"Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention that has an essential role in patient management within health care systems. All Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed World Health Assembly resolutions WHA28.72 (1) in 1975 and WHA58.13 (2) in 2005. These commit them to the provision of adequate supplies of safe blood and blood products that are accessible to all patients who require transfusion either to save their lives or promote their continuing or improving health." --Preface.

During the early years of the AIDS epidemic, thousands of Americans became infected with HIV through the nation's blood supply. Because little reliable information existed at the time AIDS first began showing up in hemophiliacs and in others who had received transfusions, experts disagreed about whether blood and blood products could transmit the disease. During this period of great uncertainty, decision-making regarding the blood supply became increasingly difficult and fraught with risk. This volume provides a balanced inquiry into the blood safety controversy, which involves private sexual practices, personal tragedy for the victims of HIV/AIDS, and public confidence in America's blood services system. The book focuses on critical decisions as information about the danger to the blood supply emerged. The committee draws conclusions about what was doneâ€"and recommends what should be done to produce better outcomes in the face of future threats to blood safety. The committee frames its analysis around four critical area: Product treatmentâ€"Could effective methods for inactivating HIV in blood have been introduced sooner? Donor screening and referralâ€"including a review of screening to exlude high-risk individuals. Regulations and recall of contaminated bloodâ€"analyzing decisions by federal agencies and the private sector. Risk communicationâ€"examining whether infections could have been averted by better communication of the risks.

The second edition of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostasis continues to be the only "pocket-size" quick reference for pathology residents and transfusion medicine fellows. It covers all topics in blood banking, transfusion medicine, and clinical and laboratory based coagulation. Short, focused chapters, organized by multiple hierarchical headings, are supplemented with up to 10 suggested reading citations. This single reference covers essentially all the topics required to meet the goals and objectives of a major program in transfusion medicine and clinical coagulation. New chapters in the coagulation testing section reflect the development of new tests available and their incorporation into clinical practice. Coverage includes essential updates on the importance of new cellular therapies, peripheral blood and bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells, as well as cord blood banking and regenerative medicine. The authors also examine advances in the understanding of molecular testing and pathogen reduction in two separate quality control chapters (one for blood centers and one for hospitals). - Updated content covers new coagulation tests, cellular therapies, and quality control issues - Easy to use, with focused, well-defined chapters in a standardized format throughout - Offers quick "cross-reference" lists at the end of each chapter - Includes lists of common abbreviations and indexes that cross reference diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic commonalities