title: [The francophone Africa blood transfusion research network: a five-year report].
abstract: There has been little blood safety research in sub-Saharan Africa, often consisting of local efforts whose findings had limited impact The "Francophone Africa Transfusion Research Network" was created in May 2007 with the objective of developing common evidence-based blood safety policies that may be adapted to each country's situation. The Group's activities to date have focused mainly on obtaining epidemiological and laboratory data on blood transfusion and on suggesting blood safety strategies, particularly in the field of TTIs. To carry out such research activities, the group works closely with the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), the Regional Blood Transfusion Services (RBTS), the hospital blood banks (HBB) and collection stations. For the first 5years, four research priorities were identified: (i) descriptive studies of the characteristics of francophone African blood donors and blood centers; (ii) estimation of the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted major viral infections; (iii) an analysis of blood donor deferral strategies; and (iv) a description of TTI screening strategies and an external quality assurance system (EQAS) project. During this period, seven projects have been implemented at the national level and published and five multicenter studies were conducted and published. The present review reports the main observations and recommendations from those studies that could improve blood safety statute in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Service d'hématologie et de transfusion sanguine, centre hospitalier et universitaire, Yaoundé Cameroun et faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, BP 5739, Yaoundé, Cameroun. Electronic address: tayouclaude@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Claude Tayou
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tagny
authors.affiliation: University of California San Francisco and blood systems research institute, San Francisco, CA, États-Unis.
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Institut national de la transfusion sanguine, université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lefrère
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D058731:Blood Safety; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D046148:Donor Selection; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research; D058028:Research Report; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Africa; Afrique; Groupe de recherches; Research group; Transfusion