title: Assessing the residual risk for transfusion-transmitted infections in the Philippine blood supply.
abstract: Due to a USAID-funded study on blood banks, a national policy was instituted in 1994 that set standards for Philippine blood services, promoted voluntary donation, and led to a ban on commercial blood banks. In this follow-up study, we assess the safety of the supply by determining the residual risk for transfusion-transmitted infections (syphilis, hepatitis B and C, HIV). We also identified unsafe facility practices and generated policy recommendations. A 1992 study found that transfusion-ready blood was not safe using the LQAS method (P > 0.05). We found that the 2012 residual risk became 0 to 0.9 percent attributable to the national policy. We noted poor to fair adherence to this policy. We identified unsafe practices such as use of rapid tests and lack of random blood retesting. Training and use of regional networks may improve safety. Despite improvement in safety, facilities complain of funding and logistical issues regarding compliance with the policy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila ; Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Hilton Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Vicente Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Belizario
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila ; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Noel R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Juban
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila ; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Marissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alejandria
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila ; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Castillo-Carandang
authors.affiliation: National Council for Blood Services, Department of Health.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arcellana-Nuqui
authors.affiliation: Hematology Section, Department of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital.
authors.forename: Ma Angelina
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mirasol
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila ; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Cynthia P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila ; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Olivia T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Sison
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
authors.forename: Adovich S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rivera
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D010679:Philippines; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
keywords: blood safety; national blood policy; residual risk