Canine blood products registered
The Canine Blood Bank at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital was recently awarded registration of its canine blood and plasma by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
Associate Professor Bruce Parry, Head of the Department of Veterinary Science and Supervisor of the Canine Blood Bank, explained that "UniPRBC Canine" is the first source of red blood cells for transfusion in dogs to be registered in Australia (and probably the world). The University's Veterinary Hospital has been involved in canine blood banking since the early 90s. In 2004, the APVMA advised veterinarians that they could continue to collect blood in their own practice and transfuse it into their own patients, however, if such blood (or its products) were to be transferred to another clinic for transfusion, the blood must be registered as a veterinary medicine with the APVMA. The University has now achieved such registration and is able to supply these products to veterinary clinics around Australia.
"UniPRBC Canine" is a concentrate of red blood cells, resuspended in a nutrient solution. The product has a refrigerated shelf-life of 5 weeks from the date of collection. It is produced by collection of a pack of blood (450 ml), then centrifuging the pack and separating the plasma from the red blood cells and adding the nutrient solution. These steps are undertaken in a sealed, triple collection pack, system. The resultant plasma pack, "UniPlas - Canine", is frozen and has an expiry date 6 months from that of collection.
The canine blood donors at the University are all Greyhounds, who have retired from racing (because they could not run fast enough)! They are maintained in peak health thanks to the support of Advocate (Bayer Animal Health) and Advance (Masterfoods) and some private sponsors. There is also a growing group of privately owned dogs (suburban pets), who are joining the blood bank as regular blood donors. All blood donors are screened before entering the program and are given a general health check before each donation.
"UniPRBC Canine" may assist in the treatment of clinically significant anaemia.
"UniPlas - Canine" may assist in the treatment of dogs with coagulopathies involving disorders or deficiencies of factors in the coagulation cascade (including haemophilia A and anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning) who are bleeding or at risk of bleeding, and may also assist in the treatment of von Willebrand disease.
For further information, contact the Canine Blood Bank at the University of Melbourne:
Phone: 03 9731 2328
Fax: 03 9731 2377
Email: k9-bloodbank@unimelb.edu.au