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. 2011;38(4):239-241.
doi: 10.1159/000330466. Epub 2011 Jul 15.

Bacterial Pre-Release Testing of Platelets - the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Clinical Experience

Marija Borosak  1 , Erica Wood
Affiliations

Bacterial Pre-Release Testing of Platelets - the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Clinical Experience

Marija Borosak et al. Transfus Med Hemother. 2011.

Abstract
in English, German

SUMMARY: The risk of bacterial transmission by platelet transfusion has been recognised internationally as the leading residual infections transfusion risk in the last decade. We describe the clinical and logistical aspects of bacterial contamination screening of platelets introduced in Australia in early 2008. Sampling occurs at 24 h, and platelets are released to hospitals 'negative to date'. Bacterial screening detection of initial machine-positive (IMP) and all follow-up results are notified to transfusing laboratories. Results of screening between 2008 and 2010 found a significant rate of IMP samples (1.06%) with a true-positive/indeterminate rate of 0.18%. Components were already transfused in 32.5% of cases at time of initial notification. Confirmed cases of septic transfusion reactions have declined significantly since the introduction of pre-release platelet screening, reflecting an important additional improvement in transfusion safety in Australia.

Zusammenfassung: Das Risiko einer bakteriellen Übertragung mittels Thrombozytentransfusion ist international in der zurückliegenden Dekade als das schwerwiegendste noch ungelöste Problem bei Transfusionen erkannt worden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die klinischen und logistischen Aspekte des Anfang 2008 in Australien eingeführten bakteriellen Screenings von Thrombozyten beschrieben. Die Probenentnahme erfolgt innerhalb von 24 h, und die Thrombozyten werden für die Krankenhäuser «negative to date» freigegeben. Der bakterielle Scree-ning-Nachweis von “initial machine-positive” (IMP) und von allen Follow-up-Resultaten wird an die transfundierenden Laboratorien gemeldet. In den Screening-Ergeb-nissen zwischen 2008 und 2010 fand sich eine signifikante Rate von IMP-Proben mit einer Rate richtig positiv/nicht bestimmbar von 0,18%. In 32,5% der Fälle waren die Thrombozytenkonzentrate bei der initialen Benachrichtigung bereits transfundiert. Die bestätigten Fälle einer septischen Transfusionsreaktion haben seit der Einführung Thrombozyten-Screenings vor der Freigabe signifikant abgenommen, was eine bedeutende zusätzliche Verbesserung der Transfusionssicherheit in Australien widerspiegelt.

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