The Haemovigilance Working Party aims to improve safety for blood donors and transfusion recipients through promoting and supporting haemovigilance systems.
Chairperson and committee
Chairperson: Gopal Patidar (India)
Secretary: Simon Benson (Australia)
Subgroups:
Donor Haemovigilance Subgroup
Chairperson: Sadhana Mangwana (India)
Recipient Haemovigilance Subgroup
Chairperson: Mark Fung (USA)
Membership
In the past year, the Working Party has welcomed 11 new members, adding to our diverse community of 170 individuals representing 46 countries.
Meetings
Working Party Business Meeting at the ISBT 35th Regional Congress, Milan, Italy | 31 May 2025 (Hybrid)
The Haemovigilance Working Party business meeting, chaired by Gopal Patidar, was attended by 20 in-person and 27 online participants. Updates were provided on key projects, including Traceability, Imputability, AI in Haemovigilance, Paediatric TACO, Paediatric Haemovigilance, DHTR Definition Revision, educational resources, and Wikipedia initiatives.
A featured educational session by Rebecca Cardigan discussed the transition away from DEHP plasticizers in blood bags and the role of haemovigilance in monitoring new technologies. Updates from the International Haemovigilance Network (IHN) and other ISBT Working Parties highlighted ongoing collaborations and future opportunities.
Future priorities include e-learning resources, webinars, revision of adverse reaction definitions, expansion of Wikipedia content, and increased member engagement.
The Working Party leadership team meets monthly to review project progress and plan future activities.
Activities during the period
Major Projects and Initiatives
- Traceability Project: Completed; manuscript published.
- AI in Haemovigilance: Survey completed; responses under analysis.
- Imputability Project: Fifteen meetings completed; draft matrix developed and workshop conducted.
- Paediatric TACO: Ongoing subgroup discussions; two meetings completed.
- Paediatric Haemovigilance Survey: Questionnaire finalized and ready for distribution.
- DHTR Definition Revision: Systematic review underway; abstract screening completed.
Collaborations
The Working Party continues to collaborate with several organizations, including the International Haemovigilance Network (IHN), SHOT (UK), AABB, Amsterdam UMC, and the ISBT Clinical Transfusion Working Party Paediatric Subgroup across multiple projects.
Education and Outreach
ISBT Webinar: Strengthening Obstetric Transfusion Safety: A Haemovigilance Approach (25 February 2026)
Speakers: Mark Fung, Shruthi Narayan, Vera Rosa, and Elliott Main. Moderator: Gopal Patidar.
Workshops and Events
- Haemovigilance Workshop, Pan Arab Blood Transfusion Conference, Kuwait (19 January 2026): Conducted by Gopal Patidar; attended by 20 participants and focused on donor and recipient adverse transfusion reactions.
- ISBT Academy Cameroon (13 March 2025): Virtual presentation by Gopal Patidar on the “4Rs of Active Haemovigilance” for transfusion practitioners.
- Imputability Workshop, IHN Symposium 2026, Rome: Jointly organized with IHN to advance the development of objective imputability assessment methods.
Other Activities
The Working Party reviewed the haemovigilance section of the draft National Blood Transfusion Standards for the Maldives at the request of WHO SEARO. The review was completed by Gopal Patidar, Dipti Sachan, and Satyam Arora.
Working Party Publications
Challenges and Opportunities
Resource needs: Resources for research such as software for systematic review and metanalysis can be provided by ISBT office.
Opportunities for development: More collaboration with other Working Parties and other international organizations such as other clinical scientific societies can be done by ISBT.
Summary
The reporting period (April 2024 to March 2025) saw significant developments within the working party, most notably a change in leadership. Gopal Patidar succeeded Mary Townsend as Chairperson, bringing new direction to the group. In June 2025, the working party organized a business meeting at ISBT Milan, which featured an educational session and provided updates on ongoing activities. Membership continued to grow, reaching 170 members, including 11 new additions over the past year.
Collaboration remained a key focus, with the working party engaging in several projects alongside other groups, such as the pediatric subgroup of the clinical transfusion working party, and international partners including IHN, SHOT, and AABB. Academic contributions included the publication of one manuscript and presentation of four abstracts at various conferences; all related to working party initiatives. Educational outreach was also expanded, with one webinar, two workshops, and an invited lecture delivered across international platforms, furthering the party’s commitment to knowledge sharing and professional development.
