miércoles, 27 de julio de 2016

Health.mil - Health and Human Services officials visit Walter Reed Donor Center for pathogen reduction demonstration

Health.mil - Health and Human Services officials visit Walter Reed Donor Center for pathogen reduction demonstration

Health.mil

Health and Human Services officials visit Walter Reed Donor Center for pathogen reduction demonstration

Dr. Karen Scott (center), chief medical officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services, visits the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to review the first U.S. Department of Defense pathogen reduction technology.

Dr. Karen Scott (center), chief medical officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services, visits the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to review the first U.S. Department of Defense pathogen reduction technology. (Courtesy photo)





DR. Karen Scott, chief medical officer for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, recently to review the first U.S. Department of Defense pathogen reduction system.  
Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, director of the Armed Services Blood Program, hosted Scott and three members of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health team – James Berger, Richard Henry and Debbie Seem – who coordinate HHS activities related to blood and tissue safety. Their efforts include “actions to address the effects of emerging infections such as Zika and Chikungunya on the safety of and availability of blood and tissue products,” Scott said.   
Over the course of the day, Fahie and members of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center took Scott, Berger, Henry and Seem through the entire process: from platelet collection to the demonstration of the pathogen reduction process.  
“The focus of our visit was to learn more about pathogen reduction technology and see it in practice,” Scott said. “This was the first time for me and I was interested to learn more about this technology and also to see how the Armed Services are leading the nation in its use. I was particularly interested to see if our vision of a future where pathogen reduction technology would eliminate the need for individual screening tests to ensure a safe blood supply is a realistic goal.” 
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2014, the process of pathogen inactivation reduces the risk of both known and emerging pathogens in the blood supply, Fahie said. It works by using a combination of the chemical amotosalen and ultraviolet light to treat the unit. After the product is collected, the amotosalen is added and immediately binds to the DNA or RNA of anything, whether it is a pathogen, such as bacteria, or a virus.  
After the chemical binds to the DNA or RNA, a UV light is directed on the unit for approximately five to seven minutes to irreversibly bind the amotosalen to the DNA or RNA. 
“It creates proactive safety measures that we can use to help combat blood borne disease such as the Zika virus, Dengue and Chikungunya. It also addresses bacterial contamination and reduces the risk of transmitting deadly infections through platelet products. Essentially, it inactivates the pathogens and stops them from replication. It renders the pathogen harmless, therefore resulting in a safer blood supply for our patients,” explained Fahie. 
On June 20, HHS agreed to provide more than $48 million to fund pathogen reduction technologies. According to Scott, the knowledge and experience she gained while visiting the ASBBC made this announcement have an “even more powerful impact.”  
“I think the technology is very exciting,” Scott said. “But it was also very helpful to understand the current limitations as well as the opportunities this technology presents. We can only move forward productively if we understand the barriers that exist and actively work to address them.”  
Scott said that the information she and her team gained will “contribute to ongoing deliberations within HHS, and with blood industry and clinical leadership, on ways to ensure a continued adequate and safe blood supply.  
During her visit, Dr. Scott participated in a round table with the medical center’s leadership that discussed the capabilities and the challenges of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  
“In these efforts, we look forward to continued collaboration with the Armed Services Blood Program Office and further opportunities for shared learning,” she said.  
Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. Read original post.


GMU researchers developing system to help ensure blood safety

Article
7/8/2016
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., received a new state-of-the-art blood mobile May 5.
Researchers at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., are developing an automated validation and verification system to help ensure blood safety.
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program | Health IT Research and Innovation Strategy | Innovation

Pathogen reduction technology funding approved, ASBP on the forefront of deployment

Article
6/27/2016
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., received a new state-of-the-art blood mobile May 5.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to provide more than $48 million to fund pathogen reduction technologies
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program | Zika Virus | Innovation

New regulation may open doors for mothers to donate platelets, plasma

Article
6/20/2016
A service member is prepped to donate at a collection center. While there is still a chance that women who have been pregnant will be deferred from donating, the new HLA test opens the door for women to consider donating platelets and plasma for the first time in many years. (Courtesy photo)
A recent update the American Association of Blood Banks’s human leukocyte antigen regulations will open the door for many women to donate platelet and plasma for the first time in years
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program | Women's Health

New joint blood donation center operational in San Antonio

Article
6/15/2016
Army Lt. Col. Audra Taylor (center, left), director of the Army Blood Program, Navy Capt. Roland Fahie (center), director of the Armed Services Blood Program, and Air Force Lt. Col. Angela Hudson (center, right), director of the Air Force Blood Program, cut the ribbon at the new Armed Services Blood Bank Center-San Antonio, May 16.
The ASBBC-SA, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, is the first joint blood donor and infectious disease testing center operating under the Air Force Blood Program license
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program

Pathogen reduction technology helps combat blood borne disease

Article
4/25/2016
ASBP Logo
New pathogen reduction technologies are helping to mitigate risks to the blood supply
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program

Military blood program helps open transfusion center in Cambodia

Article
3/11/2016
Army Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific Command cuts the ribbon at the new Provincial Blood Transfusion Center located in Kampong Cham, Cambodia.
The Armed Services Blood Program helped open the Kampong Cham Provincial Blood Transfusion Center in Kampong, Cambodia
Related Topics: Global Health Engagement | Armed Services Blood Program

Donor Self-deferral Information Sheet to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-transmitted Zika

Publication
2/23/2016
This info sheet is to give to potential blood donors who have traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America in the last 28 days. BPL 16-02, Attachment 2
Related Topics: Zika Virus | Armed Services Blood Program

Post-donation Information Sheet

Publication
2/23/2016
This info sheet is to provide to blood donors after they give blood. BPL 16-02, Attachment 3
Related Topics: Zika Virus | Armed Services Blood Program

Blood, platelet donor and ‘Ted E. Bear’ spread joy, save lives

Article
2/3/2016
Ted E. Bear, a teddy bear that travels with “Platelets Across America” founder Al Whitney, is a symbol of the importance of blood donations. The story behind Ted E. Bear began when Whitney bought a teddy bear for a young girl in need of a white blood cell donation.
Al Whitney has been a blood donor since 1965; in 2007 he started a journey – Platelets Across America – his mission to donate platelets in every state
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program

Guidance Regarding Zika Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses

Policy

AABB Association Bulletin #16-03

Publication
2/1/2016
This bulletin was developed by the AABB Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases (TTD) Committee in response to the ongoing outbreaks of Zika virus disease in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. BPL 16-02, Attachment 1
Related Topics: Zika Virus | Armed Services Blood Program

Armed Services Blood Program Thanks Their Donors

Video
1/21/2016
ASBP blood donor
Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the United States military. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families worldwide.
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program

Shipping blood, saving lives

Article
1/19/2016
Air Force Master Sgt. Stephanie Washington, 379th Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron Diagnostics and Therapeutics flight chief, inspects a red blood cell unit before placing the unit into a box to be shipped at the Blood Transshipment Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
In 2015, the center shipped nearly 23,000 units of blood to nine countries
Related Topics: Health Readiness | Armed Services Blood Program

Remember the gift of life this holiday season: Give blood

Article
12/15/2015
Army Spc. Hayeon McCurley, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center medical laboratory technician (kneeling), prepares Air Force Senior Airman Kimberly Gray, 31st Security Forces Squadron investigator, for donating blood during the Armed Services Blood Program blood drive at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
The winter months are slow for blood donation centers, especially around the holidays when many service members are on leave visiting their families
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program

Platelet donor visits Fort Bragg as he continues cross-country quest

Article
12/10/2015
Al Whitney donates blood at the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center as part of his “Platelets Across America” campaign.
Al Whitney first donated blood in 1965; he’s still at it today
Related Topics: Armed Services Blood Program

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario