Dr Granville G. de Oliveira, Brazil

The national policy on blood components and blood products is required by law to aim at ensuring self-sufficiency in blood products in Brazil and at harmonizing public actions at all government levels to achieve this goal. The policy is being implemented within the scope of the United Health System, by the National System of Blood Components and Blood Products.

In 2000, there was temporary fractionating of surplus plasma for therapeutic uses. In selecting the plasma to be fractionated, a questionnaire on plasma production was sent to haemotherapy services in July 2000. Selected plasma was:

• From haemotherapy services matching the sanitary inspection reports issued by the National Programme of Inspection of Haemotherapy Units (PNIUH).

• Tested individually for all the serological markers required in legislation;

• Traceable;

• From haemotherapy services that carry out internal quality control in the serology laboratory;

• Frozen within 8 hours of blood collection;

• Stored at -30 to -18°C;

• Stored in equipment with temperature stability and control in compliance with technical standards.

In December 2000, an international invitation to bid was announced for fractionation services. Criteria for selection included: qualification of company, certification of plasma collecting services and price. Contracts were signed in December 2001. There are monthly collections of plasma by the companies delivering the service and final products are expected to be available in Brazil in June 2002.