SUSPECT/PROBABLE SARS CASES INVOLVING BLOOD DONATION

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PROCEDURES

1. While a public health official is investigating a PUI (person under investigation) /suspect/probable case of SARS, blood donation information should be assessed.

2. Assess if the patient has donated blood 10 days prior to onset of fever.

3. If no, no other action is required on this topic.

4. If yes, collect the following information:
   
   
   1. The date of blood donation
      
   2. Location of blood donation
   3. Names, blood donor ID number (all blood donors have this) and demographic information
      
      

5. Public health immediately to activate their provincial traceback/lookback procedures.

6. Public health to immediately inform the local CBS/Héma-Québec with the patient's name and donor ID number, and invoke the notification process.

7. CBS/Héma-Québec have their own standard operating procedures. They will activate the lookback procedures on this case which include recalling the related fresh blood product in the inventory system.

8. CBS/Héma-Québec will inform both Health Canada Biologic and Genetic Therapies Directorate and the appropriate hospital that the units were issued. The hospital will inform the treating physician if the units were transfused.
   

9. Health Canada Biologic and Genetic Therapies Directorate will deal with the regulatory issues.

10. Hospitals have their own standard operating procedures which will activate their traceback/lookbacks procedures.

11. If the units were transfused, CBS/Héma-Québec is to inform public health of their own investigations ie. which hospitals received the units, names of recipients, in order to followup.

12. Public health action should be taken regarding isolation of the patient and blood collecting personnel as per public health management guidelines for SARS.

Prepared by:
Dr. Antonio Giulivi
Director, BSSHCAID/CIDPC/PHAC
April 16, 2003