Coming 1 July 2026: Adjusted body weight lg dosing in BloodSTAR

From 1 July 2026, the way in which immunoglobulin (Ig) doses are calculated in BloodSTAR is changing for both initial and continuing requests. 

• Adjusted body weight dosing will be the mandated default in BloodSTAR (unless an exclusion applies – see below). 
• If there is a clinical reason not to use adjusted body weight dosing, the clinician should select the appropriate option in BloodSTAR and provide a clinical justification in the authorisation request.  

• Entering the patient’s height will therefore be mandatory for all BloodSTAR authorisation requests. 

Exclusions and safeguards 

Adjusted body weight dosing is not recommended by the National Blood Authority (NBA) for patients who:  

• are aged < 18 years 
• are < 152 cm in height 
• are pregnant, or
• have an actual body weight that is lower than their adjusted body weight. 

In these cases, BloodSTAR will apply actual body weight dosing. 

Safeguards have been built into the BloodSTAR system to ensure patients in these groups are exempt. Prescribers can also elect to use actual body weight dosing if it is clinically justified for your patient.  

Clinical judgement should always be applied, and maintenance dosing should be adjusted according to clinical response and ongoing monitoring.   

ANZSBT releases position statement on prevention of TT-CMV 

The Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) recently released a Position statement on prevention of transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus (TT-CMV). 

The statement reflects the ANZSBT consensus informed by a systematic review, haemovigilance data, pre-clinical evidence, and review of international guidance and concludes that: 

The collective evidence supports the use of pre-storage leucodepleted blood components as “CMV-safe” for immunosuppressed patients.  

CMV-seronegative cellular blood components do not offer additional benefit over leucodepletion in any population including immunosuppressed patients.  

Universal pre-storage leucodepletion of cellular blood components (red cells and platelets) was introduced by Lifeblood in 2008.

Counting the true cost of red cell transfusion in MDS

Red cell transfusions are frequently required in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), yet the overall cost of transfusion, extending beyond the unit price, is not well defined.  

Investigators undertook an observational prospective study at Monash Medical Centre, a 640-bed tertiary-level university hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Utilising a time-driven activity-based costing model in a real-world setting, they sought to determine the true total cost of providing red cell support to patients with MDS by measuring every step of the transfusion pathway.  

Clinical Transfusion Education Program: Stream June sessions now

The Clinical Transfusion Education Program continues in June with two practical, high-impact sessions designed specifically for trainee registrars. 

Red cells: Explore key principles in red cell transfusion, including appropriate use, safety considerations, and clinical decision-making. 

Platelets: Dive into platelet transfusion practice, with practical insights to support safe and effective patient care. 

Download this year's full program to explore upcoming sessions and topics.

In this webinar series, we'll highlight the partnership between the laboratory, clinicians, and governance systems in the investigation, management, and reporting of transfusion reactions. 

This session is designed for medical officers, nurses, midwives, transfusion practitioners, and laboratory scientific staff who play a role in recognising and investigating suspected transfusion reactions. The webinar is suitable for both experienced staff seeking an update on best practice and trainees looking to strengthen their foundational knowledge in transfusion safety. 

Episode 1: Introduction to adverse transfusion reactions and laboratory investigations 

Tuesday 28 July 2026

2-3.00pm (AEST) 

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
100-154 Batman Street West Melbourne VIC 3003

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