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Winter now has us firmly in its grip, with the consequent increase
in colds and flu amongst the blood donor population.
The resultant shortage of healthy donors inevitably reduces the
blood stocks, but to date, we have not had stock levels below one
full days requirements. However, winter always provides a timely
reminder on the need to regard blood as a limited resource, and
that the use of any blood products should always be critically analysed,
and blood should be given with specific clinical indications in
mind. In this issue we focus on the clinical indications for Red
Cell Products.
New Website
As part of our ongoing customer satisfaction and feedback program
the need for a medically focussed website was identified. The new
site aims to provide information and advice to the medical professional
on blood and blood related products manufactured and distributed
by the WPBTS. The site offers an online order facility for the purchase
of fractionated blood products namely: Albumin, Stabilised Human
Serum and Factor VIII. www.WPBTSmedical.org.za/orderonline.asp
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XXIXth
International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion.
It
is with great pride that we invite you all to Cape Town to the XXIXth
International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion.
To be held in Cape Town at the CTICC from 2 - 7 September 2006.
Read
Further
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Automated
Blood Grouping
Ortho Autovue Blood Grouping System brings automation to the
WPBTS Blood Banks.
The WPBTS after a period of testing and evaluation have purchased
the Ortho Autovue system. This new system will see for the first
time in the WPBTS the automation of the blood grouping process.
Read
Further
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"TAKE
TWO FROM ONE"
In August 2006 WPBTS were the first transfusion service in Africa
to start using the Alyx Component Collection System. This is an
automated system which collects two units of leucocyte reduced red
cells from a single donor at one donation.
Read
Further
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Product
Profile : Red Cell Products
Whole Blood
Whole blood is considered to be a complex tissue from which the
numerous and clinically appropriate components are processed. In
most transfusion services whole blood is scarce, and is reserved
for those few clinical situations where it can be best utilised.
Many of the components, particularly clotting factors and platelets,
deteriorate within hours of donation.
Read
Further
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The
Cost of Blood
"Why do you charge for Blood , when you get it for free?"
This question is asked of blood services around the world. So why
then does blood cost what it does. Blood collection and processing
is a labour intensive process that requires the skills and expertise
of a number of highly dedicated professional and support staff.
The costs are borne from amongst others the following elements :
- Recruitment of and communication with approximately 60 000 donors
a year
- Collection of the donated blood approximately 125 000 units
a year
- Rigorous and costly screening regime to ensure that the donated
blood is safe
- Processing of the donated blood into a number of different components
for the treatment of a wide variety of indications
- Distribution and storage of the processed and tested units at
Blood Banks across the Western Cape
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NEW
WEBSITE
As part of our ongoing customer satisfaction and feedback program
the need for a medically focussed website was identified.
read more >
Automated
Blood Grouping
Ortho
Autovue Blood Grouping System brings automation to the WPBTS Blood
Banks.
read
more >
"TAKE TWO FROM ONE"
In August 2006 WPBTS were the first transfusion service in Africa
to start using the Alyx Component Collection System.
read more >
Product Profile : Red Cell Products
Whole
blood is considered to be a complex tissue from which the numerous
and clinically appropriate components are processed.
read more >
The Cost of Blood
"Why do you charge for Blood , when you get it for free?"
This question is asked of blood services around the world.
read
more >
Invitation
to the International Congress of the International Society of Blood
Transfusion
click
here >
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