24EL-462: On-Demand Hot Topic Discussion: Ensuring Blood Safety and Protecting Public Health: Navigating Emerging Infectious Diseases

Please note: AABB reserves the right to make updates to this program.

Live Program Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Program Number: 24EL-462

Faculty
(affiliations at the time of the live program)
Moderator: Karen Palmer, MT(ASCP) CQA(ASQ), Director, Regulatory Affairs, AABB
Speakers: Louis Katz, MD, Impact Life; Jed Gorlin, MD, Innovative Blood; Pallavi Annambhotla, DrPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Kelley Garner, MPH, MLS(ASCP)^CM, Arkansas Department of Health; Steven Drews, PhD, FCCM(ABMM), Canadian Blood Service; Sharon Carayiannis, MT(ASCP)HP, AABB

Program Description
Join us as we provide context for the recently (February 2024) published AABB Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Fact Sheets. Last published in 2009, these highly cited Fact Sheets describe 72 infectious agents in detail (including, but not limited to, respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases), include background information about each agent, assessments of the agent’s clinical features and characteristics specifically related to transfusion transmission, and potential interventions amongst others.

Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Comprehend AABB and the TTD Committee's Role: Describe AABB, the responsibilities of the AABB Transfusion Transmitted Disease (TTD) Committee, and their overarching charges related to blood safety, and the global importance of the Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) Fact Sheets.
• Monitor and Assess Emerging Threats: Explain how emerging threats to blood safety are monitored and assessed by the TTD Committee, the development and maintenance of the EID Fact Sheets, distinguish between RTTIs (Relevant Transfusion-Transmitted Infections) and other emerging threats, and identify recent trends and emerging pathogens that pose risks to blood safety.
• Recognize the Importance of Communication and International Perspectives: Describe the critical importance of monitoring emerging infectious diseases in transfusion medicine, the significance of communication and collaboration between blood centers and public health departments and recognize the unique perspectives and approaches from the Canadian viewpoint regarding emerging infectious diseases and blood safety.