Abstract
Institutional practices regarding pre- and post-transfusion hepatitis testing and serum storage were surveyed in Aomori Prefecture. Of 186 medical institutions at which more than one and some kind of blood products were transfused during 2004 and 2005 in Aomori Prefecture, 154 responded (82.8%). Pre-transfusion serum was stored at 55.2% of institutions, and 18.8% of the institutions used a dedicated refrigerator for serum storage. Of all institutions, 76.6% and 21.4% performed pre- and post-transfusion hepatitis testing, respectively. However, the exact pre- and post-transfusion test panels recommended by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) were performed at only 14.4% and 54.5% of institutions, respectively. Institutions that participated in the Aomori Prefecture Transfusion Practice Association showed relatively higher frequencies of serum storage, dedicated refrigerator use, post-transfusion testing, and compliance with MHLW guidelines. Among these, institutions with their own transfusion committees showed even higher frequencies of serum storage, dedicated refrigerator use, and post-transfusion testing. Thus, priority should be given to adequately informing institutions about MHLW guidelines, especially those that do not have their own transfusion committee or attend forums such as the Joint Meeting of the Transfusion Committees of Aomori Prefecture or the Aomori Prefecture Transfusion Practice Association.
