[Guidelines for safer and more appropriate use of blood transfusion systems in Japan]

Abstract

The Blood Transfusion Law has been newly established in Japan since 2003. Under the new law, physicians and co-medical staff have to work hard to establish safer blood transfusion systems and more appropriate transfusion of blood components for the patients in their hospitals. Guide lines for transfusion of blood components made by the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor in Japan are useful tools to accomplish the aims shown above. When they would transfuse blood components appropriately to the patients according to the guidelines, more fresh frozen plasma could be available for the raw materials to produce albumin components and immunoglobulin components those are now partially imported from the foreign countries. Eventually, blood components consumed in Japan for transfusion will be supplied by 100% inland donors blood.