Transfusion-Transmissible Infections in Australia: Annual Surveillance Reports

Transfusion-Transmissible Infections in Australia
Surveillance Report 2011

The 2011 Surveillance Report on transfusion-transmissible infections in Australia was produced jointly by the Surveillance and Evaluation Program for Public Health at the Kirby Institute and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS). This is the first, of what are expected to become, annual reports that summarise data from the national surveillance system for blood donors maintained electronically by ARCBS. This first report incorporates national donation testing data on Australian blood donors for the six years from 2005 to 2010. It aims to provide evidence to inform the ongoing assessment of laboratory testing algorithms for detecting transfusion-transmissible infections as well as evaluation and revision of donor education guidelines, for minimising the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections and thus maximizing the safety of the Australian blood supply.

Contacts

Chief investigators
Associate Professor David Wilson
Head, Surveillance and Evaluation Program for Public Health
The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales
+61 2 9385 0900 I dwilson@kirby.unsw.edu.au

Dr. Clive Seed
Senior Blood Safety Analyst, Donor and Product Safety (DAPS) Policy Unit
Australian Red Cross Blood Service
+61 8 6213 5913 I cseed@redcrossblood.org.au

Project Officer
Tarana Lucky
Surveillance and Evaluation Program for Public Health
The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales
+61 2 9385 9981| tlucky@kirby.unsw.edu.au


Further information

This publication is also available at: http://www.transfusion.com.au

An overview of current donor selection criteria and donation testing can be accessed from the ARCBS website: www.donateblood.com.au