Blood Matters Program

The Blood Matters program aims to support and enhance best practice in patient blood management (PBM), and the stewardship of blood and blood products, for improved patient outcomes in Victorian health services.

What's new

The 2020-21 Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting (STIR) system annual report and summary report are now available on the STIR page.

Visit the Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting system page.
SCV have released a news statement from Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Chief Executive, regarding the increased demand for blood, and the challenges to support the use of group O RhD negative RBC in Australia.

The National Blood Authority, and national stakeholders, are preparing a National Statement for the Emergency Use of Group O RBC, which includes the use of group O RhD positive RBC. The statement can be found via the page Demand for blood products increases on the Safer Care Victoria website.

Please take the time to read the statement and consider your health services emergency use of blood group O RBC.
The festive season is fast approaching, and once again it is time for us to consider how we can keep blood wastage to a minimum over this period.

Donated blood is a precious gift, and we all need to do our part to protect and manage this valuable resource. Let’s celebrate the donor’s precious gift this festive season.

For more information, see the webpage blood component wastage.
Details of storage requirements for all SCIg products can be found on the SCIg program tools and resources page.

These tools and resources include:

SCIg program - clinical guidance version 11- September 2022
docx 559.77 KB

SCIg program - Getting started presentation pptx
ppt 1.34 MB

SCIg program - getting started presentation
pdf 788.79 KB
Read about the recent changes to the reporting definitions from some STIR categories.

Visit the Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting System page.
The manufacturing process for five of Australia’s domestic plasma products will change.

The products will continue to be manufactured in Australia from Australia’s plasma, but will be manufactured using CSL Behring’s global manufacturing processes.

As per the current products, the transitioned products will comply with the safety and efficacy requirements set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. For more information visit the National Blood Authority.
In 2022 Blood Matters will conduct a two-part consent audit:
- Part A is a blood transfusion consent policy review
- Part B is a retrospective medical record audit of up to 30 patients. These patients received a blood component transfusion.
The audit will be open from 27 June to 12 August.

Audit instructions and data collection tools are available from the Blood Matters audits page.
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) and the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP) have developed a Top-Five Recommendations on low-value transfusion practices. This is useful guidance for clinical transfusion practice.

The Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting (STIR) annual report and summary report 2019-20 are now available.

About the Blood Matters Program

The Blood Matters Program began in April 2002 and involved the collaboration of three organisations and subsequently expanded to 12.

Blood Matters consumer information

Victoria's Blood Matters Program has developed consumer information resources with input from patients.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy

Information about IVIg Governance and supply, the SCIg access program and Criteria for use.

Transfusion science and blood stewardship

Workforce professional development and blood wastage reduction.

National Standards and patient blood management

Information about the National Standards and patient blood management.

Blood transfusion audit and data collection

Blood transfusion audits and data collection tools can assist Victorian health services to identify gaps in practice, update and improve policies and procedures to ensure best practice and meet the requirements of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.

Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting system

The Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting system is a central reporting system for serious adverse events with transfusion of fresh blood or blood components.

Reports, journal articles and government policy on blood and blood products

Reports and journal articles are available for Victorian health services to help their practice in blood and blood product management.

The Specialist Certificate in Blood Management Foundations and the Graduate Certificate in Transfusion Practice

The University of Melbourne has advised that they do not intend to offer these certificates in 2020. Blood Matters are currently exploring other options for these courses.