Equity in blood transfusion precision services

TL;DR

Blood collection agencies are using precision medicine to improve transfusion services while ensuring fairness for donors and recipients.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes the importance of equity in implementing precision medicine in blood transfusion services.

Findings

Precision medicine techniques like genetic testing are being used to improve blood typing and reduce transfusion complications.

Equitable application of these technologies is crucial for maintaining public trust and optimizing donor and recipient outcomes.

Biobanks and genomic data can help personalize transfusion experiences and improve donation practices.

Abstract

Blood collection agencies are integrating precision medicine techniques to improve and individualise blood donor and recipient outcomes. These organisations have a role to play in ensuring equitable application of precision medicine technologies for both donors and transfusion recipients.

Precision medicine techniques, including molecular genetic testing and next generation sequencing, have been integrated in transfusion services to improve blood typing and matching with the aim to reduce a variety of known transfusion complications. Internationally, priorities in transfusion research have aimed to optimise services through the use of precision medicine technologies and consider alternative uses of genomic information to personalise transfusion experiences for both recipients and donors. This has included focusing on the use of genomics when matching blood products for transfusion recipients, to personalise a blood donor’s donation type or frequency, and longitudinal donor research utilising blood donor biobanks.

Equity in precision services and research must be of highest importance for blood collection agencies to maintain public trust, especially when these organisations rely on volunteer donors to provide transfusion services. The investment in implementing equitable precision medicine services, including development of blood donor biobanks, has the potential to optimise and personalise services for both blood donors and transfusion recipients.