The new ASFA Guidelines for therapeutic apheresis treatment are now available. Here’s why you need to get your hands on them today!

Dr. Nancy Dunbar

“But I Don’t Do TA, Joe!”

In many facilities, services other than Transfusion Medicine oversee therapeutic apheresis (most commonly neurology, hematology, or an outside contracted TA service in the U.S.). As a result, it’s easy for those who work in facilities like that to say, “not my problem!” and in many respects, that is fair! However, it’s highly likely that patients who need these procedures will require resources that will impact those of us in laboratory settings. For example, a patient with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) may require massive amounts of plasma every day for their exchange procedure. In addition, in other cases, a physician may want to use plasma as a replacement fluid in a TA procedure, but the Guidelines suggest albumin instead. These guidelines are very useful, and so should be a part of every laboratory’s reference library. Hematologists and other clinicians involved in ordering these procedures should keep them handy, as well.

Learner Alert!

Finally, pathology residents, blood bank fellows, advanced laboratory science students (like SBBs), and learners in clinical medical fields also need to be aware of the information in these guidelines, as they cover information that is expected knowledge in certification exams.

Dr. Nancy Dunbar

“But I Don’t Do TA, Joe!”

In many facilities, services other than Transfusion Medicine oversee therapeutic apheresis (most commonly neurology, hematology, or an outside contracted TA service in the U.S.). As a result, it’s easy for those who work in facilities like that to say, “not my problem!” and in many respects, that is fair! However, it’s highly likely that patients who need these procedures will require resources that will impact those of us in laboratory settings. For example, a patient with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) may require massive amounts of plasma every day for their exchange procedure. In addition, in other cases, a physician may want to use plasma as a replacement fluid in a TA procedure, but the Guidelines suggest albumin instead. These guidelines are very useful, and so should be a part of every laboratory’s reference library. Hematologists and other clinicians involved in ordering these procedures should keep them handy, as well.

Learner Alert!

Finally, pathology residents, blood bank fellows, advanced laboratory science students (like SBBs), and learners in clinical medical fields also need to be aware of the information in these guidelines, as they cover information that is expected knowledge in certification exams.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed on this episode are those of my guest and I alone, and do not reflect those of the organizations with which either of us is affiliated. Neither Dr. Dunbar nor I have any relevant financial disclosures.

Further Reading:

• ASFA Guidelines (requires ASFA membership or institutional access): Padmanabhan A et al. Guidelines on the Use of Therapeutic Apheresis in Clinical Practice – Evidence‐Based Approach from the Writing Committee of the American Society for Apheresis: The Eighth Special Issue. J Clin Apheresis 2019;34:171-354.

Thanks to:

• Samantha Chaffin, Assistant Editor (and amazing daughter!)

Music Credit

Music for this episode includes “Cuando te invade el temor” and “Reflejo,” both by Mar Virtual via the Free Music Archive. Click the image below for permissions and license details.