Hemovigilance

AABB has a long history of collaborating with government agencies, international organizations, and experts in the field to establish and implement systems and processes for identifying and tracking adverse reactions and incidents associated with blood collection and transfusion.

Beginning in 2006, AABB collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to design and implement the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Hemovigilance Module. In addition to promoting the participation in this national hemovigilance system, AABB and its expert volunteers continue to collaborate with colleagues around the world to refine common definitions for donor and transfusion adverse events and incidents, promote education for professionals in the field, and facilitate research that identifies best practices and interventions to improve patient care and safety. Collaborative projects are conducted by the AABB Hemovigilance Committee and Working Groups.

In an ongoing effort to mitigate the risk of transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases, AABB also provides a valuable reporting platform to assist US blood collectors in identifying geographic areas where donors who have had reactive tests to various pathogens reside. The network includes reporting of West Nile Virus.

AABB continues to work to advance the field of hemovigilance through various activities. Below are highlights of AABB’s Hemovigilance activities: