ABSTRACT
The Oklahoma Thrombotic ThrombocytopenicPurpura-Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (TTP-HUS) Registry has enrolled all 335 consecutive patients from central, western and southeastern Oklahoma who had their first episode of clinically diagnosed TTP or HUS from 1989 through 2005; follow-up is complete for 333 patients. Identifying all patients is possible since plasma exchange is the essential treatment for all adults and some children with these disorders and since the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) is the sole provider of plasma exchange services for this region. Patients in the Oklahoma TTP-HUS Registry have come from 46 counties and have been treated in 16 hospitals; 227 physicians have provided the principal care for these patients. A support group formed in 1996 has met 3 times each year, averaging 17 former patients plus 16 additional family members and friends. Registry data are an important source of information for physicians and their patients, providing a complete community perspective of these uncommon disorders.
Subject(s)
Community Health Services , Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/epidemiology , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/epidemiology , Registries , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/therapy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oklahoma/epidemiology , Program Evaluation , Prospective Studies , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/therapy , Self-Help GroupsABSTRACT
Automated red blood cell (RBC) collection is a newer but well-established form of donor apheresis. The technologies comprising and supporting apheresis have undergone significant advancements through the past 50 years, and we anticipate further improvements in devices and systems for automated RBC collection. Multiple factors must be considered in implementing automated RBC collections, but these procedures provide a way to draw additional RBC products that meet cGMP, regulatory, blood collector economic and donor objectives while maintaining or improving RBC availability. The continuing need for RBCs, accompanied by shrinking donor availability, would indicate that automated RBC collections will grow.
Subject(s)
Automation/standards , Blood Component Removal/trends , Erythrocyte Transfusion/trends , Blood Preservation/methods , Blood Preservation/trends , Erythrocyte Transfusion/standards , Humans , SafetyABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review is designed to help readers understand seasonal blood shortages and provide solutions through the use of technology that can increase the number of red blood cell units collected and the use of recruitment and marketing initiatives that appeal to the increasingly diverse donor base. RECENT FINDINGS: Seasonal shortages are, in reality, mostly shortages of group O red blood cells and occur most commonly during midsummer and early winter. The shortages occur primarily from increased use of group O red blood cells at times of decreased donor availability. While reducing the disproportionate use of red cells will help, blood centers can more quickly reduce the seasonal deficits by using automated red cell technology to collect double red blood cell units; targeted marketing programs to provide effective messages; seasonal advertising campaigns; and recognition, benefits, and incentives to enhance the donor motivation donation threshold. A multi-level approach to increasing blood donations at difficult times of the year can ensure that donations are increased at a time when regular donor availability is decreased. SUMMARY: Seasonal blood shortages can be eliminated by understanding the nature of the shortages, why and when they occur, and using more sophisticated recruitment and marketing strategies as well as automated collection technologies to enhance the blood supply.
Subject(s)
Blood Banking/methods , Blood Donors/supply & distribution , Erythrocytes , Humans , SeasonsSubject(s)
Boidae/microbiology , Platelet Transfusion/adverse effects , Salmonella Infections/transmission , Salmonella enterica/isolation & purification , Animals , Fatal Outcome , Female , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/complications , Humans , Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/complications , Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/therapy , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Salmonella Infections/microbiology , Salmonella enterica/classification , Serotyping , Thrombocytopenia/etiology , Thrombocytopenia/therapySubject(s)
Anemia, Hypochromic/prevention & control , Blood Donors , Iron/blood , Membrane Proteins , Adult , Anemia, Hypochromic/etiology , Colorectal Neoplasms/complications , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Drug Administration Schedule , Fasting/blood , Female , HLA Antigens/genetics , Hematocrit , Hemochromatosis/epidemiology , Hemochromatosis/genetics , Hemochromatosis/prevention & control , Hemochromatosis Protein , Hemoglobins/analysis , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/genetics , Humans , Iron/metabolism , Iron Carbonyl Compounds , Iron Deficiencies , Macrophages/metabolism , Male , Mass Screening , Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary/diagnosis , Organometallic Compounds/adverse effects , Organometallic Compounds/therapeutic use , Pregnancy , Premenopause/blood , Prevalence , Sex Characteristics , Transferrin/analysisABSTRACT
Blood donor screening and blood collection are two of the donor-focused activities inherent in the process of maintaining an adequate blood supply. Donor screening represents procedures to provide safety for both donors as well as recipients. Donor medical history questions are so cumbersome that self-administered manual, computer-assisted, or on-line donor questions are under consideration in order to reduce time involved in the screening process. Blood collection procedures remain primarily based on whole blood donations, but apheresis donations are increasing steadily. The yield of multiple transfusible units per donation, as well as quality and reproducibility per product, support the use of apheresis procedures or other automated whole blood techniques to help offset blood shortages.
