ISBT 2006 CAPE TOWN

The 29th International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion was held in Cape Town at the CTICC between the 2nd and 7th September 2006. This was the first time the congress has been held on the African continent and was a huge success, unparalleled in attendance of both delegates and trade participants. The number of abstracts received – 850 - was also an all time record.

The aims of the congress were met in that the scientific programme was successful in catering for the developing countries as well as providing stimulation for advanced societies. To this end 101 specialist speakers were invited to present state of the art lectures. This includes presentations including donor recruitment and the psychology of marketing/promotions, testing for pathogens, production of components, product use and transfusion therapy.

The plenary and parallel sessions used 5 lecture venues simultaneously with oral presentations following each invited speaker.

Lunch time symposia were sponsored by leading commercial companies to promote new technology and concepts. Work parties and associated society meetings and forums also took place during the week .

72 companies exhibited in the trade section where 750 posters were presented throughout the week in addition to the oral papers.

2700 professional registered full time with some 200 day time registrants. These people represented 93 countries from around the world.