[Hemovigilance: a joint responsibility of hospitals and blood banks]

Abstract

The objective of haemovigilance, a set of surveillance procedures covering the complete transfusion chain, is to collect and assess information concerning unexpected and undesirable effects arising from the therapeutic use of labile blood products, and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. A number of guidelines and directives from national and European health authorities require hospitals to institute a haemovigilance system. Preliminary data from one blood bank region in the Netherlands reveals the various types of transfusion reactions reported. The current haemovigilance systems still have some limitations. A considerable amount of time and effort will be needed for the benefits of haemovigilance to become apparent.