A new recall and test site for blood following mishap By KAREN SMITH The Champion An internai review conducted in the wake of an early January blood recall has resulted in two findings that will improve safety of local blood supplies, says an official from the country's blood agency. Canadian Blood Services (CBS) bas decided to tem- porarily transfer all transmissible disease testing for blood collected in the area from Hamilton to Toronto, said the organization's chief executive officer, Lynda Cranston. The agency entrusted with ensuring the safety of Canada's CRS pled blood supply has also ordered decisive i i another recall of about 2,500 units of blood that will be re- orderto screened with a secondary test Canadians for HIV, she said. The units were collected them with between December 4 and 15 blood supply - 1l days prior to the collec- tion of 2,000 units first LYNDA C recalled. CRS pledged to be de" pe in its actions in order to protett Canadians and provide them with the safest blood supply possible," Ms Cranston said. "In Hamilton, both the temporary transfer of testing to Toronto and the voluntary recall demonstrate our commitment to safety." CBS launched a review at the Hamilton Blood Centre after it was discovered in December that a wash solution for the testing of the HIV virus - the p-24 test - was used beyond its expiry date. The p-24 test is a secondary test used to cover the "window period" of eight weeks before the antibody or primary test can become positive. The test involves the same solution that resulted in the first recall of 2,000 units of blood January 6. Milton District Hospital received I1 of the units. One was used in the treatment of a patient, but the blood was re-tested and proved to be safe. The CBS has offered no explanation for the mishap, other than admitting it was the result of human error. As a result of the ensuing investigation, CBS decid- ed to also retest units collected earlier in December. "Ail blood products in question were tested using the primary test for HIV and the results were normal," said Dr. Bill Francombe, CBS medical consultant in Hamilton. For the blood collected between December 16 and 28, all recalled units except five have been retested and all results were normal, he said. The same is expected for the blood that was collect- ed earlier in December. Unused products recalled from hospitals will be retested and re-issued if they're determined to be safe, Dr. Francombe said. In cases where blood products in question have already been transfused, frozen samples of the product housed at the Hamilton centre will also be retcsted, he said. ged to be And in cases where frozen s actions in samplesaren'tavailabledonors protect sample for testing. nd provide The CBS is continuing its review of the matter both at the the safest Hamilton centre and the Ottawa possible." head office, said Wesley Rees, eCBS vice-president of safety and MSTONperformance management. ADuring the next few weeks. staff at the Hamilton Blood Centre and head office will focus their attention on reviewing ail operating and quality assurance procedures, while at the same time ensuring the ongoing quality and safety of blood products," he said. "Our objective is to put in place the checks and bal- ances to ensure tbis kind of error doesn't occur again." In addition to its regular independent safety audits, CBS plans to review safety planning and procedures with apl blood centres that it manages in Canada." The temporary transfer of transmissible disease test- ing to the Toronto Blood Centre won't affect tu- around time for testing and therefore won't negatively impact on inventory nor producet availability for any of the hospitals served by the Hamilton centre, Mr. Rees said. Other testing such as blood grouping and anti- body investigation will continue to be perforsed in Hamilton. The CS was formid last year to control blood col- lection and distribution. Under Canadian Red Cross Society blood management, thousands were infected with Hepatitis C and the AIDS virus adter receiving tainted blood. People who have received blood producta between December 4 and 15 and are concened, are asked to contact their physician or cal the CrS medical office ait 522-6885, ext. 4327. The Canadian Champion, Friday, January 29, 1999 - 9 -7 HEY HOCKEY FANS! out the ballot below for a chance to 1 of 5 Family Passes the Milton Merchants "Family Night" on y, February 5, against the Vaughan Vipers. Just drop r completed ballot to the Canadian Champion at 191 Main St. E. ners will be drawn on Wednesday, February 3,1999. r --------------------------------------1 Name: Address: Phone: T pdy------ ---------------- J ickets provided by lIEb Canabiali Ctml8iti ----------