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. 2022 Jun;117(6):839-846.
doi: 10.1111/vox.13262. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Baseline assessment findings of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion Step-Wise Accreditation Programme in 10 sub-Saharan African countries, 2016-2018

Udhayashankar Kanagasabai  1 , Michael Qualls  2 , Ray W Shiraishi  2 , Laura Eno  3 , Innocent Zungu  4 , Lesley Bust  5 , Bakary Drammeh  2 , Dejana Selenic  2
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Baseline assessment findings of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion Step-Wise Accreditation Programme in 10 sub-Saharan African countries, 2016-2018

Udhayashankar Kanagasabai et al. Vox Sang. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The accreditation of blood services promotes continuous quality improvement in blood and transfusion services. The Africa Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT) conducted 20 baseline assessments of National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) or blood banks as part of the Step-Wise Accreditation Programme (SWAP) in 10 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2016 to 2018. This paper aims to elucidate the process and findings of the baseline assessments.

Materials and methods: This is a descriptive study of 20 baseline assessments of NBTS. Eleven sections of the AfSBT assessment were reviewed, and 48 out of 68 standards and 356 out of 466 criteria were assessed. Each standard was assigned a value of 1 if it was fully achieved, 0.5 if partially achieved and 0 if not achieved. We defined average section scores >75% as having 'met AfSBT Standards', ≤25% as not meeting standards, 26%-50% as needs major improvement, and 51%-75% as needs some improvement and >75% as meets standards.

Results: The AfSBT SWAP standards were met in 4 out of the 11 sections: donor management, blood collection, component production and compatibility testing. Three sections were determined to need some improvement (quality system; handling, transport and storage and testing of donated blood), and three sections were determined to need major improvement (haemovigilance, blood administration and national blood service accreditation). One section (receipt, ordering, and issuing of blood) did not meet standards.

Conclusion: Despite improvements in the quality of blood services in SSA over the past two decades, governments may consider the importance of prioritizing investments in NBTS, ensuring these institutions meet international accreditation standards that are aligned with safe blood transfusion services.

Keywords: AfSBT; accreditation; blood transfusion systems.

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Conflict of interest statement

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the funding agencies. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Number of AfSBT baseline assessments — 2016–2018. AfSBT, African Society for Blood Transfusion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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