MEASURES TO INCREASE USE OF SCREENING TESTS FOR POST-TRANSFUSION INFECTION

On July 30, 2003 the Revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Revised Transfusion Act were enacted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to clarify the responsibilities of medical organizations. Taking this opportunity, the Hospital's Blood Transfusion Therapy Committee and Infection Control Committee undertook a review of methods of screening tests for post-transfusion infection. We decided to give patients a form letter to recommend they take a screening test for post-transfusion infection while providing notice to doctors that ‘2 months have passed since the transfusion (Blue Card)’. In addition, detailed discussions were held with respect to 1) test fees, 2) test criteria, 3) how to raise patients' awareness, and 4) how to enhance doctors' awareness. As a result, the use of screening tests for post-transfusion infection increased, from 6.8% to 54.6%, enabling us to confirm some effects. However, to fulfil our responsibilities to all patients receiving blood transfusion, the system for implementing this program requires urgent improvement. We thus aimed to further improve the system through operating the newly revised Blue Card system. In addition, it is necessary to create a system to ensure thorough implementation of the program with the electronic patient record due to commence in 2006.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is expected to extend the application of patient assistance programs, in addition to implementing a system to ensure that patients receive safer blood transfusion.