News & Notes

Bonfils Monitors West Nile Virus Prevalence

With the safety of the blood supply and the interest of public health as our primary objective, Bonfils Blood Center has developed the following plan, in accordance with AABB’s Association Bulletin #08-03, “West Nile Virus Revised Recommendations for the Triggering of Individual Donation Nucleic Acid Testing and Use of Communications Plans” released in April, to monitor the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among blood donors.

If data suggests an increase of reactive tests using pooled donor samples, Bonfils will initiate individual donor testing (IDT) for units collected by Bonfils according to the following criteria:

Data Collection and Analysis

• Bonfils and its testing client data will be tracked together. Data from other Colorado blood collection facilities for which Bonfils does not provide testing services will be included as provided by these facilities.
• When available, data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control regarding human cases of WNV and avian and mosquito activity in the area of concern will also be considered.
• If the analysis of the above data suggests an increased incidence of donors testing reactive for WNV; two positive viremic donors in a seven-day time period, Bonfils will initiate IDT for WNV for units collected within the identified area.

 

Notification to Bonfils’ testing client and other Colorado blood collection facilities

• All Bonfils testing clients and Colorado blood collection facilities will be notified by Bonfils’ Client Development department via email following each reactive donation (signal to cut off ratio > 17).
• Upon initiation of IDT for Bonfils donations, all Bonfils’ testing clients and Colorado blood collection facilities will be notified by Bonfils’ Client Development department via email and provided with the identified geographic location(s) of the increased incidence of WNV.

 

Reverting to Pooled Testing

• Bonfils will revert to mini-pool testing when seven days have passed without a reactive result from individual donor testing in the specified geographic location.

• Client Development representatives will notify Bonfils’ testing clients and Colorado blood collection facilities via email when the blood center has reverted to mini-pool testing.

ISBT Launch Successful

Bonfils Blood Center management and staff would like to extend a word of thanks to all of our healthcare partners for their cooperation and assistance with implementation of the ISBT 128 blood labeling standard. Not only does the completion of this project allow us to remain compliant with AABB recommendations, but it is anticipated that we will all reap the benefits of this global standard for the identification, labeling and information processing of human blood, tissue and organ products. This was a collaborative effort only possible with your assistance.

Bonfils’ Client Development Team Welcomes New Member

Jenifer Fink recently joined the Bonfils Blood Center team as an account manager in the Client Development department. In her new role, Fink serves as the primary contact for and supports the needs of blood bank and laboratory personnel within Colorado hospitals. A former Centura Health employee, she spent the last six years at Littleton Hospital working as a medical technologist in the lab. Fink’s position at Bonfils has given her the opportunity to move off of the bench and keep the blood bank close to her heart.

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