Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion
  • Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST)
    Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST)

    BEST Collaborative is an international research organization with a vision to lead the field of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies toward the best…

  • BEST Membership
    BEST Membership

    The BEST collaborative is a unique free-standing group of over 170 manufacturers, clinicians, and scientists from 22 countries committed to improving transfusion…

  • BEST Meetings
    BEST Meetings

    BEST meetings are held twice per year. and attendance is open to all members. Invited guests may attend with pre-approval of the Chair.

  • Press Releases
    Press Releases

    Official notices regarding significant publications, special events, and member news.

  • Recommended Procedures
    Recommended Procedures

    Several best practice documents are available for download

  • Sponsorship
    Sponsorship

    Any commercial organization or Blood Service interested in advancing the purpose of BEST may become a supporter of BEST by paying the annual dues amount; providing a…

Latest News

Press Release 19 March 2024

Award Recipient of 32nd Scott Murphy Memorial Award Lectureship Announced

Press Release 21 Sept 2023

Rebecca Cardigan, PhD elected President, effective Oct 2023

Press Release 07 September 2023

Award Recipient of 31st Scott Murphy Memorial Award Lectureship Announced

BEST LXVII Amsterdam Meeting Countdown Friday, April 12, 2024 08:00 am CEST
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Member News

  • Please be sure to keep your contact information on the website up to date so you can be assured of receiving our email updates.
  • The next BEST Meeting will be held in Nashville, TN October 10-11, 2023. Onsite registration will open shortly.
  • We will be also hold this meeting using the Zoom Events format with the same agenda and in Nashiville Time. Pre-registration is required using the individual email sent to each member and approved guest.
  • Please be sure to review the BEST Authorship Policy. BEST Members may find this information in the Members Area > References > Administrative Issues. This area is now searchable.
 

Spring 2024

Amsterdam

BEST Meeting LXVII

The Spring 2024 Meeting is confirmed for Amsterdam, Netherlands

Important News

  • The meeting dates are set for April 12-13, 2024
  • The meeting venue is the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station 
  • A room block is not being established, but a 10% discount will be available at the meeting venue. Details on this and the dinner venue will be available in August 2023.

Fall 2024

Galveston

BEST Meeting LXVIII

The Fall 2024 Meeting is planned for Galveston, TX

Important News

  • The meeting and dinner venues have been confirmed.
  • The AABB Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 19-22, 2204 in Houston. The BEST meeting will be held on October 16-17, 2024. Please note that many of our members have AABB Meetings that they must attend on October 18th.
  • We will announce the arrangement details as soon as they are available.
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The Conventional Components Team

The Conventional Components Team of the BEST Collaborative coordinates individual efforts and conducts collaborative international studies that address developmental and regulatory issues regarding the composition and validation of the conventional blood components: red cells, platelets and plasma. Our projects are based principally in the laboratories and blood centers of the BEST members. We perform pilot exploratory studies, inter-laboratory comparisons, and small randomized trials. While principally focused on the methods and needs of advanced blood systems, we have also performed projects suited to countries with emerging economies or even to blood use in field and emergency situations. 

Recent projects from the Conventional Components Team have included:

  • The collaborative development of several new platelet storage solutions.
  • An evaluation of the metabolic effects of holding whole blood at room temperature for up to 26 hours before processing into components
  • A major review of all Cr-51 radioactive red cell recovery studies in the past 15 years to understand the implications of new US FDA standards
  • Development of a flow cytometric method to count platelets
  • Standardization of measurement of platelet activation markers
  • Survey of commercially available blood bags

Current projects include:

  • Comparison and standardization of hemolysis measurement
  • Estimation of the donor effect on various in vitro outcomes
  • Determination of the effect of gamma irradiation on red cell concentrates, and the implication for current guidelines
  • Descriptive survey of current practices of post-production processing steps
  • Evaluation of quality control of pathogen reduction technologies
  • Exploration of the field of non-traditional use of blood components

The Conventional Components Team is working to improve the processing, quality, and utility of conventional blood components.

The team leaders for Conventional Components are Dana Devine, PhD, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Canadian Blood Services, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia and Rebecca Cardigan, PhD, Head of Components Development at NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK.