Division Head: Dr. Sara Adil Salim
Section Head- Blood Bank Sections: Dr. Sara Adil Salim
Section Head- Blood Donor Center for Medical Issues: Dr. Saloua Mohammed Hmissi
Executive Director Operational Administration and Technical: Dr. Aysha Ibrahim Al-Malki
About Transfusion Medicine Division:
The Transfusion Medicine Division [TRM] is a corporate service under the purview of HMC Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, of Hamad Medical Corporation [HMC]. TRM is the sole supplier of blood and blood components for the state of Qatar. The services of TRM covers the complete chain of blood transfusion procedures, beginning from blood collection, component processing & donor marker testing under
Qatar National Blood Donation Center [QNBDC], followed by provision of blood and blood component requirements by 08 Hospital based blood banks to various facilities including emergency transfusion needs and massive transfusion protocols, pretransfusion testing, compatibility testing/cross-matching, investigation of suspected transfusion reactions.
The complete process is carried out using state-of-the-art instrumentation and techniques with strict compliance to standards of our accrediting bodies, including AABB [Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies], CAP [College of American Pathologists] and the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCI]. With a vision to maintain best practice including data accuracy and complete vein to vein tracking throughout the blood transfusion process, All TRM section use a common LIS system. This is a leading data management system in the field of blood transfusion.
Our Services
All whole blood donations and aphaeresis collection of blood and blood components are carried out by highly trained and expert Nursing personnel, using modern techniques with precision and attention to donor safety and satisfaction.
The Aphaeresis unit of QNBDC spearheads the functioning of a comprehensive platelets aphaeresis collection program and is also in-charge for conducting therapeutic phlebotomy and therapeutic aphaeresis procedures including Plasmapheresis, Red Cell exchange, Platelets aphaeresis, Reductive Leukapheresis, Reductive Thrombocytopheresis, Exchange transfusion Procedures and Stem Cells Collection Procedure for all hospitals under HMC.
The Donor Marker Testing [DMT] section performs testing on all blood donations for markers of transfusion transmitted infections [TTI]. The collected blood components are screened using advanced technology for Human Immune Deficiency Virus Antigen/ Antibody [HIV Ag/Ab Combo], Human T cell lymphotropic virus type I and II antibodies [HTLV I & II Ab]. Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], Hepatitis B core antibody [HBcAb], Hepatitis C antibody [Anti HCV], Syphilis TP Antibody screening [Syphilis TP Ab], Nucleic Acid Testing [NAT] HBV, HCV, HIV confirmation, and Malaria antibody [Mal Ab].
The Blood Component Processing [BCP] laboratory is responsible for the complete process of separation of collected blood to blood components, Packed Red Cells, Plasma, Platelets and Cryoprecipitate. The process also encompasses leukodepletion, storage, and distribution to all facilities governmental and private healthcare providers. It is noteworthy that BCP have excelled in introduction of pathogen inactivation for all Platelets units and all prepared plasma.
Services Provided by TRM at the hospital-based blood banks include provision of highest quality blood and blood products to all patients in Qatar. These transfusions are meticulously audited by a dedicated TRM Quality Control team to ensure patient safety are upheld.
The following tests are conducted at Transfusion Services: ABO and Rh grouping, Antibody Screening, Antibody Identification, Cross Matching, Antibody Titration, Direct Coomb’s Test, Red Cell Phenotyping, Antibody Elution, Investigation of Transfusion reaction and Investigation of Hemolytic disease of Newborn & Immune Hemolytic Anemia.
In line with its vision to improve the quality, efficiency, and transfusion safety, TRM recently established the HMC Heamovigilance program. Haemovigilance is the systemic surveillance of adverse reactions and adverse events related to blood transfusion. At HMC, Haemovigilance Quality Reviewers conduct surveillances by monitoring, reporting, and analyzing adverse events throughout the complete chain of blood transfusion, to prevent future occurrence or recurrence. This process will assist TRM to improve our services to increase efficacy in safe blood and blood products transfusion and to achieve satisfaction of both blood donors and patients.
