Update - August 1999

Nucleic Acid Technology (NAT) Testing Update

There is new and exciting news in the area of NAT testing and its possible effects on the safety of the blood supply. Blood Systems Laboratory (BSL) has already detected two (2) HCV NAT reactive samples among 175,000 donors, none of whom were BCP donors. These samples were HCV antibody negative (so called window period reactives). A potential (6) HCV transfusion related transmissions were prevented. In addition, the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin in Milwaukee, that is using the same testing methodology as BSL, recently reported an HIV NAT reactive sample that was neither HIV antigen positive or HIV antibody reactive; the donor subsequently sero-converted and again transfusion transmission was avoided. This is exciting news indeed. To further demonstrate the potential value of this testing, an HIV positive window period transmission recently occurred in Virginia only days before the implementation of NAT testing.

NAT testing is not required by the FDA and BCP did not test inventory in April 1999 at the time of test implementation. However, beginning August 1, 1999 all blood products collected and distributed by Blood Centers of the Pacific will be NAT tested. The only exception will be autologous donations, rare antigen negative frozen red blood cells and in emergencies where NAT tested product may not be available.

U.S. Blood Donations Decline

Blood center officials are concerned about a likely blood shortage this summer and at the end of the year holiday season due to a decline in U.S. blood donations reported by the National Blood Data Resource Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Researchers predict that unless trends are reversed, the usable blood supply in the year 2000 will drop by 600,000 units. At Blood Centers of the Pacific we are concerned that these nation-wide shortages will have a direct impact on our local supply. We will continue to keep you updated.

Technical Advisory Committee Meetings

The next TAC meetings are scheduled as follows:

Location: Fairfield
Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999
Time: 2:00 pm

Location: San Francisco
Date: Wednesday, September 15, 1999
Time: 8:30 am

Y2K Compliance

Blood Centers of the Pacific understands the concerns that have arisen due to the transition into the Year 2000. We have successfully identified all equipment which may be affected and are reviewing their date processor capabilities. Systems that are Y2K compliant include: the mainframe operating system; the main software, Safetrace; and the network servers. The personal computer compliance is running full steam ahead, with 75 percent of systems being identified as either compliant or in need of upgrades. Our compliance program for personal computer applications is well underway; facilities personnel are busy identifying all compliance conformities and issues.

We have targeted October 31, 1999 as our completion date and feel that we will meet this goal. We will do our best to keep you informed via periodic updates. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Ginny Kosor, Technical Operations, at (415) 567-6400 ext. 641.

Leukoreduction Seminar

Blood centers and transfusion services in Western Europe, Canada and here in the United States are rapidly making the transition to universal leukoreduction of cellular blood products. UCSF/Stanford Healthcare and Blood Centers of the Pacific are co-sponsoring a Transfusion Safety Seminar on Universal Leukoreduction on Monday, September 13, 1999 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at UCSF. Topics to be covered in the seminar include: rationale and indications for universal leukoreduction, pre-storage leukoreduction vs. bedside filtration, prevention of CMV transmission, cost effectiveness of universal leukoreduction and a panel discussion. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

AABB's ISO 9000/Document Mapping Workshops

The American Association of Blood Banks, in cooperation with the California Blood Bank Society, will conduct two different workshops from September 15 to September 17, 1999 at the Irwin Center of Blood Centers of the Pacific. You may attend the one day workshop on the ISO 9000 Quality System Standard or the two day workshop on Information Mapping, or combine the two workshops and attend all three days.

These workshops are designed for blood bank and transfusion service personnel engaged in the development, implementation, and maintenance of user documentation and should be of particular interest to those working in the areas of quality assurance, regulatory affairs and training.

For more information, please contact the AABB at (301) 215-6482.

BCP Web Site

The official Blood Centers of the Pacific web site is soon to be up and running! The new web site address is at www.bloodcenters.org, will be a comprehensive look at BCP, including a history of the organization, information about donating blood, patient care, blood drives, and much more. There's also information about where one can donate blood, how to coordinate a blood drive and links to other related sites, including hospitals.