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Clinical Transfusion Studies Team

The Clinical Transfusion Studies Team

The Clinical Transfusion Studies Team of BEST seeks to conduct collaborative international studies that address questions regarding the safety, efficacy, or efficient use of transfused blood and components. Our projects are based principally in hospitals related to BEST members. We perform pilot exploratory studies, definitive large-scale studies, randomized trials, surveys, laboratory-based investigation and qualitative research. While principally focused on advanced healthcare systems, we are also eager to consider projects suited to countries with emerging economies.

Recent projects from the Clinical Transfusion Studies team have included:

  • A study to model the effect of changes in RBC storage on the inventory of blood available 
  • Development of a validated exam to assess physician transfusion medicine knowledge.
  • Multi-institutional analyses of low platelet count samples at transfusion threshold levels to determine impact on the decision to transfuse.
  • Determining the frequency of anti-D allo-immunization following D+ platelet transfusions.

Current projects include:

  • Development and validation of a consensus bleeding assessment tool
  • A trial to evaluate whether feedback of current utilization to individual physicians will lead to improved blood product utilization.
  • Analysis of the impact of computerized results on plasma usage
  • A study of warm auto-RBC antibody testing and RBC selection practices
  • The influence of antigen matching on gestational outcomes

The team leaders for Transfusion Safety are Meghan Delaney, DO, MPH, Chief, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and Simon Stanworth, MA, FRCP (Paeds, UK), PhD, FRCPath, Consultant Haemotologist at NHSBT in Oxford, UK.