) in the EC member states was carried out. Analysis of 352 responses to a structured questionnaire revealed a preference for national standards over international, and an introspective and reactive view to quality management. Four broad categories of operational performance in relation to safety were formed: initial, repeatable, managed and optimising, with the majority of responses (209) being characterized as initial. Although a direct relationship between the size of the BCE and the range and level of quality management practices is apparent in the data, further analysis shows that small BCEs have much higher ratio of personnel per blood unit collected/processed than large BCEs and thus seem to have an inherent potential for improvement. Overall, a clear preference for inspection and accreditation by professional peers at the national level was indicated.
Subject(s)
Accreditation/standards , Blood Banks/standards , Quality Assurance, Health Care/methods , Accreditation/methods , Blood Banks/organization & administration , Data Collection , Europe , Humans , Management Audit/organization & administration , Management Audit/standards , Public Health Practice/standards , SafetyABSTRACT
Efforts to promote the quality and safety of blood collection are underway in most European Union (EU) member states but the level of quality management continues to differ significantly not only between countries but also among Blood Collection Establishments (BCE's) within a country. The European Commission has asked for blood safety and self-sufficiency in the Community and has initiated action in this direction. What is sought is harmonization of practices in the transfusion chain but such cannot be accomplished solely through recommendations and directives given the sociocultural and economic differences among EU member states. Active support for the development of common standards and a common quality system as well as an inspection and accreditation system would certainly help. The goal of self-sufficiency should certainly be emphasized but may be difficult to achieve, given the unpredictability of factors that may affect demand and supply. Through bipartisan initiatives however, between the USA and EU, consensus regarding the issue of blood safety, could be reached.
