Statements from the Vancouver Group. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Quality assurance testing * Whole blood-volume * Red cell concentrates-volume and packed cell volume * Red cells in additive solutions-volume and packed cell volume * Leucocyte poor blood-residual leucocytes * Platelet concentrates--volume, platelet count, residual leucocytes, pH * Fresh frozen plasma-volume, factor VIlIc content * Cryoprecipitate-volume, factor VilI content * Sterility testing (selective)carried out randomly and will take into account the amount of the component being used and its possible deterioration during storage.This type of consideration is given to each component prepared in the transfusion centre in the design of the overall programme of quality assurance testing.Testing of blood and its mechanically derived components for sterility remains a problem.Monitored quality assurance programmes initiated by manufacturers of the closed system plastic blood collection packs that are normally used should ensure sterility of the system before the donation is introduced.Because each donation represents a batch in itself, little may be gained by random sterility testing-a positive result would normally give no information on the state of the other donations in stock.Random testing may, however, give some security about the integrity of the pack system during the processing of blood.Validation of new procedures and of new equipment will obviously include a planned programme of sterility testing, as will the routine quality assurance of components prepared by open procedures-for example, washed red cells.The best defence against transfusion of an infected unit of blood (or one of its components) remains meticulous monitoring of storage and transport conditions, together with a visual check of all packs before transfusion for leakage (through splits or pinholes) and for haemolysis, discoloration, or clotting.