Improving blood transfusion safety in resource-poor countries: a case study of using leucocyte reduced blood in Uganda.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The majority of blood transfusion safety strategies recommended by the WHO for resource-poor countries focus mainly on reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). Other technologies such as leucocyte reduction may represent complementary strategies for improving transfusion safety.

Objective

To evaluate the role of using leucocyte reduced blood in a resource-poor country.

Methods

Pre-storage leucocyte reduced (LR) red blood cells (RBCs) were specially prepared for the Tissue Oxygenation by Transfusion in severe Anaemia and Lactic acidosis (TOTAL) study, at the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services from February 2013 through May 2015. Quality control tests were performed to evaluate the procedure, and the incremental cost of an LR-RBC unit wa

SUBMITTER: Dhabangi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7609088 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature