Pre- and Post- transfusion testing services in Alberta have historically been provided for 21 sites in Central, Edmonton and the North zones. Pre and post transfusion testing is not a core business of Canadian Blood Services (CBS). Most comparable provinces and Southern Alberta do not have this testing done by CBS. These tests are considered core to most hospitals that transfuse patients. In addition, the CBS National Facilities Redevelopment Project will have a direct effect on the scope of testing at the Edmonton CBS facility.
For information specific to each of the zones, please follow the appropriate tabs below.
Over the next several months, the repatriation of Pre and Post-transfusion testing that has historically been performed by Canadian Blood Services in Edmonton will take place. What this means for our laboratories in the Northeast Central Zone is that this testing will be relocated to two HUB sites: Wainwright and St. Mary’s in Camrose. This will include type and screen, crossmatch, and transfusion reaction testing not related to prenatal screening. The other non-testing sites in NE Central Zone will be referred to as SPOKE sites. Thus, the Hub and Spoke Model is developed.
It should be noted that post-natal testing will also transition back into Central Zone, while pre-natal testing along with advanced antibody identification and provision of special blood units will still be handled by CBS in Edmonton.
It is anticipated that this new Hub & Spoke Model for delivery of routine testing for TM will not negatively impact the delivery of this important service to our patients around NE Central Zone, but rather will enhance the quality of care that we are able to provide.
Staff and clinicians will be able to find updates on the status of the project, an FAQ document that will be continually updated, and contact information for individuals who are members of the Project Management Group on this page. All staff are encouraged to send in any questions to one of the members of this PM group via email and the answers will be published at this site.
It is our intention to clearly communicate the progress of the project and impact to our staff in both the hub and spoke sites. In conjunction with our communications strategy, training and orientation strategies are being developed and will be rolled out in the next month to 6 weeks.
To submit questions, please contact tanya.hermann@ahs.ca or dawn.aschenbrenner@ahs.ca
