Academy
The 8th IATM National Conference & Annual Scientific Meeting 2025
The 8th IATM National Conference and Annual Scientific Meeting 2025 took place in Jakarta from 30 July to 1 August 2025, under the theme “Collaboration in Blood Services for Global Health.” The event brought together more than 400 participants from across Indonesia, including physicians, laboratory professionals, nurses, academics, policymakers, representatives of international organizations, and voluntary blood donor groups. Importantly, the conference also welcomed distinguished speakers not only from Indonesia but also from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, and the World Health Organization (WHO), underscoring its global reach and collaborative spirit.
The opening day began with a vibrant ceremony featuring traditional Betawi cultural performances and the symbolic presentation of cukin scarves to invited guests. The conference was officially inaugurated by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, represented by A. Rizka Andalucia, together with the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Jusuf Kalla. The striking of the gong marked the beginning of the three-day scientific program.
Discussion
The scientific agenda commenced with a keynote address on “Global Policy in Transfusion Safety for Global Health” by Yuyun SM Soedarmono, MSc, which set the tone for discussions on international collaboration and policy frameworks. This was followed by a plenary session on Policy in Blood Safety, featuring presentations on the transformation of blood service leadership in Malaysia by Masrin, Head of the National Blood Centre of Malaysia; the collaboration among blood service stakeholders in Japan by Nelson Tsuno, representing the Japan Red Cross; and the Indonesian government’s roadmap for strengthening blood safety by Iin Dewi Astuty, representing the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.
The first day concluded with a Gala Dinner, an evening of fellowship and networking that provided participants the chance to strengthen professional ties and explore new collaborations in a relaxed atmosphere. The evening was further enlivened by a captivating performance from Kris Dayanti, Indonesia’s celebrated diva and former Parliamentary Blood Donation Ambassador.
On the second day, the focus shifted to intensive parallel scientific sessions. Discussions on Transfusion-Transmitted Infections (TTIs) examined topics such as the readiness of blood services in facing emerging infections, malaria detection methods, and internal quality control in TTI testing. Sessions on Hemovigilance explored the development of a reporting culture, tracing sources of bacterial contamination in blood, and investigating acute hemolytic transfusion reactions. In the field of Blood Donation, speakers presented strategies to prevent vasovagal reactions, maintain donation quality in rural areas, and prevent anemia in routine donors.
Group photo
Exhibition
The Immunohematology and Reference Cases sessions delved into complex subjects including the detection of Mitenburger antibodies, the prevalence of CD36 and anti-CD36 in Asian populations, and the clinical outcomes of Del transfusion. Meanwhile, the Blood Processing track covered the production of washed platelets for allergic patients, the pros and cons of room temperature storage of whole blood, the impact of lipemic blood on red cells and platelets, and best practices for using platelet additive solutions. Equally engaging were discussions on Plasmapheresis, which addressed the impact of plasmapheresis centers on whole blood donation, maintaining protein levels for plasma donors, centralization of testing, and effective quarantine times for plasma safety. Alongside these sessions, participants also visited poster presentations and industry symposia that showcased the latest technologies in blood collection, processing, and safety.
The final day reconvened all participants for plenary discussions on Blood Selection and Transfusion Guidelines. Presentations explored donation rules for male sex male donors in Thailand, the debate on accepting donors using complementary and alternative medicine, potential health hazards from donors with diabetes mellitus, and the diversity of donor and donation practices across Asia. Sessions on transfusion guidelines focused on the development of platelet transfusion guidelines and red cell transfusion protocols, providing important clinical insights. A highlight of the day was the presentation by Lin Fung, representing the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), who shared ISBT’s role and initiatives to promote global standards and strengthen international collaboration in transfusion medicine.
Speakers
The conference concluded with the announcement of winners from the poster and abstract competition. Their selected works will be featured on the IATM scientific platform www.idjbt.id, offering valuable recognition to young researchers and practitioners in the field. The first prize was awarded to Rosmeri Handayani for her work entitled “Leukocyte Reduction Filters (Bed Line) as an Alternative Source of Leukodepleted.” The second prize went to M. Amalina with the case report “Auto Anti-D, Auto-IgG, and Cold Agglutinins in a Rh(D) Positive Patient with CD5- Negative B Lymphoproliferative Disorder Causing Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Single-Centre Experience.” The third prize was presented to Kevin Sastra Dhinata for his study on “Analisis Kebutuhan Kurir untuk Pengambilan Komponen Trombosit ke UTD PMI: Perspektif Bank Darah Rumah Sakit Universitas Indonesia.”
Across three days of intensive sessions, the conference successfully provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and networking. The enthusiasm of participants was reflected in the lively discussions, the diversity of perspectives, and the eagerness to apply new knowledge within their institutions. Covering themes from donor recruitment and infection control to advanced blood processing and clinical transfusion guidelines, the event reaffirmed IATM’s commitment to advancing collaboration in blood services for the benefit of both national and global health.
It closed on a hopeful note, with participants united by the shared mission of ensuring a safe, sufficient, and sustainable blood supply—a mission that can only be achieved through strong collaboration.
