Last update:
18-Jul-2000

Arch Hellen Med, 16(4), July-August 1999, 352-355

REVIEW

Hemovigilance

R. STATHOPOULOU
Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion,
“P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece

The AIDS pandemic, the transmission of certain communicable diseases via blood and incidents related to distribution of contaminated medicinal products derived from blood and plasma in the European Community have focused public attention on the safety of the blood transfusion system. In trying to ensure the safety of the process and re-establish the confidence of Community citizens five man issues need to be considered in relation to the transfusion of blood, blood components and plasma: (a) transmission of blood borne viruses, (b) contamination with bacteria, (c) human error and equipment failure, (d) immunological complications and (e) complications arising from donation. A community-wide surveillance system was needed, at both national and community levels, of the incidence of blood transmitted diseases and adverse reactions resulting from blood transfusion. Such a surveillance system, the hemovigilance system, provides authorities and specialists with timely and accurate information about potential infectious agents, their possible danger and the measures to be taken to avoid their transmission. Collection of data from the various member states provides (a) the basis for comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of the various donor populations and specific incidents and (b) the means of monitoring trends in the diffusion of infectious agents in the geographic areas covered. The hemovigilance system involves several actors: (a) the hospital medical and nursing staff, (b) the hemovigilance correspondent (physician or pharmacist) and (c) the hemovigilance committee. The whole system is overseen by a regional coordinator ensuring harmonisation between different transfusion centers within each region as well as between regions.

Key words: Adverse effects, Blood transfuction, Hemovigilance.