New guideline: Use of intravenous albumin

International audits of albumin use have revealed highly variable practice between regions. Of interest is the recently published guideline from the International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines (ICTMG) on the use of intravenous albumin, an area where comprehensive guidance was previously lacking.

The ICTMG, comprising of a panel of neonatal, paediatric, and adult specialists with expertise in the use of albumin, developed these guidelines to provide clinicians with actionable evidence-based recommendations for the appropriate use of intravenous albumin. A total of 14 recommendations (13 conditional and 1 strong) were developed for adult and paediatric patients. In addition to the recommendations, the guidelines provide evidence summaries for common indications, information on ongoing clinical trials, and areas in need of additional research.

An update for one of the greats

The 2024 edition of the Blood component information (BCI) is now available.

If you’ve not come across it before, the BCI is an important and informative guide, which can be found in the Resource library on the Lifeblood site. The BCI describes the blood components produced by Lifeblood and functions like the package insert that accompanies medications or drugs. 

Provided in accordance with the regulations of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), this popular resource is considered an extension of our blood component labels due to their limited space.

The BCI includes a description of the blood collection process, critical manufacturing steps, anticoagulants and additive solutions and requirements for storage, transport and handling. There are also sections which provide component specifications and typical unit contents, clinical indications for use, potential adverse reactions and administration methods.

Module 4 for both course pathways now live 

Lifeblood's microcredentials and microlearnings are designed for health professionals working in the area of transfusion to improve their knowledge of blood, various workplace settings and associated roles and responsibilities, to support safe transfusion practice.

Decision to transfuse and consent is module 4 of the Transfusion practitioner microcredentials which offer a certification of assessed learning. This new module focuses on the transfusion practitioner's role in supporting appropriate transfusion and the informed consent process for transfusion. It looks at what's considered best practice for patient blood management and what's required to obtain informed consent for transfusion. 

Module 4 of the Transfusion laboratory essentials - Blood group systems (ABO, RH and others) - is also now available for new scientists and laboratory staff on relevant topics to improve knowledge and add value to their roles. In this module, you'll learn more about the ABO and Rh blood group systems and be introduced to the genetics and biochemistry of these systems, as well as taking a closer look at the antigen and antibody characteristics. 

Topics trending at Lifeblood

Clinical Practice Guideline for Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds in Very Preterm Neonates  

The clinical practice guideline for red blood cell transfusion thresholds in very preterm neonates was published in the journal JAMA Network Open. A systematic review of 6 randomised clinical trials comprising of 3,483 participants (mean [SD] age range, 25.9-29.8 [1.5-3.0] weeks) that compared high versus low haemoglobin-based or haematocrit-based transfusion thresholds was reviewed. Recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Evidence summaries were also generated for the two PICO questions which focused on short-term outcomes and longer-term outcomes.

Transfusion consent for neonates

We offer a range of resources to support your neonate transfusion knowledge, including a video on Transfusion consent for neonates which provides an example of shared decision-making when a transfusion is being considered. There are also fact sheets on Babies receiving a blood transfusion as well as Receiving a blood transfusion.

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