57. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Transfusionsmedizin und Immunhämatologie

Mag.

How are we doing? – Donor's view of the blood donation processes

Blood Donation

Wie läuft es bei uns? - Die Sicht der Spender auf die Blutspendeverfahren

A sufficiently sized donor pool is crucial to ensure the availability of blood products for our patients. In addition to the recruitment of new donors, measures for increasing the rate of repeat donors are particularly of importance. Marketing and digitalization measures, such as the introduction of a blood donor app, can contribute to donor retention. The app "Mein Blut" was launched 30 months ago for this reason. We evaluated the impact on the donation process from the donor"s perspective.A donor survey was conducted to determine donor satisfaction with our process (app, donor communication, etc and assess the effectiveness to take further measures to retain our blood donors. The questionnaires were distributed at all stationary and mobile blood donation drives over a period of 4 weeks; participation was voluntary. The questionnaire comprised 20 closed questions in the following categories: Donor details, voluntary engagement, satisfaction with the process, staff and the app, as well as donor communication. The questionnaires were evaluated automatically using evasys.From 16.10. to 10.11.2023, 4307 blood donors (61.6% with app, 38.4% with paper health questionnaire) came to the blood donation drives and had the chance to answer the survey. 2056 blood donors (47.7%) completed it. 11% were first-time donors, 25% had donated blood more than 25 times in the past. 73 % of the blood donors are also engaged in voluntary honorary activities. Satisfaction with the blood donation staff and the process was very high. With regard to the app "Mein Blut", the function for filling out the digital health questionnaire and the electronic availability of test results were most appreciated. 25% of donors would like the option to reserve a fixed time slot, 52% remain indecisive whereas 23% prefer to donate spontaneously.The results of the survey showed a very high level of satisfaction with our new digital process including the app. 74% of the participants in this survey already use the app, our blood donors prefer to be informed about blood donation campaigns via the app's notification function, email, SMS and telephone calls. From 2025, it will also be possible across Upper Austria to reserve appointments for our blood donors via the app, thereby improving donor retention.No conflicts of interest.

Poster

Dr. med.

Prof.

Plush toy blood donation in a Teddy Clinic: a new approach to recruit new blood donors, to establish an early and fix bond of future blood donors and to make Transfusion Medicine more visible

Kuscheltier-Blutspende in einer Teddyklinik: ein neuer Ansatz, um neue Blutspender zu gewinnen, zukünftige Blutspender frühzeitig und dauerhaft zu binden und die Transfusionsmedizin sichtbarer zu machen

New blood donors often only find their way to the donation centers through role models in their circle of family and friends. In addition, the overall number of blood donations has been decreasing for years. In order to raise awareness of blood donation among more people and to bond future blood donors at an early stage we established an innovative approach by having a cooperation with the Teddy Clinic (TC) of the local university: a blood donation for teddy bears, dolls and other plush toys.The TC is operated by students of medicine to give children a playful understanding of diagnostics and therapy and to reduce fears. The TC regularly visits kindergartens and offers large public events at least twice a year. Together with its child and a TeddyDoc the plush toy or doll goes through different stations. If necessary, surgery is simulated in an operating room (OR). To simulate blood donation, we have produced miniature blood units filled with artificial blood. After passing an examination and laboratory tests it is determined whether the plush toy is healthy enough for a blood donation. The plush toy blood can be used to save another plush toy's life in the OR. All children get an individualized book (U-Heft) as a souvenir.The children were enthusiastic about the new plush toy blood donation station. They were able to see first-hand how the plush toy blood was used to heal another plush toy which was undergoing surgery in a neighboring OR. At the first public event with plush toy blood donation, which took place near one of our donation centers, several accompanying parents went directly to our donation center to donate blood or made an appointment for a blood donation. After the event, the children showed their U-Heft around to family and friends and proudly talked about the teddy blood donation. They also wanted to watch pictures and movies about the event available in the internet and the parents shared the links with other family members and friends.The plush toy blood donation not only raises awareness among the accompanying adults and directly encourages them to donate blood. Moreover, children learn in a formative phase that donating blood is life-saving. Like a fix bond with a certain product brand or an organization, this cooperation helps to create an early bond to the life-saving topic of blood donation and to gain more new donors in the future. In addition, the project helps to make Transfusion Medicine more visible.no conflict of interest

10 years of blood donor deferrals in Switzerland

10 Jahre Blutspender Rückweisungsbilanz in der Schweiz

To avoid on-site deferrals wherever possible is crucial, as these lead to a negative donation experience and reduce intentions to return. Switzerland provides digital tools such as vaccine, travel and eligibility checks, prior to donation to donors to reduce on-site deferral. Travel- and vaccine-check also offer information on deferral length. Reported national on-site deferral rates from 2014 to 2023 were analyzed by category.From 2014 – 2023 national deferral rates due to travel history, low hemoglobin (Hb) and other medical reasons were reported. Blood donation included whole blood and apheresis donations. The number of donations decreased in the last few years (Table 1) therefore we compared deferrals as relative to the number of collections. The regional blood centers collected and provided the data.Table 1: Absolute numbers of total donations (whole blood and apheresis) and deferrals per category and year.Insert Table 1The number of deferrals has remained stable between 10 and 15% since 2016 (Figure 1). A clear Covid influence is visible in 2020 and 2021. On the one hand, this is reflected in a decline in deferrals of the second category, as travel options were severely restricted during the pandemic. The category other medical criteria also declined in that particular period, which could be attributed to decrease in contact and infection transmission. On the other hand, deferrals due to low Hb values remained stable during the Covid period.Figure 1: Relative deferrals per total donations in % by category and year.Insert Figure 1Despite the tools available, many on-site deferrals (Table 1) are still observed. Differentiation of other medical reasons for deferral would help to further analyze and indicate new reduction approaches such as new adapted tools and appropriate measures. International Benchmarking of certain deferral rates could also be helpful.There is no conflict of interest.

High throughput extended blood group typing for blood donors by MALDI-TOF MS

Erweitertes Screening für Blutgruppenantigene bei Blutspendern im Hochdurchsatzverfahren mittels MALDI-TOF MS

Every year, blood donation services lose donors due to sickness, age, or other personal factors. A new in-house assay of the DRK blood donation service West, developed for use on the MassARRAY® System simplifies the identification process for new donors by testing 26 different blood group antigens. Extended donor blood group typing is a cost-effective and time saving method. It can help to provide compatible blood for patients with rare antibodies or patients require very closely matched blood.MALDI-TOF MS is used for high throughput donor blood group screening. The in-house assay is a PCR based method that allows the screening of 26 blood groups in a single batch. Antigens included are C/Cw, Co(a/b), Do(a/b), Fy(a/b), Fy/Fy0, Jk(a/b), Js(a/b) Kp(a/b), Lu(a/b), Lu(8/14), Kk, MN, Ss, Vel/Vel- and Yt(a/b). In a first step, donors suitable for screening had to be selected. Criteria included that a donor donated blood at least 4 times, should not be older than 50 years and should be blood group O or A. Almost every step in the process is partly automated, starting with the selection of donors, DNA isolation and data processing. Data is stored in the LIMS and available for our immunohematology laboratories at all times.Since August 2022, almost 30.000 donors have been screened. Several donors with rare genotypes have been identified, allowing us to supply compatible blood to patients with rare antibodies. From 30.000 tested donors, 9 were Vel-, 33 Fy0, 37 KK, 5 Kp(a/a), 34 Lu(a/a), and 11 Lu(14/14). The fast and flexible process has also allowed us to test preselected donors for patients in an emergency situation, generating results in less than 24 hours. A different area of application is the genotyping of patients. Our system has been successfully used to genotype patients under therapy with Daratumumab. The medication can be obstructive for antibody screening and crossmatch and makes it necessary to determine the antigens Fy(a/b), Jk(a/b), Ss.In-house molecular blood group typing by MALDI-TOF MS is a valuable tool for extended donor blood group genotyping. It is a high throughput technology that generates a turnover that can barely be matched by other molecular methods and certainly not from serological methods. Antisera becoming rarer and overpriced if generally available. The whole process is reliable, flexible and a big step towards automated data processing, saving time and reducing the risk of man-made mistakes.No conflict of interest.

Knowledge and Attitude towards Blood Donation in Georgia

Das Wissen und die Einstellung zur Blutspende in Georgien

Blood donation is crucial for healthcare, saving millions of lives yearly. Despite global collection efforts, shortages persist. Efforts to transition to voluntary donation are underway, demanding an understanding of public knowledge and attitudes regarding this matter. This first-of-its-kind study in Georgia highlights the need for increased awareness and addresses negative attitudes toward donation. Results provide insights for targeted interventions to boost donation rates.The study employed a cross-sectional design using Google Forms to explore blood donation knowledge and attitudes among Georgians aged 18-60. A sample size of 385 was determined, and participants were selected through non-randomized voluntary response sampling. The questionnaire, developed collaboratively and in two languages, underwent pilot testing for refinement. It comprised 17 questions covering sociodemographic data, medical background, donation habits, reasons for avoidance, and future willingness to donate. Pearson's chi-squared test was employed for analysis. Participants were informed and assured of confidentiality.The study analyzed 385 responses, with 56.6% females and 43.3% males. Knowledge level of blood donation was poor, with only 35% demonstrating satisfactory levels. While 68.8% knew about donation volume, only 27.3% were aware of the minimum donation interval. Significant associations existed between knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics. Only 38% of respondents had a positive attitude, influenced by factors like gender, age, location, education, and medical background. Surprisingly, 83% expressed willingness to donate in the future, with better knowledge correlating with positive attitudes. Reasons for avoiding donation included lack of opportunity (29.2%) and health concerns like anemia (15.6%) and hypotension (12.7%).In summary, our study offers valuable insights into blood donation practices in Georgia. Targeted educational initiatives, tailored to specific demographic groups, hold promise in addressing knowledge gaps, fostering positive attitudes, and encouraging blood donation. Ultimately, such efforts can strengthen the country's blood supply system.No conflict of interest.

In vitro quality of RBCs in PAGGS-M prepared in non-DEHP bag systems: Influence of weekly mixing

Einfluss des wöchentlichen Mixens auf die Qualität von Erythrozytenkonzentraten, hergestellt in einem Non-DEHP Beutelsystem

The introduction of Non-DEHP blood bags will be mandatory in Europe due to a ban of European regulators. Alternative plasticizer like DEHT, DINCH or BTHC replacing DEHP potentially influence the quality of RCC collected in non-DEHP bag systems. It was shown in the past that weekly mixing reduced the hemolysis rate of RCC stored in DINCH-containing bags. In the current study we evaluated the quality of RCC donated and processed in a DINCH-containing bag and stored in a BTHC-containing bag.Whole blood units (WB, 500 mL in 70 mL CPD) were collected in a CE-certified DINCH/BTHC-PVC hybrid blood bag system (REF FQ42271, Fresenius Kabi) and were kept at room temperature (22±2°C) overnight. On the next day (day 1), RCC were processed by high-speed centrifugation (Roto Silenta 630 RS/63 RS; Hettich, Tuttlingen, Germany) followed by automated blood component separation (Macopress Smarter; Macopharma). RCC were diluted in 110 mL additive solution PAGGS-M and leukoreduced by filtration. Pools (n=6) of two RCC each were prepared and split again into two storage bags composed of BTHC-PVC. RCC units were stored at 4 ± 2 °C for 43 days. One RCC of each pool was mixed and sampled weekly, while the other remained without mixing for 43 days.RCC were in accordance with German guidelines with a hematocrit of 57.0 ± 0.8 %, total hemoglobin of 51.3 ± 2.4 g/unit and residual WBC &lt; 1 x 106/unit. Quality parameters are shown in Table 1. Hemolysis was significantly decreased in RCC mixed weekly in comparison to non-mixed RCC (0.24 ± 0.05% vs. 0.41 ± 0.09%, p = 0.0038). Hemolysis however was well below the threshold of 0.8% requested by the German as well as European guidelines with or without mixing until day 43. Only small differences were shown between the two arms with respect to pH, potassium, glucose, lactate and osmotic fragility.In vitro quality of RCC collected and stored in the CE-certified DINCH/BTHC-PVC hybrid blood bag system (REF FQ42271, Fresenius Kabi) were in accordance with the German as well as European guidelines until day 43 of storage. The hemolysis rate was influenced by weekly mixing of the storage bag during sampling. Results have to be considered in the design of future validations studies avoiding weekly sampling in order to receive realistic quality data at the end of shelf life.Bags were kindly provided by Fresenius Kabi - Transfusion Technology

Radiation of packed red blood cells (pRBCs): Extending the timeframe to 42 days instead of 14 days post-manufacturing

Bestrahlung von Erythrozytenkonzentraten (pRBCs): Verlängerung des Zeitrahmens auf 42 Tage statt 14 Tage nach der Herstellung

Transfusion-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals receiving blood product transfusions. Employing radiation at a mean dose of 30 Gy (to ensure 25 Gy for the product) effectively suppresses the proliferation of lymphocytes within the product. According to guidelines, packed Red Blood Cells (pRBCs) should not exceed 14 days in storage post-radiation exposure or before undergoing radiation. Our investigation evaluated the impact of radiation on pRBCs stored for up to 28 days prior to irradiation.Transfusion-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals receiving blood product transfusions. Employing radiation at a mean dose of 30 Gy (to ensure 25 Gy for the product) effectively suppresses the proliferation of lymphocytes within the product. According to guidelines, packed Red Blood Cells (pRBCs) should not exceed 14 days in storage post-radiation exposure or before undergoing radiation. Our investigation evaluated the impact of radiation on pRBCs stored for up to 28 days prior to irradiation.All pRBCs met the quality standards as per the guidelines, regardless of the radiation timing. After a initial storage period of 28 days before radiation, pRBCs were stored for another 14 days before evaluatrion of quality parameters. After 42 days, the average volume was 279 ml (ranging from 250 to 329 ml), and the mean hematocrit was 0.66 l/l (ranging from 0.61 to 0.73 l/l). Both total hemoglobin (53.1 g/unit [44.8-62.8 g/unit]) and free hemoglobin (0.52 g/unit [0.29-0.79 g/unit]) were within the acceptable guideline ranges. The potassium level, an indicator of red blood cell damage, did not exhibit any significantly high values (70.7 mmol/l [64.8-76.9 mmol/l]). Due to the later radiation timing, none of the measured parameters showed any adverse effects.We demonstrated that prolonging the temporal window for the routine radiation of pRBCs from 14 days to 42 days, as supported by our gathered data, carries no adverse implications.no conflict of interest

Prof. Dr. med.

Recruitment of First Time Donors Depends on Age Groups

Die Rekrutierung von Erstblutspendern ist abhängig von der Altersgruppe

The efficiency to recruit first time donors is one of the key steering parameters to strengthen the blood donor repertoire. Current challenges include an ageing population, migration flows and differential use of communication tools by different social and age groups. We aimed to follow the dynamics of first time donor (FTD) recruitment to whole blood donation in our blood service (ca. 50% in-house collections and 50% outside/mobile collections) in the period January 1, 2019 until December 31, 2023.Structured Query Language was used to extract data from our database (PC-Blut, MSSE, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany). Donors were contacted through printed invitations, through our telephone call center, via E-Mail or through an Instagram account.In the oberservation period, the number of FTDs in our blood center increased from 1887 in 2019 to 2108 in 2023, i.e. by 11.7%, representing an increase of whole blood first time donations from 7.1% (2019) to 8.8% (2023) of total donations. Only in 2020, an outlier was registered with 9.2%. Although we continuously increased the use of our call center and E-Mail, the relative share of FTD in the age group 18-29 years dropped from 58.1% (2019) to 54.1% (2023) with the exception of 2020, when 61% were in the 18-29 year age group. The relative contributions by the 30-39y age group remained relatively constant (21.6 and 21.2% respectively in 2019 and 2023). In contrast, the relative contribution of FTDs in all other groups increased between 2019 and 2023 (40-49y: 10.1 to 12.0%; 50-59y: 8.1 to 9.2%; 60-69y: 2.1 to 3.3%).Our advertising and invitation system was able to efficiently increase both the total numbers and the percentage of first time whole blood donors. Whereas in the COVID year 2020, FTDs aged 18-29 was the most responsive age group, in all other years donations from the age group 18-29 showed a decrease, whereas FTDs aged 40 years and above steadily increased. These data have implications for recruitment strategies of new blood donors.Es wurden keine Interessekonflikte offengelegt.

Prof. Dr.

Evaluating non-monetary compensation in blood donation: Understanding the impact of blood drive goodie bags on donor loyalty

Bewertung nicht-monetärer Vergütungen von Blutspendern: Die Auswirkung von Spendenpäckchen auf die Loyalität von Spendern

The trend of a declining donation rate raises questions about the unpaid nature of blood donations. Due to the COVID-19-pandemic, the practice of offering a snack after the donation as non-monetary compensation had to be changed. A blood drive goodie bag was introduced as alternative compensation. Our research aims to understand donor satisfaction with the goodie bag, evaluate the effectiveness of the new method and derive recommendations for future blood donor compensation.In this study, we developed a multi-level model to test the research hypotheses on the attractiveness of the blood drive goodie bag and supplementary forms of compensation, the donor satisfaction and the future donation intention. The data was collected by surveying blood donors at local blood drives using self-administered questionnaires created by the online survey software Unipark. Of the 1.269 donors who could be reached, 1.008 donors took part in the survey (79.43%). Of these, 767 participants completed the questionnaire in full, which at 60.44% emphasises the high informative value of this comprehensive study. The study period ran from December 2023 to February 2024 and was analysed using both descriptive statistics and hypothesis tests to check statistical significance.The results showed that the receipt of the blood drive goodie bag had no significant effect on the future intention of active donors to donate blood. Nevertheless, 75% of donors were satisfied with their current blood drive goodie bag. 71% of donors did not consider personalisation of the contents to be relevant. The option of a blood value analysis, which was requested by 86% of donors, is a promising impulse for the further development of compensation. Interestingly, the loyalty of donors grew with increasing satisfaction regarding the spatial and temporal accessibility of the blood drive, which in turn enhanced the likelihood of recommending the donation to third parties.The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors of donor satisfaction and loyalty based on the non-monetary compensation currently used. Knowledge of the effectiveness of the blood drive goodie bags enables those responsible in the blood donation system to take targeted measures to optimize the compensation of blood donors and thus strengthen donor loyalty and improve recommendation management by active blood donors.The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Residual cells in blood products – A novel way for detection using the blood bank mode of the XN1000 from Sysmex

Restzellzahlbestimmung in Blutprodukten – eine neue Methode mit dem Blutbankmodus des XN1000 der Firma Sysmex

The german guideline Haemotherapy defines the minimal criteria for routine testing of blood products. To reduce the risk of harming patients due to the transfusion associated side effects of residual cells, for all products these due to the manufacturing process retaining concentrations of residual cells are limited. For platelet concentrates (PC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP), residual leukocytes and erythrocytes are analyzed. Details regarding leftover leukocytes are needed for packed red blood cells (pRBC). Here, we contrast conventional laboratory techniques for the identification of leftover cells following manufacturing with the innovative blood bank mode of the Symex XN1000 series.Samples from regularly manufactered blood products (PC, FFP, pRBC) were obtained. To determine the residual cells, we compared the new automated blood bank mode of the Sysmex XN1000 instrument with our internal lab standard, which uses a Nageotte chamber for residual leukocytes and a Neubauer counting chamber for residual erythrocytes and thrombocytes.We made a comparison of 57 PC samples, 70 FFP, and 33 pRBC utilizing the automated (XN1000) and manual (chamber counting) counting techniques. When it came to PLT, the automated measurements outperformed the manual technique in terms of residual leukocyte levels, especially at very low concentrations (up to 5x10^3/µl). At larger concentrations, however, the results were similar. Between the two approaches, the residual RBC values were comparable. For residual leukocytes in FFP, automatic and human measurements yielded consistent results. At lower concentrations, residual RBCs were greater in the automated measurements, whereas the outcomes were similar at higher doses. Regardless of the low or high cell concentrations, the XN1000 for pRBC consistently displayed greater levels of residual leukocytes.Routine residual cell measurement with the XN1000 devices expedited daily quality control procedures while preserving the best quality of blood products. In comparison to the manual method, the automated method indicated larger values of remaining cells at lower concentrations. Nevertheless, independent of the kind of blood product, the outcomes from both approaches grew increasingly similar as cell concentrations rose. This cutting-edge automated process guarantees highest quality control of the blood products with ensuring patient safety while also saving time.There are no conflict of interets

Frequent blood donations select for DNMT3A variants mediating enhanced response to erythropoietin

Selektion erythropoietin sensitiver DNMT3A Varianten durch Blutspende

Donor blood saves lives, yet the potential impact of recurrent large-volume phlebotomy on donor health and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remains largely unexplored.In our study, we conducted a comprehensive screening of 217 older male volunteer donors with a history of extensive blood donation (&gt; 100 life-time donations) to investigate the phenomenon of clonal hematopoiesis (CH).No significant difference in the overall incidence of CH was found in frequent donors (FD) compared to sporadic donors (&lt; 10 life-time donations, 212 donors). However, upon deeper analysis of mutations in DNMT3A, the most commonly affected gene in CH, we observed distinct mutational patterns between the FD and control donor (CD) cohorts. Functional analysis of FD enriched DNMT3A variants examined in CRISPR-edited human HSCs demonstrated their competitive outgrowth potential upon erythropoietin (EPO) stimulation, whereas leukemogenic DNMT3A R882 mutations exhibited preferential responsiveness to inflammatory cues. Concurrent mutational and immunophenotypic single-cell profiling revealed no lineage bias in the contribution of FD DNMT3A variant mutant cells in primary homeostatic donor samples. Conversely, they promote erythroid biased differentiation in xenografts stressed by serial blood loss and EPO treatment. This contrasts with R882 mutations, which induce a pronounced myeloid bias during both homeostasis and erythroid stress.Our data demonstrate a nuanced ongoing Darwinian evolution at the somatic stem cell level, with EPO identified as a novel environmental factor that favors HSCs carrying certain DNMT3A mutations. Crucially, our findings robustly demonstrate that frequent blood donation over many years does not promote the selection of malignant clones, thus strongly reaffirming its safety.No conflict of interest to disclose

Posterausstellung 9
Blood Donation

Appointment

Programme

Posterausstellung 9Blood Donation

Appointment

Programme

Posterausstellung 9
Blood Donation