To the Editor: Bambrick et al1 suggest that the importation of overseas plasma products or the processing of Australian plasma overseas may pose a threat to the safety and security of Australia’s supply of plasma products. The National Blood Authority (NBA) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) would like to respond to these issues to ensure that clinicians have confidence in the safety of products currently available in Australia and a better understanding of current blood processing and supply arrangements.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1 Office of Devices, Blood and Tissues, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Canberra, ACT.
- 2 National Blood Authority, Canberra, ACT.
- 1. Bambrick HJ, Faunce TA, Johnston K. Potential impact of AUSFTA on Australia’s blood supply. Med J Aust 2006; 185: 320-323. <MJA full text>
- 2. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Health Ministers’ Conference. Policy statement on national self-sufficiency in the supply of blood and blood products 2006. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/content/plasma-fractionation-review-self.htm (accessed Mar 2007).
- 3. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Therapeutic Goods Administration 2006. Regulation of blood. http://www.tga.gov.au/bt/blood.htm (accessed Mar 2007).
- 4. National Blood Authority. International and national intravenous immunoglobulin use. Past, present and future. Turner A, General Manager, NBA. Jul 2006. http://www.nba.gov.au/PDF/International%20 and%20National%20IVIG%20Users%20V9.pdf (accessed Mar 2007).
- 5. Commission of the European Communities. Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. Report on the promotion by Member States of voluntary unpaid blood donations. Brussels, COM(2006) 217 final. http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_threats/human_substance/documents/blood_com_0217_en.pdf (accessed Mar 2007).
- 6. Steffen M. The nation’s blood: medicine, justice and the state in France. In: Feldman EA, Bayer B, editors. Blood feuds. AIDS, blood and the politics of medical disaster. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999: 95-126.
- 7. Gilmore N, Somerville MA. From trust to tragedy: HIV/AIDS and the Canadian blood system. In: Feldman EA, Bayer B, editors. Blood feuds. AIDS, blood and the politics of medical disaster. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999: 127-160.
- 8. McGrath KM, Spelman D, Barnett M, Kellner S. Spectrum of HTLV-III infection in a haemophilic cohort treated with blood products from a single manufacturer. Am J Hematol 1986; 23: 239-245.
- 9. Hollinger FB, Kleinman S. Transfusion transmission of West Nile virus: a merging of historical and contemporary perspectives. Transfusion 2003; 43: 992-997.
- 10. European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). CPMP [Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products] Position statement 2002. Non-remunerated and remunerated donors: safety and supply of plasma-derived medicinal products. May 2002. EMEA/CPMP/BWP/1818/02/Final. http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/press/pos/181802en.pdf (accessed Mar 2007).