◄ Back to Blood Service in Brief October 2016

The rise in demand for O negative red cells in Australia is an issue which will need to be tackled from all sides of the blood sector.

In July this year, the Blood Service hosted a workshop on the topic which was attended by medical scientists, transfusion practitioners and haematologists from every state as well as Blood Service staff. Attendees discussed the results of last year’s survey of customer use of O negative red cells, and together developed a number of potential measures with which the Blood Service, transfusion laboratories, clinical practitioners and the government may all begin to work together tackle the O negative problem.

These suggestions are being analysed and discussed now, and you should start to hear more about them and the results of the red cell use survey shortly.

Photo: Participants at the O negative workshop