In summary, the technical, scientific and medical aspects of transfusion me dicine continue to be critical. We all must find ways to provide a safer unit of blood and blood components. However, there must be a realization by all in volved in the profession that the management and administration aspects of transfusion medicine deserve equal attention, respect and support. Why? It is very simple Without all aspectsoftransfusion medicine working togetherfor the common good - care ofthe patient - we will all fail. References 1. Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, American...

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, with great pleasure I like to welcome you in the cityofGroningen and hope that you will have an enriching and enlighten ing discussion on the conference theme on risk management in blood trans fusion. The organisation of this symposium aims at scientific networking by discussing in an international forum the most important themes of current interest in relation to the state of the art in transfusion medicine. Dr. Cees Smit Sibinga took the initiative in 1976 to start organising the blood bank symposia as they were named in the beginning. Without doubt these...

This symposium is devoted to Biotechnology in Blood Transfusion; there are 22 experts discussing the state of the art in the application of monoclonal anti bodies, recombinant DNA technologies and heterologous expression systems to the improvement and sometimes replacement of blood products, charac terization of blood constituents, and the effect of these developments on blood transfusion procedures. Ten and maybe five years ago the title of a symposium such as this would have been Biosciences in blood transfusion, informing what basic developments in molecular biology, biochemistry and human...

In transfusion medicine the scientific fundamentals of immunology have had a considerable clinical impact. Transfusion may suppress the immunity but some patients could suffer disadvantages including GvHD, alloimmunisation and possible cancer, where white cells (WBC) play pivotal roles in this phenomenon, presenting antigens and producing cytokines. A clinical application of this practice is LAK-cells targeted against cancer. MHC on the WBC may provide additional immunological modulations through series of secondary messengers. Thus reduction of WBC in the blood and bone marrow may be...

With this symposium the Red Cross Blood Bank Groningen-Drenthe affirms its well known reputation as an organizer of symposia of high standard and quality. Several important aspects of bloodbanking have been discussed in the past. The Blood Bank here is a specialist in its own field. Administrative processes in respect of the donor, information processes, the preparation of the blood and the laboratory process are automatized. New developments in these fields are undeway that you will certainly identify and investigate. I do hope that you will come to conclusions from which we can learn and...

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, with great pleasure I like to welcome you in the cityofGroningen and hope that you will have an enriching and enlighten ing discussion on the conference theme on risk management in blood trans fusion. The organisation of this symposium aims at scientific networking by discussing in an international forum the most important themes of current interest in relation to the state of the art in transfusion medicine. Dr. Cees Smit Sibinga took the initiative in 1976 to start organising the blood bank symposia as they were named in the beginning. Without doubt these...

The international symposia on blood transfusion in Groningen have taken place without interruption since 1976. Each year Dr. Smit-Sibinga and his team have not only organized a meeting on timely topics in blood transfusion, but also succeeded in attracting prominent chairmen and speakers.
The subject of the 24th Symposium was Molecular Biology in Blood Transfusion and it was chaired by Dr. Harvey G. Klein, National Institutes of Health, USA. In this book of proceedings an extraordinary range of subjects is covered, including diagnostic aspects, virology, quality control, cell and...

This book is the only published literature that comprehensively discusses all aspects of transfusion of transmissible diseases, the facts and the fiction. It is of paramount importance to all involved in the vein to vein chain of transfusion medicine.

Session I addresses the basic blood safety aspects including the need for quality management, rational donor screening and the risks of blood transfusion for prenatal developmental toxicity.

Session II addresses the gamma of transmissible infectious agents from bacteria through parasites and tick-borne agents to prions and the...

Welcome to the City of Groningen, the center of the North of the Netherlands. Groningen is proud of the long lasting tradition of scientific symposia organised by the Sanquin Blood Bank. These Sanquin International Symposia on Blood Transfusion have become a true traditional event in Groningen, marking the early academic year and have contributed to the specific reputation of Groningen and its University in the scientific field of Transfusion Medicine. The growing tradition has also contributed to initiatives of both University, Province and the City of Groningen to bring science and industry...

Cytokines are cellular growth factors which also provide communication between cells and their milieu. This clearly is an exciting area in modern medicine that will have significant impact on various facets of transfusion. Erythropoietin therapy stimulates red cell production while thrombopoietin seems to positively affect megakaryopoiesis and can be an added armamentarium for the thrombocytopenic patient.
Using haematnopoietic growth factors, stem cells could be mobilized early to the peripheral blood for collection and subsequent transplantation into haemato-oncology patients instead...