Safety of the blood supply

The transfusion of blood components plays a significant role as supportive therapy in the treatment of patients with cancer. Although blood transfusions help manage complications arising from either the patient's primary condition or associated with therapeutic intervention, their use introduces a new set of risks; therefore, health care professionals must be aware of the potential morbidity introduced by using blood components and endeavor to optimize outcomes by ordering transfusions only when the benefits outweigh the inherent risks.

This article sought to review the published literature, including the epidemiology of diseases transmissible via transfusion, performance characteristics for assays used for blood donor screening, surveillance activities to detect newly emergent pathogens, and biovigilance activities reported by public health authorities.

Effective measures have been implemented to significantly decrease the risk of transmissible diseases associated with transfusion. Reports of viral disease transmitted via transfusion have been nearly eliminated, particularly since the introduction of molecular-based detection technology. The transmission of bacteria and parasites still represents a threat to the use of cellular blood components. Transfusion-associated human prion disease has not been reported in the United States. Immune-mediated reactions due to donor-recipient incompatibility remain a challenge.

Transmissible agents most commonly associated with risks due to transfusion are no longer a major threat; however, a significant challenge remains with regard to addressing the need for quick response mechanisms to manage emerging pathogens with the potential for rapid spread, either unintentionally (eg, globalization) or intentionally (eg, bioterrorism). The use of technology to reduce pathogens holds promise for further increasing the safety profile of blood transfusion.