To the Editor: We read with great interest the article by Bambrick et al relating to the potential impact of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) on supply of blood products in Australia.1 Our recent experience with Octagam (Octapharma Australia, Sydney, NSW), an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) product produced overseas, highlights some of the quality concerns raised in their article.
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- Department of Haematology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.
Correspondence: glen_kennedy@health.qld.gov.au
- 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. Octapharma. Octagam product information sheet. Octapharma Australia Pty Ltd. Approval date Jan 2006.
- 3. Australian Red Cross Blood Service. Transfusion medicine manual. Chapter 3. Collection and preparation of blood components and plasma-derived blood products. http://www.transfusion.com.au/ResourceLibrary/TMM_ch03_Collection.asp (accessed Mar 2006).
- 4. Murphy EL, Watanabe K, Nass CC, et al. Evidence among blood donors for a 30-year-old epidemic of human T lymphotropic virus type II infection in the United States. J Infect Dis 1999; 180: 1777-1783.
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