News and Announcements
Announcing the Launch of Empower Group O Care
The Red Cross is thrilled to introduce Empower Group O Care, an innovative initiative set to tackle one of the most pressing issues in transfusion medicine today – ensuring a sustainable and reliable supply of O negative Red Blood Cells. As an industry leader with extensive expertise in transfusion medicine, we are championing responsible stewardship practices of both O negative and O positive blood through ongoing educational events and supportive hospital resources, including toolkits and reference documents.
Empower Group O Care underscores our collective obligation to act now to ensure life-saving blood products are consistently available to those who need them most. Join us as we work together to better steward this vital blood supply and support improved patient outcomes.
Events
Adverse Reaction to Transfusion: Laboratory Investigation (Part 1)
Date: April 21
Adverse Reaction to Transfusion: Laboratory Investigation (Part 2)
Date: April 22
Foundations of IgA Deficiency
Date: April 23
Laboratory Services Case Studies: IRL Case - Specialized Testing Case
- HLA Case
Date: April 24
Media Messaging Toolkit
The American Red Cross welcomes participation of our hospital partners in the recruitment of blood donors, especially in times of critical shortages. For your convenience, we have made available prepared messaging and graphics that can be used to promote the need for blood donations.
Blood Supply Messaging Resource Guide
Inform and engage your staff and community about the need for refueling the blood supply through blood and platelet donations.
Blood Saves Lives: Helping People with Sickle Cell Disease
Inform and engage your staff and community about the need for diverse donors to help patients battling sickle cell disease.
PLUS Online
An Educational Resource for Transfusion Medicine
Cold-Stored Platelets and Room Temperature Platelets
With the introduction of cold-stored platelets (CSP) into practice, transfusion services have encountered challenges in interpreting FDA guidance. The FDA indicates that CSP may be used to treat active bleeding when conventional platelets—room temperature platelets (RTP)—are unavailable or impractical to use.1 In addition, the FDA requires transfusion services to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that […]
Continue ReadingHow important is leukoreduction of low titer group O whole blood?
The use of low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) has increased in recent years, predominantly in the setting of adult trauma resuscitation. While randomized control trials have not yet shown LTOWB to be superior to standard component therapy, several clinical trials designed to test this hypothesis are ongoing. Most LTOWB units undergo prestorage leukoreduction […]
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