Bloodlines - BBTS Issue No.108 May 2013 and CPDnews OUR ONLINE CPD TOOL HAS ARRIVED Pg18

BloodlinesIssue No.108 May 2013

and CPDnews

OUR ONLINE CPD TOOLHAS ARRIVED Pg18

Biotest UK Ltd28 Monkspath Business Park, Highlands Road,

Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4NZ

Telephone: 0121-733-3393 Fax: 0121-733-3066

www.biotestuk.com e-mail: [email protected]

4 Society NewsEditorial

Council Meeting Report

Membership Renewal

Guide to submitting articles

9 Feature ReportsBBTS in Focus

Blood Transfusion Award

Princess of Wales Award

Transfusion Medicine Update

Tales from the South

Events to look out for

15 CPD NewsShot or Not?

Multiple Choice Questions

16 Feature ReportsHow to writeamazing Abstracts

BBTS online CPD Tool

Integrated Transfusion Services

Shaping the futureof Blood Transfusion

23 Trade News & Events

The deadline for copy to be submitted

for the next edition of the newsletter (109)

is Friday 21 June 2013.

con ten t s

I was thinking recently about how exciting

it was to work in blood transfusion when I

started my career at King’s College Hospital as

a Junior B Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer

(MLSO). In the late 70s, Dr (now Professor)

Charles Rodeck developed a technique for

pure fetal blood sampling using fetoscopy

and ultrasound, allowing prenatal diagnosis

of haemophilia.

In the early 80s Dr Rodeck went on to give

intravascular transfusions to fetuses suffering from

haemolytic disease of the newborn, and the UK’s

first Fetal Medicine Unit was born. This was before

the days of monoclonal antibodies. I used to stand

outside the treatment room with a glass slide,

an albumin anti-D reagent and a water bath.

Dr Rodeck would pass out a fetal blood sample to

me, and wait while I performed a rapid D type

before deciding whether or not to transfuse the

fetus! On one occasion, which I will never forget,

he allowed me the privilege of looking down the

fetoscope. It was thrilling to be involved in such a

new technique and to be so much a part of a new

treatment. For those of you who remember rapid D

typing whilst balancing a glass slide over the corner

of a water bath, you’ll also realize how scary it was!

At the same time, the liver unit at King’s was

undertaking some of the early liver transplants,

usually for Hepatitis B positive patients, many with

red cell antibodies, and they frequently required

100+ units of red cells, with no cell salvage

in sight! I also remember seeing the first cases

of haemolysis due to passenger lymphocyte

syndrome. The blood transfusion laboratory was

always a busy, exciting (frequently somewhat

chaotic) place to work, and I loved it.

Things have changed. With IT and new technologies

allowing automation and electronic issue, blood

group serology is much safer and easier. These

advances in technology, combined with cell

3

P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O L UMN

We would like to thank all the advertisers in thisedition of Bloodlines. If you are interested inadvertising in future editions, please contact the BBTS Office: Enterprise House, Manchester SciencePark, Lloyd Street North, Manchester M15 6SE.Tel: 0161 232 7999 or email: [email protected]

Disclaimer - The Publisher, British Blood TransfusionSociety, cannot be held responsible for errors or anyconsequences arising from the use of informationcontained in this journal. The views and opinionsexpressed do not necessarily reflect those of thePublisher or the Editor, neither does the publicationof advertisements constitute an endorsement of theproducts advertised.

Clare Milkins - BBTS President

salvage, better surgical techniques and

pharmaceutical developments to prevent and stop

bleeding, have made the blood transfusion

laboratory a much calmer place to work in than

it was in the 80s. But there is always something

new to get excited about and involved in: organ,

tissue and stem transplantation, growing red cells

and platelets, gene and cellular therapies, and the

potential to replace antibody screening and

crossmatching with the advent of molecular

genotyping and recombinant technology.

Even if you work in a more routine environment,

having the appropriate knowledge and competence

to supply timely and safe blood components makes

you an essential part of every transfusion episode.

Transfusion practitioners have bridged the gap

between the ward and the laboratory, whether

nurse or BMS trained. Hospital laboratory

managers are very much a part of the hospital

transfusion team, and it’s no longer quite so much

‘them and us’ at every turn. Being involved and

part of the team is what makes the work much

more than just a job.

One of the strengths of the BBTS is that it brings

together the different professions involved in blood

transfusion, including clinicians as well as the

traditional blood service and hospital laboratory

based professionals. The BBTS Annual Conference

provides the opportunity to hear about some of

the amazing research, treatments and technology

that you might otherwise not know about.

It also provides the opportunity to meet other

professionals and share your experiences. A great

way to do this is by submitting an abstract of

your work – it’s not too late!

At this year’s meeting we are presenting the

Mollison Award for the first time. I’m delighted to

announce that the first recipient is Sandra Gray,

Head of Nursing at SNBTS, a BBTS member who

has made an outstanding contribution to clinical

practice. We look forward to hearing Sandra’s

citation at the Gala Dinner.

On a different note, I’d like to welcome Marie

Maguire to the team as the recently appointed

Marketing and Communications Officer. I’m sure

you’ll join me in wishing Marie every success

in this role.

Finally, I can’t resist a comment about the weather,

so I hope that by the time you read this, the

temperature has eventually made it into positive

figures and we can put away the snow shovels

until next winter!

@BritishBloodTS ‘British Blood Transfusion Society’

My previous editorial (Bloodlines 107)started by wishing Louise Warburton BBTS’s Marketing and CommunicationsOfficer farewell and so it gives me greatpleasure to welcome Marie Maguire as the newly appointed BBTS Marketing andCommunication Officer. Marie has enteredher new role with great enthusiasm and I’m sure that this, her first Bloodlines, will be an excellent edition.

We continue our ‘BBTS in focus’ feature withprofiles of members of the Scientific MeetingsAdministration Committee (SMAC). Membersof this hardworking group are pivotal to the

Editorial by Jennifer Duguid

success of our annual conferences. No soonerhave they finished the work on one conferencethan they find the next one looms large and theirwork never stops. Having seen their pictures andread their profiles in this edition I hope thatif you recognise any of them at our 2013conference in Birmingham, you stop to saythank you for all their hard work. The purposeof ‘BBTS in focus’ is not only to allow youto know and recognise those BBTS memberswho run your society and its activities but alsoto encourage you to think of involving yourselfin the work of these committees by standingfor election or volunteering to serve on thesevital committees.

We also continue our series on OffshoreTransfusion with details of running a blood bankon the Isle of Wight. We hope that this series,which in later editions will include articles fromJersey and the Scottish Islands, will make thoseof you who feel remote from your local bloodcentre realise that those working offshore havegreater problems.

We’ve taken a break from our plasma series thisissue to bring you an article writeup on the

S O C I E T Y N EW S

Jennifer Duguid

Integrated Transfusion Service written by RichardGray on p21. Don’t worry, the plasma series will be back next issue with a thought-provoking article on collection, productionand manufacture of this vital, often misused,blood product. As usual we include CPD newsand some information about the launch of thenew online CPD tool.

Bloodlines is not produced as a majoreducational publication but the questions andanswers included in CPD news are very popularto a wide range of BBTS members and, asalways, we welcome contributions from all ofyou to help expand this section.

Members of the Communications Committeework hard to ensure Bloodlines is both readableand relevant. Our aim with each edition is toinclude educational, informational and thought-provoking articles in the hope that we include‘something for everyone’. Contributions andsuggestions from BBTS members and otherreaders are always welcome so feel free to sendthem in, following our guidelines printed on page7 of this edition, or contact Marie Maguire [email protected]

5



The first Council meeting of 2013 was held

on the 7th March in Birmingham. The action

and decision log was reviewed and the

following were noted:

• Council ratified the removal of the word

newsletter from the front page of Bloodlines

• The professional nursing committee is

being re-formed and they will be developing

a workplan for the coming year

The editor of Transfusion Medicine, Professor

David Roberts, updated the Council on his work

as editor. He explained his vision was to:

• Make Transfusion Medicine an enjoyable

and valued journal for BBTS members

• Improve the ranking and scientific

standing of Transfusion Medicine in its field

• Become the leading journal in its field

in Europe and contributing to advancing

Transfusion Science and Practice

internationally

From the survey conducted in 2011 it was clear

members wanted:

• Improved readability for UK members

• To maintain high scientific standards

• To encourage submissions from:

• Guidelines

• Areas that impact on clinical and

laboratory practice

• Developing areas/technologies

The design has been changed and well received.

Citation Index

The citation index has dropped in 2011 and

this is subject to fluctuations and is affected by

the quality and number of review articles.

Council Meeting Report by Joan Jones

Secretary’s report

Succession planning is ongoing for various

roles within committees in particular the new

Chair of SMAC, Dr Kate Pendry, who will be

replacing Dr Jane Keidan in October 2013.

Jane has done a wonderful job in enthusing

SMAC and developing exciting programmes for

the Annual Conference. As some of you may be

removed the Shop button and replaced this with

the tab to access the new online CPD tool.

The new online CPD tool is now live and includes

tutorial videos. A soft launch was done via

Bloodspots and this will be stepped up using

Bloodlines, Dotmailer, mail shots, events and

the website itself.

Joan Jones - Honorary Secretary

Publications

In February we distributed the 107th edition of

the BBTS newsletter, Bloodlines. The new

Transfusion Medicine contract has been signed

with Wiley Blackwell and work is underway with

the editor’s plans for affiliations and a possible

new online only business model is being looked

at by Wiley’s.

Marketing

We are in the process of obtaining marketing

lists for contacts outside those already

known to us. Once the new Marketing &

Communications Officer has settled in post the

area of marketing will be high on her agenda.

Reports were received from both the

Communications and PAEC committees.

Brief highlights from the communications

committee were:

Website

1. Trying to update information from SIG groups

looking into why past lectures seem to vanish

once the event is over

2. Launching a blog section

aware, our Communications & Marketing Officer

Louise Warburton left us in February but we are

pleased to welcome Marie Maguire who started

at the beginning of March.

Finance report

The Executive Manager reported that the end of

year forecast remains on course to reach the

Society’s financial and profit goals. Council

reviewed and agreed the budget plans for

2013/14.

Thanks were expressed to the BBTS office and

the Hon. Treasurer for the hard work in providing

such detailed plans.

Executive Manager’s report

Website

The office has started a housekeeping exercise

for the website, including replacing old pictures

and expired dates, new banners and internal

site links. This is an on-going process and

will be stepped up with the new Marketing

& Communications Officer in post. We have

This graph shows the increase in submissions to Transfusion Medicine

Membership Renewal

6


Highlights from PAEC:

A task and finish group will be set up with

specific outputs namely:

1. To develop and outline strategic

recommendations for the provision of

comprehensive educational support for staff

who deliver blood transfusion services, whilst

ensuring alignment with the principles of

Modernising Scientific Careers.

2. Priority objective, to produce a paper for

BBTS Council that considers:

a. The proposed BBTS vision for the career

pathways of scientists working in hospital

blood transfusion laboratories and blood

establishments

b. How the BBTS Specialist Certificate in

Transfusion Science Practice could be re-

engineered to ensure continuing fitness for

purpose and value-add for employers,

BBTS members and other laboratory staff

who deliver blood transfusion services (also

bearing in mind changing training & career

pathways and future fit with Medical, Nursing

and Cell & Tissue disciplines)

c. The benefits arising from accreditation

of the Specialist Certificate by a partner

University(s)

d. What resource would be required to

undertake this work in terms of personnel

and operating costs

e. What arrangements would need to be put

in place to ensure the Business Model was

sustainable going forward

f. The outline plan to take forward this work

including key milestones.

Reports were also received from members who

represent the BBTS on:

• UK Transfusion Laboratory collaborative –

Julie Staves

• NBTS Patient Blood Management –

Lynne Mannion

• NICE stakeholder workshop for

development of a transfusion guideline –

Joan Jones

• Scottish Clinical Transfusion Advisory

Group – Marie McQuade

The next Council meeting will be held in

Birmingham on 18th June 2013.

BBTS Membership Renewal Due NowBBTS Membership subscription runs from 1st April – 31st March.

If you’ve not yet renewed don’t worry, you can still make a payment by cheque or card.

Fees for April 2013 - March 2014 are as follows:

Membership Type Full Price

Full (UK & Ireland) £79.50

Concessionary* £45.00

Overseas £90.00

Senior £22.00

UK Late joining+ £44.00

Overseas Late Joining+ £50.00

*Concessionary membership is open to those at, or equivalent to AFC Band 5 or below.

A signed certificate of eligibility MUST be submitted annually with payment.+Members joining after October 1st 2013

For more information or to make a payment please visit www.bbts.org.uk/membership

or email [email protected] with any queries.

www.bbts.org.uk

SHOT SYMPOSIUMROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE

1 Wimpole St, London, W1G 0AE – 10th July 2013www.shotuk.org/annual-shot-symposium

Bloodlines: Your Guide To Submitting Articles

Word CountBloodlines has a magazine style format,

therefore articles should be around 500 words

and no more than 1000. Keep the content

clear, concise and engaging. Don’t use 10

words when 5 will do.

AcronymsAlthough a certain acronym may be used

regularly by you and your colleagues, other

members may not be familiar with it.

Please ensure you write out the full title

accompanied by the acronym in brackets the

first time you use it in the article.

EditingAll articles are subject to editorial approval.

The editor reserves the right to not publish

articles and to edit articles without obtaining

permission from the author. If you wish to

review edited copy you must indicate this when

you submit your article.

DeadlinesThe deadline for the next issue of Bloodlines

is printed on page 3. Please submit your

article as early as possible to allow time

for editing.

SubmittingArticles should be submitted as a Word file

(.doc or .docx). Any images included in the

article (photos / charts etc.) should be

submitted as separate, appropriately named

.jpeg files. Embedded images will not be used

and footnotes will not be published.

Bloodlines welcomes articles relating to

Blood Transfusion from both members

and non-members of the British Blood

Transfusion Society (BBTS). Tell us what

you’re up to, what you’ve been working on,

what events you’ve attended. If you have

something interesting to write we want

to hear about it.

Here are a number of factors you should

consider when submitting an article:

ContentWould this article be interesting to other

Bloodlines readers? Is it about a new

advancement, an issue you feel needs raising,

a recent event you attended that was useful?

We review all submissions and will feedback if

we feel an article is unsuitable.

7



If you would like more information, have an idea you would like to discussor already have an article to publish,

please email [email protected] or call 0161 232 7999.

BBTS in Focus: SMAC

SMAC

SMAC is BBTS’s ‘Scientific Meeting Advisory Committee’. The members of the

SMAC panel are recognised for their expertise in delivering an innovative scientific

programme to stimulate shared learning to a multicultural audience within all

disciplines involved in transfusion.

SMAC strive to produce an inclusive programme that appeals to all transfusion

professionals. If you have any ideas you feel may be of benefit to the committee,

please contact [email protected].

More about the members . . .

Jane Keidan

Three things you couldn’t live without

My family, cats, theatre.

One thing you’d do anything to avoid

Heights!

Your favourite place / holiday destination

Too many to name.

If you could do any other job what would it be and why?

I’d love to have been a professional actress but failed to get into the national youth theatre at 17,

so have stuck to am dram since then.

How would those who know you best describe you in three words?

Hard working, passionate (about the NHS!), a bit of a terrier.

Karen Madgwick


My boys, all three of them.


Informing someone that I have been unable to complete a promised task.


Willmore Wilderness Park, Alberta, Canada (google images for why!).

Stumbling across a wild bear was scary but made a pretty good holiday story!


If I had got the required grades at school, I would have become a social worker. Thirty years on I am lucky

enough to have a role which gives me the opportunity to help patients with their social and health needs.


Work colleagues suggested ‘Gets it done’ and family ‘Egalitarian, Reliable, Caring’ . . .

A big thank you to all as this was much better than I had anticipated!

Catherine Howell


My adorable chocolate Labrador Mabel, my Friday evening visit to the

local public house and Facebook


My husband said it was cleaning.....but that’s why I have a cleaner!


Anywhere with lots of sun!


I know it’s sad but as a child I never wanted to be anything other than a nurse - I still feel that way now


Firm, Focused and Fun!

8

F E A T U R E R E P O R T S

Professional Affairsand Education

Committee (PAEC)

Communications

Committee

Special Interest

Groups (SIGs)

BBTSCouncil

www.bbts.org.uk

Scientific MeetingsAdministration

Committee(SMAC)

Fiona Regan


Chocolate, birds/animals around, a map/sat-nav


Russell Brand


Australia (Outback or Coral Reefs)


I’d be a Vet – I love animals. I’d find some of it distressing but a lot of it really good -

but allergic to a few animals (cats & horses)


Definitely not passive

Geoff Daniels


Red wine, coffee, Bristol Rugby


Southmead Road, Bristol at rush hour


Great Gable in the Lake District / New Zealand


A Farmer - I like being outdoors and I like driving tractors


Depends who you ask. Consensus: tall, bald, affable

Stephen Thomas


My family, exercise, coffee


Answering profile questions…


Anywhere in Italy


Professional cricketer (the older I get, the better I was)


Smart, smartarse, arse

Kate Pendry


My bicycle, my IPad and a good night's sleep.


Being on a tandem with my husband.


The hills and beaches of Languedoc, South of France.


A successful artist in the South of France. I would love to be able to follow in the footsteps of Cezanne

and capture the light on the landscape in oils.


Cool, calm and collected.

Clare Milkins


Wine, contact lenses, salt


Morris dancing


Seychelles


I’d be a novelist - I really admire how good writers use their imagination, creativity and writing skills

to create a story that I can totally lose myself in. I would love to have the ability to do this just for fun,

let alone for a living!


Unobservant, untidy, unforgettable!

Joan Jones


IPhone, Coffee, A shower (having just had the bathroom re done!).


Cleaning the fishpond again.


Pembrokeshire.


Garden designer as long as I had someone to do the hard work and I just went around the nurseries

buying plants.


Friends and colleagues – approachable, firm and fair

Son or husband – nagging, bossy and bolshy.

Juraj Petrik


Travelling, reading and a good drink.


Shopping.


Living in Scotland it has to be a warm and sunny destination, the Mediterranean is usually a good bet.


I quite like working with wood when I have time. Not sure I could make a living, though.


I thought my female colleagues would suggest something like handsome, attractive, but they said

approachable, considerate, knowledgeable instead. Still very flattering!

Jane Murphy


Red wine, music and friends.


Public Speaking.


Somewhere hot and Sunny.


Dance teacher - my hobby and a job all rolled into one!


Outgoing, Reliable, organised.

Martin Bruce


The unstinting support of my wife and family, my red pen (which I use to provide comment

and correction on all manner of documents) and lastly there is my retirement gift from

my friends and colleagues - my I-Pad.


I have always felt it was important to tackle even the most menial of tasks but guess throwing things away

is a bit of a challenge for a hoarder like me.


Aside from Scotland, my favourite country is Australia – the vista at Sydney Harbour is simply

breath taking!


I’d love to be a top chef, most scientists enjoy following and creating recipes (sadly I have produced

an SOP for cooking Christmas Dinner (as they say, you can take the man out of Quality but…)


According to the comments on my retirement cards committed, professional and inspirational

feature regularly – wow!

9



Julie Staves


My car, my computer and real ale!


Shopping


Northumbria - lovely views and few people


I'd run a craft shop. I've an artistic side and would love to spend time teaching others

and explaining how products work.


Opinionated, artistic and an early riser!

In the next edition of Bloodlines . . . BBTS In Focus: PAEC

1 0


Blood Transfusion Award for University Professor

system. This in turn led to the development of the prenatal definition of

blood groups: his laboratory at the National Blood Service was the first

in the world to launch a routine, non-invasive test to sample for blood

types in the womb.

He led several large European Community consortia to develop a DNA

chip to find over 100 blood group and platelet alleles (alternative

forms of genes). The chip is now in extensive use worldwide to

help manage difficult-to-transfuse patients (such as children with

sickle cell disease).

Professor Avent also led a £12 million EC Network

of Excellence that oversaw the routine use of

non-invasive prenatal diagnostics.

He said: “It’s a great honour to be bestowed this award from the BBTS.

Many of my most respected mentors have gained this award in the

past, and I’m delighted to join their ranks. My thanks extend to my

colleagues on BBTS council for their recommendations.”

A professor from the School of

Biomedical and Biological Sciences

at Plymouth University has been

awarded the prestigious Kenneth

Goldsmith Award 2013 by the British

Blood Transfusion Society.

Professor Neil Avent has been recognised

for his “outstanding contribution to

molecular blood grouping and non-invasive prenatal

diagnostics”. The award is given for original research

within the field of blood transfusion together with

contributions to blood transfusion in general, either in

medical or scientific fields. In order to win the award the recipient’s work

must have made a substantial contribution to the understanding and

practice of blood transfusion. It has been awarded since 1984.

Professor Avent was among the first to isolate, sequence and clone the

gene for the human Rh antigen, which is central to the Rh blood group

It’s a great honour to be bestowed this award

from the BBTS.“ “

Princess of Wales Award – 6 Months on

Crossmatching. I am making the necessary effort to enrol in proficiency

for Transfusion Transmitted Infection (TTI) as soon as possible.

Again SANBS will be providing the centre with Screening Sensitized and

Identification cells next month. The centre will then prepare samples

for its internal quality assessment in immunohaematology.

Another area of great importance and which was well carried out at

WBS was equipment maintenance and calibration schedule. My next

project, as inspired by WBS, will be to have a comprehensive asset

register to enable the centre to develop an equipment maintenance

plan. It’s my hope that by the end of 2013 the Centre will have a good

calibration and maintenance system.

The training at WBS has played an important part in my work as a quality

manager. All this notwithstanding I have a cordial relationship with all

staff I worked with at WBS and all are willing to provide me with

information whenever I need help.

I am most grateful to BBTS, the Welsh Blood Service and National

Blood Service Ghana for the Award.

Mavis Okyere

BBTS Princess of Wales Award Winner 2013

www.bbts.org.uk/bursaries/bursaries

Back in September 2012 I received the

BBTS Princess of Wales Award. I was

given the opportunity to train with

the Welsh Blood Service (WBS) and the

experience has helped significantly

on my return to the National Blood

Service (NBS) in Ghana. Their

systematic approach and efficient work

processes have proved invaluable.

I was appointed as the Quality Manager for NBS Ghana in November

2012. On acceptance of the position I realised that the scope of work

for the role is very broad, and it was impossible to cover it all by

myself. Using the insight picked up at WBS, I decided to make good

use of the available human resource. Quality Officers for the various

units, namely donor recruitment, donor care, laboratory and support

service were identified.

Our task is to ensure all activities are carried out in a quality assured

manner. The first item on our agenda was to ensure the Standard

Operating Procedures (SOPs) were reviewed and updated.

The Accra Area Blood Centre is now enrolled with the South Africa

National Blood Service (SANBS) Proficiency Programme in Grouping and

www.bbts.org.uk

1 1



Transfusion Medicine Update

The wider readership is difficult to gauge but the download of articles are

over 60,000 per year or 200 per day and a full quarter of these come

from the USA, another quarter from Europe, with only 2% from the UK

(Figure 1), where I assume many people have a paper copy, and the rest

widely distributed. It is quite clear that Transfusion Medicine is read

widely around the world. If you submit and publish in Transfusion Medicine

you can be assured of a wide readership!

One measurement that has not progressed has been the impact factor

which has declined from an impact factor of just over two in 2001 to just

over one in 2011. This impact factor measures the number of times

articles published in 2009 and 2010 were cited in 2011 and therefore is

a retrospective measure of the quotation of the journal by other articles.

It is a bit like looking at your progress on a journey through the rear view

mirror. It is likely it will stay at this level for the next year and after that

I very much hope will improve as the impact of the new changes

will become apparent in citation of articles published since 2011.

In any event, this impact factor is not very different from the historical

average. We have an increase in submissions this year which suggests

the changes we have made to readability are having a positive impact on

people’s perception of the journal.

What do you think of the journal? We will survey everyone at this time

next year but very much hope that the changes have encouraged people

to open and read the articles. We have plans to have a series of exciting

reviews this year covering updates on variant Creutzfeld Jacob disease

and other topics in transfusion transmitted infection, gastrointestinal

Haemorrhage, cytomegalo virus, comment on the platelet trigger trials

and near patient testing.

The journal cannot be a success without your input and help and I

would welcome submissions and also comments at any time, and

specifically suggestions for reviews and editorials. Please let me have

any suggestions directly ([email protected]) I hope everyone

will have a chance to comment more formally on the changes next year.

I look forward to hearing from many of you!

Professor Dave Roberts, NHSBT Oxford

When I was appointed as Editor in Chief

of Transfusion Medicine nearly two

years ago the first task was to make

the journal enjoyable and a valued read

for BBTS members. Both BBTS Council

and the Editorial Team also wanted to

improve the ranking and scientific

standing of Transfusion Medicine in

its field but this would only follow

if the readability and visibility of the journal was improved.

In order to address the needs of readers we undertook a survey of themembership to understand what was appreciated and wanted from thejournal. Following this, we planned to encourage submissions onguidelines, areas that impact on clinical or laboratory practice and newareas of work. We also intended to use short communications orLetters to the Editor for worthy but less original work that would be ofinterest and so maintain high scientific standards for articles.With considerable help from the team at Wiley Blackwell, we undertooka facelift of the journal resulting in a new cover layout and typeface.

We have attempted to improve the readability of the journal by greatly

increasing the number of editorials and over the last 18 months have had

12 editorials covering not just the launch and news of changes in the

journal but also gene therapy, the new pre-transfusion compatibility

guidelines, the use of fibrinogen, the use of blood following the London

bombing, storage and processing of cells, anti-D prophylaxis and

hyperhaemolysis. An editorial or comment on SHOT looks like becoming

a regular fixture. In addition to the pre-transfusion compatibility

guidelines we have also had a second set of BCSH guidelines on

validation and change of control for laboratories. Additionally, there have

been a series of reviews on the history of transfusion practice, a re-print

of Ian Franklin’s BBTS talk on a new philosophy for blood transfusion

safety and a series of reviews related to haemorrhage and transfusion

practice including recombinant Factor VIIA, cryoprecipitate and the

use of blood products in trauma. This has resulted in 15 reviews and

9 editorials over the last 9 issues.

The overall scientific quality has been improved by use of the plagiarism

detection software iThenticate and we have set a threshold of similarity

which must not be exceeded for the article to undergo review.

These changes have led to a subtle but significant change in emphasis

to an increased proportion of submissions from the UK which now reach

just over a third of all published articles with stable levels of submissions

from Europe, the Middle East and Northern Hemisphere and a slight

reduction but still a varied and significant representation of articles

from further afield.

The circulation of Transfusion Medicine remains very high with over 98%

of institutions worldwide renewing the subscription which is above average

for the Wiley Blackwell journals. The subscriptions come from all over

the world with a third in Europe, only 4% in the UK and 14% in the USA.

Downloads from Transfusion Medicine by RegionOver 60,000 articles are downloaded from Transfusion Medicine

each year from all over the world

Fig.1

Offshore Transfusion: Tales from the South

Once home to Tennyson, Keats & Alfred Noyes not only is the

Isle of Wight England’s largest island but, at 25 miles east to west

and 12 miles north to south, it is also the smallest English county

(during high tide). Lying 5 miles off the south coast of Hampshire,

the 140,000 permanent residents rely on a car ferry service to

transport people and goods to and from the island via ports at

Yarmouth, Cowes and Ryde.

Enjoying a milder sub-climate than most of the rest of the UK, the island

is a popular holiday destination. During the high season the population

can explode to some 2 million people. The island hosts 2 major

music festivals, IW Pop Festival in June and Bestival in September.

Together with high profile events such as Cowes Week, where high

volumes of people are in very small areas, the possibility of

accident, trauma and conditions which would normally be dealt with

by a GP all increase.

Due to its milder climate it is also a popular retirement area. The 2010

island census shows a steady increase in residents over 65 from 24%

of the population at present to a predicted 33% in 20 years time.

This increase of older residents brings with it an increase in respiratory,

circulatory and other age related diseases all adding to our use of

blood components.

The island is served by St Mary’s, its 477 bed District General Hospital.

St Mary’s is central to the island in Newport and covers all major

specialities. Patients requiring more specialised treatments however, are

normally transferred to the mainland. We are also a Trauma Centre and

have recently built a helipad on site. Previously patients requiring air

transport to the mainland had to endure a 2 mile trip via ambulance to

the nearest helicopter landing site. Our busy Emergency Department

has over 100 ’Blue Light’ patients per day.

As a hospital we are a medium user of blood components. We use

approximately 4500 units of Red Cells, 250 units of Platelets and 400

FFP/ Cryo products per annum. St Mary’s receives up to 2 routine

deliveries per day (Mon to Fri) or at weekends with ad hoc deliveries out

of hours as required. We have introduced ’Trauma Packs’ to provide blood

components to Major Haemorrhage patients quickly and as part of this

we keep one unit of ‘A Neg’ Platelets in stock at all times.

However . . . being on an island and reliant on sea transport does have

its draw backs. Storms and fog can cut the island off from the mainland

for hours or even days at a time. Even in normal conditions, whilst there

is a reasonable ferry service during the day, at night it’s a different

picture with up to 4 hours to wait from one ferry to the next. This means

that we have to have a robust blood stock management protocol to ensure

that blood stocks are adequate and forward planning is a must especially

when major events are underway to encompass changed ferry timetables

and road closures.

And finally . . . Queen Victoria’s Physician, Dr James Clark, confirmed

that “the several peculiarities of the islands’ climate render it a highly

desirable residence for invalids throughout the year . . . And if that

failed then Mr Greenham of Shanklin offered a nice line in invalid whisky

at 3/6d a bottle!”

Andy Thompson, Transfusion Nurse Practitioner

1 2


Come to the Isle of Wight . . .. . . “Where, far from noise and smoke of town I watch the twilight falling brown,all round a careless-ordered garden, Close to the ridge of a noble down.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson

www.bbts.org.uk


1 3@BritishBloodTS ‘British Blood Transfusion Society’

We need you to make a differenceIf you or someone you know want to make

a difference and influence the future of the

society get in touch.

What we offer in return:

• The chance to contribute to the

learning and development of

transfusion professionals across Britain.

• The opportunity to develop strategy and

governance skills as part of CPD.

• Amazing networking opportunities for

you to connect and learn from peers

within Transfusion Medicine.

For more information please visit

www.bbts.org.uk/about_us

Calling all Transfusion ProfessionalsNominations are open for BBTS Council Members


Events to look out for . . .

BBTS Hospital Transfusion Special Interest

Group & Transfusion Practitioners Group Spring Meetings

14th & 15th May 2013 – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Birmingham

Accredited by IBMS and RCPath, these two day meetings

will help you gain practical information, give you an opportunity to meet

and discuss latest developments with your peers and learn

how new initiatives are being implemented. You can also pick up

credits to add to your CPD portfolio.

23rd Regional Congress of the

International Society of Blood Transfusion

2nd – 5th June 2013 – Amsterdam

With an exciting scientific and social programme,

the ISBT aim to provide a combination of science, education,

and the chance to develop contacts.

Sessions include: Donor Health and (Product) Safety,

Clinical Transfusion Science and Transfusion Technology and Quality.

Scotblood Annual Conference 2013

6th – 7th June 2013 – University of Stirling

Scotblood 2013 has an excellent programme of national

and international speakers who will be discussing the current issues

and future developments affecting the fields of transfusion

medicine, cellular therapy, and transplantation.

International Meeting on Cell Free DNA

20th – 21st June 2013

Covering the clinical, biological, and technical aspects

of cell-free DNA, with special emphasis on fetal genotyping and routine

fetal RhD genotyping in D negative women.

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

29th June – 4th July 2013

Join thousands of clinicians and scientists to hear the newest

developments in understanding thrombotic and haemorrhagic disease,

and the latest results from treatment trials, presented

in late-breaking hot sessions. More than 100 international experts will

give state-of-the-art overviews, and the top 600 from 3,000

abstracts have been selected for oral presentation

Annual SHOT Symposium

10th July 2013 - London

For more information on upcoming events visit our website:

www.bbts.org.uk/events

1 4 www.bbts.org.uk

CPDnewsIssue No. 44 May 2013

Continuing Professional Development

As the standard ‘rushing around’ that constitutes the end of March draws to a close, I have hopefully met

the copy deadline for this issue of CPD news, which explains why this editorial is rather brief!

Included in this issue are the latest in Tony Davies’ series of SHOT or NOT scenarios and some multiple

choice questions covering a range of topics supplied by Samantha Harle-Stephens. If any members have topics that they

would like to see covered by CPD news, or have items suitable for CPD news that they could supply, please contact

[email protected]

Suggestions and suitable CPD material are greatly appreciated.

John Eggington

CPD News – Issue 44

SHOT or not?A unit of blood for Patient A was collected from the issue fridge by a staffnurse but was taken to the bedside of Patient B. There were no formalidentity checks performed, the bag had the giving set inserted andconnected to the patient, but a second staff nurse noticed the error

before any blood was actually transfused to the patient.

Who is this reportable to – SHOT, MHRA, or both?

What should it be reported as?

Multiple Choice Questions

1). Constituents of the RBC membrane are:

a). 50% protein

b). a phospholipid bilayer

c). Only extrinsic proteins

d). Cell adhesion molecules

e). Cholesterol

2). Factors associated with the primary immunisation process are:

a). Predominantly IgG

b). Predominantly IgM

c). Lag period

d). T-cell dependent antigens

e). A switch to other types of Ig

3). What from the following is true about complement?

a). It is made of nine main components

b). C1 molecule is composed of 2 subunits

c). C1q is activated by binding to 2 Fc portions of IgG

d). C3b has a long half-life

e). Complement can be inactivated by heat and calcium

binding anticoagulants

4). The UK frequency of blood group AB in the UK is:

a). 2%

b). 3%

c). 4%

d). 1%

e). 5%

5). What genotype represents R1R2?

a). cDE/cdE

b). CDe/cde

c). cDE/cde

d). CDe/cDE

e). CDe/Cde

6). Which of the following should be given Rh Negative blood?

a). DVI

b). Weak D

c). DVII

d). Ror

e). DVa

2

C O N T I N U I N G P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T

www.bbts.org.uk

C O N T I N U I N G P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T

Answers (CPD issue 43)

SHOT or not? Answer

A patient attended the antenatal clinic for the first time in her currentpregnancy at 36 weeks of gestation. Samples were taken and it wasnoted that she was RhD negative, and should have received anti-Dimmunoglobulin routinely at 28 weeks. Midwives were unable tocontact the woman to return for anti-D prior to delivery. It was laternoted that there was a grouping report in her notes from a previouspregnancy indicating that she was RhD negative with no antibodies.

Who is this reportable to – SHOT, MHRA, or both ?

Not reportable to MHRA, as they do not take reports ofadministration errors relating to anti-D.Not reportable to SHOT, as it was the woman’s ‘choice’ toattend late, and to not respond to requests to return for heranti-D Ig. It is unsafe to use a report from a previouspregnancy in order to issue anti-D Ig – the group may havebeen wrongly filed/transcribed and the woman may have sincedeveloped immune anti-D.

3@BritishBloodTS ‘British Blood Transfusion Society’

7). Which of the following is true about Rhnull phenotype?

a). Phenotype result is C-c-E-e-D-

b). RBC’s have reduced survival

c). It is quite common

d). It produces a severe anaemia

e). It results from only one genetic background

8). Causes of false negative results in an IAT include:

a). Contaminated AHG

b). Presence of fibrin clots

c). Inadequate washing of the RBC’s

d). Over centrifugation

e). Presence of dust in the tubes

9). In Antibody screening homozygous expression is

recommended for the following antigens:

a). Jka

b). D

c). M

d). S

e). Fya

10). What following facts are true of the Lewis blood

group system?

a). They are adsorbed onto the RBC membrane

b). Cord blood is Le-Leb-

c). Their antibodies are usually IgM

d). They are not clinically significant

e). They often cause transfusion reactions

11). The Kell blood group system has 2 antithetical antigens,

K and k.

Which phenotype is the most common and at what

approximate UK frequency?

a). K+k-

b). K+k+

c). K-k+

d). 81%

e). 91%

12). Which of the following are minor blood group systems

a). Diego

b). Colton

c). Vel

d). Js(a)

e). Wr(a)

13). What are the most common antibodies giving rise to HDN?

a). D

b). K

c). E

d). c

e). C

14). Enzymes will:

a). Reduce the overall negative charge around red cells

b). Give Rh antigens more exposure

c). Destroy Kidd antigens

d). Remove some antigens from the red cell

e). Work better at room temperature

J U N I O R B U R S A R I E S

4

EDUCATIONEDUCATIONEDUCATION

THE BBTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE has been widely recognisedas a meeting of exceptional scientific and educational quality . . . 85% of our

delegates in 2012 rated the conference as ‘excellent or good’,with 76% stating the scientific programme determined their attendance

•The British Blood Transfusion Society has a limited number of complimentary Junior Bursary

places available for the 31st Annual Conference, ICC Birmingham, October 16th - 18th 2013

•We have a limited number of FREE Bursary places available which include complimentary

registration, accommodation and £100 towards travel

•Do you have staff under Band Grade 5? Junior healthcare and laboratory staff, newly

appointed transfusion practitioners, junior nursing and training medical grades who would like tobenefit from our exciting, refreshing new programme? Maybe you have a PhD

student or newly qualified staff who wish to present their research work at the meeting?

•This opportunity for funding shouldn’t be missed!

Encourage and support your staff to apply today www.bbts.org.uk/annualconferenceClosing date June 17th

www.bbts.o rg.uk/annualconference

www.bbts.org.uk

How to Write Amazing Abstracts

As the 17th June is fast approaching and the deadline for

submitting abstracts grows close, we thought we’d put together a

few tips to help your submission stand out. Follow these hints to

increase your chances of getting published, which could help

to secure funding to attend the Annual Conference itself.

Accepted presentations, whether oral

or poster, will be printed in the journal

of Transfusion Medicine which is

recognised both nationally and

internationally. This will help your CPD

portfolio, improve your CV and could

increase your chances of obtaining

funding to attend the meeting.

Most importantly it makes others aware

of your work and will bring you into

contact with those in the transfusion

world with similar interests.

What can I write about?The aim of an abstract is simple: to share research, knowledge and best

practice. Anyone can write one! Consider perhaps what has made your life

easier in the workplace, saved you time and improved the accuracy a

process? If it’s helped you and your colleagues it will more than likely help

someone else. You may have some original scientific research to report,

have undertaken a clinical audit which has led to service improvement or

designed a new process which has improved efficiency. The list is endless!

There are 8 abstract categories to choose from:

Blood Components | Blood Donation/Donors | Clinical Audit |

Clinical Transfusion | Microbiology | IT/QA/Management |

Red Cell Immunology | Stem Cells

Tips to Remember•State the reason for the study/research – let people know what

they’re about to be reading and why it’s important. Make it relevant

and interesting to hold their attention.

1 6


•Always ensure acronyms are written out in full when they are first used.

•Describe methods and/or study design – Keep it brief and only include

the main points. It is important for readers to know how you achieved

results but they don’t need every minute detail.

•Keep it concise and to the point - don’t use 10 words when 5 will do.

•Present data and results clearly – A well laid out document is much

easier to digest than an erratic one. Stick to word count, layout and

formatting criteria, it’s there to help.

•Summarise your findings – Explain why your research is important and

what impact it has on future work.

•Give it a great title – The title is the hook that will grip your reader’s

attention. Make it relevant but keep it as short as possible.

•Don’t forget to proof read and spell check

Top three mistakes to avoid:•Your conclusion is not supported

by your data

•Previously published data

•Poor English!

Simply passing your work to a colleague for a ‘fresh pair of eyes’, running

a Google search or hitting spellcheck can dramatically increase your

chances of getting accepted.

Get startedThe deadline for this year’s submissions is 17th June.

Find more information and to complete the submission online :

www.bbts.org.uk/annualconference/abstracts.

Alternatively, contact:

[email protected] or call 0161 232 7999

If you are interested in submitting an abstract in the future but do not feel

quite ready at the moment why not attend our education session –

‘How to Produce a Poster’ on Thursday 17th October at the Annual

Conference in Birmingham www.bbts.org.uk/annualconference

‘Use the IMRAD System – Introduction Methods Results

And Discussion.This will help you to plan

your abstractand structure it correctly.’

Submit your abstractfor 2013 today!

www.bbts.org.uk/annualconference

www.bbts.org.uk

1 8


The new BBTS online CPD Tool is here . . .

. . . and it’s free to all members! Record, edit and submit your

CPD online.

The BBTS recognises the significance of CPD to our members.

CPD is important to all healthcare practitioners for their own

benefit, and the benefit of those they care for. It enables you to

boost your career, broaden your knowledge, and enhance your

ability to practice effectively and legally.

We also know that your time is precious, so maintaining your CPD

record should be as easy and efficient as possible. That is why we have

created an online tool for you to document your CPD activities

electronically, leaving more time for you to focus on the activities

themselves, and reflect on the outcomes.

How do I get it?The tool is online so you can access it from any computer with an

internet connection. No need to carry a USB stick around with you, no

need to download a programme to your computer, and no need to worry

about upgrades. Simply log in to the BBTS website, click on CPD in the

menu bar, and away you go.

How do I use it?We aimed to make the tool simple to use, intuitive, and with as many

automated features as possible. There are five easy-to-navigate tabs

to work through:

Work History

Current Job Description

Summary of Work

CPD Activities

Activity Examples

Just click on the tab to access it. In each tab simply type in the relevant

information, or copy and paste text from another document. Information

is automatically saved as you type.

www.bbts.org.uk

Added your work history in the wrong order? Not listed your CPD

activities chronologically? No problem, you can drag and drop each row

to wherever you want it in the tab. No need to delete rows or retype them

if you miss anything out.

The CPD Activities tab provides a form to summarise your CPD activities,

whilst also giving you the option to attach reflective notes and relevant

documents to each activity. You can also define each CPD activity using

the following categories:

Work Based Learning

Professional Activity

Self-Directed Learning

Formal / Educational

Other

Input the hours spent on each activity and the tool will keep a running

total, along with CPD hours overall. This feature, and the Activity Examples

list, both help you to quickly identify where there may be gaps in your

CPD activity.

Reflective Learning

One of the most important elements of CPD is reflective learning, as this

provides a positive opportunity for you to identify and achieve your own

career goals. Reflecting on past experience can make your future

development more methodical, helping you to get the most from your

learning and to realise your ambitions.

You can add and edit reflective notes for each CPD activity that you record.

Click a button to add reflective notes and the tool will automatically add

the activity details from the summary for you. All you have to do then is

write your reflective notes. You can also attach relevant documents, such

as handbooks, presentation notes or certificates. You will be able to see

from the summary form which activities you have completed reflective

notes for, and which activities you have added documents for.

Fully downloadable

Each tab can be downloaded individually, or you can download the entire

record. All of the information downloads to a Word document to allow

easy editing. You can then present and store the record exactly as you

wish for your own use, for your employer, or for your regulatory body

should you be audited. Edit it, save it, print it, email it . . . whatever

you want!

Submitting your CPD to BBTS

You can submit your CPD record to BBTS at the click of your mouse,

and you’ll get a confirmation email that you have done this. The tool

even tells you when you last submitted your CPD record, so you

remember to submit on an annual basis.

What should I include?

We have provided examples of activity types in a checklist form so you can

see the variety of activities that you have completed, or gain inspiration

for additional CPD activities you might wish to pursue.

Attended the BBTS Annual Conference?

Written an article for Bloodlines?

Sat on a BBTS committee?

These and other activities all count in your professional development and

should be in your CPD record.

Regulatory bodies such as the Health and Care Professions Council

(HCPC) may ask to see evidence of your recent CPD activities, and the

online tool is mindful of the CPD standards set by such regulatory bodies

relevant to our members. (Any information on CPD activities over four

years old is probably no longer relevant so we ask that you download and

then delete this information). However, CPD isn’t just about audits and

box-ticking. CPD is an important element of your working life; it is an

essential thread that runs right throughout your career.

I think I’ll give it a try . . . !

Great! There is a Help tab within the tool where you can view

some instructional videos to help get you started, along with a few

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). You can also call or email us

with any queries.

CPD summary returns are now due, so what are you waiting for?

Check out the new BBTS online CPD tool now at www.bbts.org.uk/cpd

Eluned Cook,

BBTS Membership and Education Officer

[email protected]

1 9



Pathology is changing. The influence of the Carter reports and

significant financial constraints are the key driving forces towards

new ways of delivering pathology services. Laboratories are

amalgamating by forming networks and affiliations with a

“hub and spoke” configuration emerging as the preferred model

to reduce costs and consolidate expertise. These changes will have

an impact on the blood transfusion laboratory.

Blood transfusion is however fundamentally different from other disciplines

within pathology in that it involves the provision of an essential therapeutic

product and therefore operates in a very highly regulated environment.

The quality systems required to manage the receipt, storage,

crossmatching and final fate of blood components in a way which

provides an auditable record of cold chain compliance are demanding

and unique within pathology. Inventory control of blood components

to minimise wastage, promotion of safe transfusion practice and an

understanding of the appropriate use of blood components are all specific

to transfusion.

NHS Blood & Transplant [NHSBT] as

the key supplier of blood and related

diagnostic services is a major

stakeholder in these changes and is

considering how it may adapt its service

provision to meet the needs of our

hospital customers in this new

environment. NHSBT and hospitals

work closely but independently to

provide blood components and

transfusion services to patients.

However, ITS could potentially see

NHSBT and hospitals bring together

their joint expertise through a more

integrated approach.

A comprehensive evaluation of NHSBT services and an assessment of

the developing structure of hospital transfusion provided the basis for

the NHSBT response to Pathology Modernisation as a key strategic priority,

improving the way we work with NHS hospitals to manage blood stocks

more effectively and enhance transfusion services for patients.

Stock ManagementNHSBT’s stock management project is based upon a collaborative

approach to managing the blood supply chain with agreed stock targets

and the adoption of fully integrated processes between NHSBT and

hospitals for the provision of blood products.

Working with pilot hospitals NHSBT is gathering data on stock levels and

usage patterns and using the information to predict their requirements.

This data is then used to automatically generate orders to replenish

stocks, based upon ‘trigger’ levels agreed in advance with the hospital.

The project has developed based on initial work with the John Radcliffe

hospital in Oxford and NHSBT is now working with Blackpool Victoria,

Royal Liverpool and Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals to pilot

the new stock management model.

Stuart Penny, General Manager for Operations – South West, who is

leading the project said, “The pilots are evaluating the benefits of working

with hospitals to help manage their stocks. These could include reducing

costs, blood wastage, the age of blood at issue; improving demand and

collection planning; and allowing faster access to blood and components.

Transfusion InnovationThe NHSBT Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI) department provides a

vital reference service to hospital laboratories. The anticipated changes to

hospital laboratory services with the continued pressure to retain

regulatory compliance and the required skill levels will be a challenging

environment.

The Transfusion Innovation project

involves considering how NHSBT

services could change to meet the

current and future needs of hospital

transfusion laboratories.

During 2012 a ‘blueprint’ was

developed, outlining how NHSBT could

work with hospitals to deliver improved

services for patients. This includes

the RCI service and opportunities to

look more broadly at how quality,

technology, IT, training and workforce

planning could be supported.

Andrew Hadley, General Manager – Specialist Services Operations

said, “ITS aims to respond to this changing world, developing our services

and capabilities to help meet these challenges.”

The next step is to share and discuss this blueprint with some of our

hospital customers and consider how this work fits within the broader

NHSBT strategy for RCI.

NHSBT could potentially play a major part in pathology modernisation by

utilising its already highly developed infrastructure, transport system and

knowledge base to provide a sustainable, cost effective blood transfusion

service, more agile in its delivery of service and more responsive to

the requirements of both patients and donors.

Richard Gray

Process Improvement Manager, NHS Blood & Transplant

2 1



Integrated Transfusion Service (ITS)

2 2


The British Blood Transfusion Society is delighted tooffer a limited number of junior transfusion staff theopportunity to attend our Annual Conference in Octoberfree of charge as Junior Bursaries.

For you, this means three days of learning, discussion and networking

with the leading minds in transfusion science and you don’t have to pay

a penny. The conference will help you to gain knowledge, develop

understanding and earn yourself CPD credits. We will even help you with

complimentary accommodation and £100 towards travel expenses!

This year’s conference will take place at the ICC in Birmingham 16th –

18th October.

The programme is as impressive as ever with highlights including:

Special Interest Groups on Wednesday 16th October

Award LecturesProf Martin Olsson, Sweden | Prof Neil Avent, Plymouth University |

Dr Ashley Toye, Bristol University | Keynote Speaker, Prof Ben Van

Hout, Sheffield University

Plenary LecturesMr Stuart Penny, NHSBT Filton |Ms Teresa Allen, NHSBT, Oxford |

Dr David Alderson, Trafford General Hospital | Prof Karim Brohi, Barts

& The London | Mr Toby Richards, UCL | Dr Kate Pendry, NHSBT

Manchester

Simultaneous Sessions include:Molecular Blood Grouping, Clinical & Serology Case Studies, Root

Cause Analysis Workshops, Pathogen Reduction & Testing, Transfusion

implications of Transplantation, Six Ts of Transfusion, Challenges in Youth

Blood Donor Recruitment & Retention, Cell Salvage, Nursing, MSC

Update, Sessions dedicated to Young Scientists, Oral Presentations,

Poster Sessions and 4 early morning Educational Sessions.

Meet the Trade and experience cutting edge technology

Socials include Trade Exhibition Supper and the BBTS Gala Dinner

& Awards Ceremony

Sounds good? It really is a great opportunity to attend the leading transfusion conference

in the UK. It’s easy to apply, but places are limited and the competition

is high. Simply complete the application form and write a statement telling

us why you think you should be eligible for a place and why your employer

does too. The deadline for applications is Monday 17th June and forms

can be downloaded from our website

www.bbts.org.uk/bursaries/bursaries

Who can apply?

Trainee Biomedical Scientist [BMS] or BMS1 (Band 5 and below)

| Medical Laboratory Assistants [MLA] | Grade A Clinician Scientists

| Junior Nursing & Training Medical Grades who would like to benefit

from our exciting, refreshing new programme.

Maybe you are a new PhD student or just newly qualified staff who would

like to present your research work at the meeting.

Successful applicants will be expected to become a member of BBTS

and joining is easy. At just £45, our concessionary membership offers

many of its own great benefits including a brand new online CPD tool (see

page 18), reduced rates for all BBTS meetings and a subscription

to receive our exclusive publications ‘Bloodlines’ and ‘Transfusion

Medicine’ direct to your door.

If you have any queries regarding Junior Bursaries please contact the

BBTS office on 0161 232 7998 or email [email protected]

This opportunity for funding shouldn’t be missed . . .

Shaping the Future of Blood Transfusion

www.bbts.org.uk

2 3

T R A D E N EW S & E V E N T S


2 4


www.bbts.org.uk

2 5



Alternatively you can contact us by email at:[email protected]

Once again the Scotblood Annual Conference has an excellent programmeof national and international speakers who will discuss the current issues and future developments

affecting the fields of transfusion, cellular therapy and transplantation.

Some of our notable speakers for 2013 include Sir Ian Wilmut discussing the potential of regenerative medicine, Mrs Andrea Cefarelli discussing the

NYBC perspective on youth recruitment. Ms Joyce Poolewill be delivering the Iain Cook Memorial Lecture and this year the

Keynote speaker is Dr Aileen Keel.

For 2013 we have expanded the concurrent sessions on Friday afternoon.These sessions will be focused on specific areas of transfusion medicine and will

include relevant speakers and discussion.

The four sessions are:• Research, Development & Innovation with Tissues & Cells -

Discussing recent SNBTS and successful collaborative projects. • Clinical Services - Topics to include RhD with a notable lecture from Dr Geoff Daniels.

• Processing and Testing - Discussing current and future process and testing developments. • Donor Services - Discussing recent donor issues and including

a talk from Mrs Christine Foran (NYBC).

Scotblood Annual Conference 20136th-7th June

The 2013 event will once again be held at the picturesque University of Stirling campus.

Prices start from £50 per day delegate and discountedfull conference rates can be found at our website

www.scotblood.co.uk and click on the'2013 Annual Conference' link.

2 6


British Blood Transfusion Society 31st Annual ConferenceA packed scientific and clinical programme which is exciting,

refreshing and new for all those working in transfusion & transplantation

16th - 18th October 2013, ICC, Birmingham City Centre

Wednesday 16th October 10:30 - 16:30SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Blood Bank Technology, Components, Hospital Transfusion, Microbiology, Paediatrics, Red Cell, Therapeutic Apheresis

17:00-18:30Opening Plenary: Avoiding Chaos – ‘Crisis Management’‘Chaos/Crisis’ Stories & Learning Points Mr Stuart Penny, NHSBT Filton,

Ms Teresa Allen NHSBT Oxford, Dr David Alderson, Trafford General Hospital

Thursday 17th October 09:00 - 17:30Four Early Morning Educational Sessions

Award Lectures:James Blundell, Prof Martin Olsson, Sweden, Kenneth Goldsmith Prof Neil Avent, Plymouth University

Pathogen Reduction & TestingDr Jean-Claude Osselaer, Belgium, Dr Jose Cancelas, USA, Dr Richard Tedder, UCL, Dr Graham Alexander, Cambridge

Simultaneous sessions include:Clinical & Serology Case Studies, Orals, Root Cause Analysis Workshops,

Transfusion Practitioners lively debate on the ‘ Six Ts of Transfusion’

Award Lectures:Race & Sanger, Dr Ashley Toye, University of Bristol, Keynote Speaker, Prof Ben V an Hout, Leeds

Friday 18th October 09:00 - 15:00In collaboration with NATA, ‘Appropriate Blood Use’

Prof Karim Brohi, Barts and The London , Mr Toby Richards, UCL, Dr Kate Pendry, NHSBT Manchester

Molecular Blood GroupingDr Jill Storry, Sweden, Dr Christoph Gassner, Zurich, Dr Geoff Daniels, NHSBT Filton

Simultaneous sessions include:Transfusion Implications of Transplantation, Challenges in Youth Blood Donor Recuitment & Retention,

Cell Salvage, Nursing, MSC Update Sessions dedicated to Young Scientists, Poster Session and Oral Presentations. Cutting edge technology

& view the latest equipment at the Trade Exhibition Social events include:

Trade Exhibition Supper, BBTS Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony

‘Early Bird’ day rate from £99* Full Conference rate from £318**Member Discount, Early Bird rate closes August 15th


www.bbts.org.uk

2 7



Contribute to the profession’s development as well as your own. If selected for poster or oral

presentation, a guaranteed receptive audience will welcome your submission. Remember an

abstract will help your CPD Portfolio, it can improve your CV and future prospects and may

increase your chance of funding to attend the meeting in Birmingham in October.

Most importantly, it makes others aware of your work and will bring you into contact with

those in the transfusion world with similar interests.

The aim of an ABSTRACT is simple, to share research, knowledge and best practice

It can be written by you! Do you have original Scientific Research to report?

Have you undertaken Clinical Audit which has led to service improvement?

Have you improved the accuracy of a process? . . . the list is endless.

You have eight categories to choose from:

Blood Components, Clinical Audit, Clinical

Transfusion, Donors & Donation, IT / QA

Management, Microbiology, Red Cell Immunology

& Stem Cells and if selected, your abstract will be

printed in the Journal of Transfusion Medicine.

Abstract submission and tips to help you can be

found at www.bbts.org.uk/annualconference

and you can submit up to June 17 2013.

*Abstracts must be original and must not have

been submitted at another meeting.

If selected, you will be required to register for

Thursday 17th October.

Submit your abstractfor 2013 today!


31st Annual Scientific Conference

16th-18th October 2013•The ICC Birmingham

Abstracts CLOSE 17th June 2013www.bbts.org.uk/annualconference

Documents

Bloodlines - BBTS Issue No.108 May 2013 and CPDnews OUR ONLINE CPD TOOL HAS ARRIVED Pg18