Is haemovigilance improving transfusion practice?--The european experience

Improving transfusion practice for a donor means a safer donation process and maximal use of the donation. From the clinical perspective, it includes the production of the right type of blood component of adequate quality, administered at the right dose at the right moment to the right patient in order to obtain the expected or anticipated effect in absence of harm. Transfusion practice involves not only the complete blood chain, i.e. from the donation to clinical usage, but also the input from the competent authority that bears responsibility for the concepts of improving health care practice. In Europe, experience has shown that haemovigilance offers an effective tool in improving transfusion practice.