Implementation of a blood irradiation program at a community cancer center.
BACKGROUND
Blood component irradiation is an accepted method of preventing transfusion-associated GVHD. Previous publications have largely focused on the technical aspects of the irradiation process itself, but relatively little attention has been paid to the details associated with the implementation of a blood irradiation program at the level of a community cancer center.


METHODS
An observational study was performed, detailing the specific operational, documentation, and quality assurance measures employed in providing a blood component-irradiation service within the institutional context of a community cancer center.


RESULTS
The Montgomery Cancer Center irradiated 589 units of blood components in 1998 and 1999 to provide a local blood bank with an alternative for procurement of irradiated blood components while complying with applicable quality assurance and regulatory requirements.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood component irradiation is within the scope of most well-equipped and adequately staffed community cancer centers. Establishment of a blood component irradiation program requires scrupulous physics and dosimetry support, both to ensure the quality of the irradiated component and to satisfy governmental agency regulatory requirements.
Patton
G A
GA
Montgomery Cancer Center, Montgomery, Alabama, USA. gregory.patton@usoncology.com
Skowronski
M G
MG
D000407:Alabama; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011356:Product Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*