Sheila F O'Brien1, Ryanne W Lieshout-Krikke2, Antoine Lewin3, Christian Erikstrup4, Whitney R Steele5, Samra Uzicanin1, Brian Custer6. 1. Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Medical Affairs, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Medical Affairs & Innovation, Héma-Quévbec, Montreal, QC, Canada. 4. Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. 5. Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. 6. Research & Scientific Programs, Vitalant, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While coronavirus (COVID-19) is not transfusion-transmitted, the impact of the global pandemic on blood services worldwide is complex. Convalescent plasma may offer treatment, but efficacy and safety are not established. Measuring seroprevalence in donors would inform public health policy. Here, we survey blood services around the world to assess the different research programmes related to COVID-19 planned or in progress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood collection services were surveyed in June 2020 to determine whether they were participating in serosurveys or convalescent plasma collection and clinical trials. RESULTS: A total of 48 countries (77% of those contacted) responded. Seroprevalence studies are planned or in progress in 73% of countries surveyed and in all continents, including low- and middle-income countries. Most aimed to inform public health policy. Convalescent plasma programmes have been initiated around the globe (79% of surveyed), about three quarters as clinical trials in high-, middle- and low-income countries. CONCLUSION: Blood services around the world have drawn upon their operational capacity to provide much-needed seroprevalence data to inform public health. They have rapidly implemented preparation of potential treatment when few treatments are available and mostly as clinical trials. At the same time, they must continue to provide blood products for recipients despite challenges of working in a state of emergency. It is important to track and coordinate research efforts across jurisdictions to gain a composite evidence-based view that will influence future practice and preparative strategies.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While coronavirus (COVID-19) is not transfusion-transmitted, the impact of the global pandemic on blood services worldwide is complex. Convalescent plasma may offer treatment, but efficacy and safety are not established. Measuring seroprevalence in donors would inform public health policy. Here, we survey blood services around the world to assess the different research programmes related to COVID-19 planned or in progress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood collection services were surveyed in June 2020 to determine whether they were participating in serosurveys or convalescent plasma collection and clinical trials. RESULTS: A total of 48 countries (77% of those contacted) responded. Seroprevalence studies are planned or in progress in 73% of countries surveyed and in all continents, including low- and middle-income countries. Most aimed to inform public health policy. Convalescent plasma programmes have been initiated around the globe (79% of surveyed), about three quarters as clinical trials in high-, middle- and low-income countries. CONCLUSION: Blood services around the world have drawn upon their operational capacity to provide much-needed seroprevalence data to inform public health. They have rapidly implemented preparation of potential treatment when few treatments are available and mostly as clinical trials. At the same time, they must continue to provide blood products for recipients despite challenges of working in a state of emergency. It is important to track and coordinate research efforts across jurisdictions to gain a composite evidence-based view that will influence future practice and preparative strategies.
Authors: Sheila F O'Brien; Steven J Drews; Antoine Lewin; Carla Osiowy; Michael A Drebot; Christian Renaud Journal: Can Commun Dis Rep Date: 2022-04-06
Authors: Antoine Lewin; Steven J Drews; Ryanne Lieshout-Krikke; Christian Erikstrup; Sahar Saeed; Helen Fady; Samra Uzicanin; Brian Custer; Sheila F O'Brien Journal: Vox Sang Date: 2021-04-29 Impact factor: 2.996
Authors: Antoine Lewin; Gaston De Serres; Yves Grégoire; Josée Perreault; Mathieu Drouin; Marie-Josée Fournier; Tony Tremblay; Julie Beaudoin; Amélie Boivin; Guillaume Goyette; Andrés Finzi; Renée Bazin; Marc Germain; Gilles Delage; Christian Renaud Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2022-04-05
Authors: Brian Grunau; Sheila F O'Brien; Tracy L Kirkham; Jennie Helmer; Paul A Demers; Michael Asamoah-Boaheng; Steven J Drews; Mohammad Ehsanul Karim; Jocelyn A Srigley; Sadaf Sediqi; David O'Neill; Ian R Drennan; David M Goldfarb Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 2022-04-21 Impact factor: 6.762