Transfusiology Institute
Transfusiology Institute
The MMA’s Blood Transfusion Service i.e. Blood Transfusion Ward was set up in 1950.
In 1957, the Blood Transfusion Station grew into the Department of Blood Transfusion Station, and in 1983, it developed into the Transfusiology Institute headed by Col. Prof. Dr. Milan Radović. In the period from 1996 to 2001, that position was served by Col. Prof. Dr. Jovan Taseski, and since 2001 the Institute has been managed by Col. Prof. Dr. Miroljub Trkuljić.
CONTACT:
The Transfusiology Institute, MMA, 17 Crnotravska St., Belgrade,
MMA’s Information Office: 381 11 2661 122, 2662 755
Head of the Institute, Col. Prof. Dr. Miroljub Trkuljić 381 011 3609 134
Clinic’s Administration Office: 381 11 3609 171
More information ……..
Transfusiology Institute
The MMA’s Blood Transfusion Service i.e. Blood Transfusion Ward was set up in 1950.
In 1957, the Blood Transfusion Station grew into the Department of Blood Transfusion Station, and in 1983, it developed into the Transfusiology Institute headed by Col. Prof. Dr. Milan Radović. In the period from 1996 to 2001, that position was served by Col. Prof. Dr. Jovan Taseski, and since 2001 the Institute has been managed by Col. Prof. Dr. Miroljub Trkuljić.
CONTACT:
The Transfusiology Institute, MMA, 17 Crnotravska St., Belgrade,
MMA’s Information Office: 381 11 2661 122, 2662 755
Head of the Institute, Col. Prof. Dr. Miroljub Trkuljić 381 011 3609 134
Clinic’s Administration Office: 381 11 3609 171
The Institute is the Armed Forces scientific-research, educational and professional-methodological transfusiology institution. It also serves as a referral and consultation facility of the Military Transfusiology Service in both war- and peacetime, and the site for checking new immunohematological and other tests and procedures prior to their introduction into the daily practice, standardization of reagents and quality control of blood and blood products.
Organizational structure
- Blood Conservation Department;
- Immunohematology and Immunogenetics Department with Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Testing-PCR;
- Chemotherapy and Aphaeresis Treatment Department with Laboratory for Controlled Crioconservation;
- Blood Product Section, and
- Hematogenic Transmissible Viral Diseases
Blood Conservation Department
In spite of all the difficulties the Transfusiology Service faces in its work, it manages to collect and process the blood from 20 000 blood donors on the site and at the Institute (over 10 000 liters) each year. It boasts the bus well- equipped with the air conditioning system (its own design) for its Mobile Team’s fieldwork.
To secure the production of more than 20 different chemo products, the blood is collected into plastic quadruple or five-pack blood storage bags and ‘’filter in line’’ bags for the needs of transplantation program and multitransfunded patients.
Immunohematology and Immunogenetics Department
In addition to standard, this Department applies other advanced immunohamatological techniques. It determines blood types (ABO) and Rx(D) by advanced technology based on the gel phase – using “Ortho BioVue” cards, which was introduced into a daily routine practice in 1999. This method produces more reliable results in direct and indirect antiglobulin tests, identification of alloantibodies, etc. In 2000, it introduced fenotypization of erythrocyte antigens in donors and receivers of bone marrow, and ever since 1992, it uses a potentiator of antigen-antibody reactions - polyethylene glycol (PEG) of its own prescription. In 2000, it also started to use in its clinical practice a new acid elution method for erythrocyte alloantibody identification.
Analyses
- Determination of blood types: ABO and Rxesus;
- Direct and indirect antiglobulin test;
- Donors and receiver’s cross match test;
- Chemofenotypization of erythrocyte;
- Pregnant women prenatal protection test;
- Screening for immuno-erythrocyte alloantibody;
- Erythrocyte alloantibody identification;
- Evaluation test;
- Determination of titra immuno-erythrocyte alloantibody, and
- Determination of titra cold agglutinin.
Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT)-PCR Laboratory
In 2007, the Institute introduced a new NAT-PCR technology for routine testing of all blood donors for genetic material (DNK/RNK), viruses of blood-transmissible diseases, hepatitis B and C and AIDS. This ensures maximally safe preparation of blood/blood products at the Transfusiology Institute, due to much shorter period of time from the entry of the virus into the body until the moment it may be detected. Apart from blood donors, the NAT-PCR Laboratory offers its services to all other individuals.
Chemotherapy and Aphaeresis Treatment Department
For more than 3 decades, this institution deals with transfusion of chemoproducts, therapeutic cytapheresis and exchange of plasma in patients hospitalized at the Military Medical Academy and civilian healthcare facilities as well as in patients treated in ambulatory settings. The MMA’s Center for Stem Cell Transplantation applies this treatment modality in large number of congenital and acquired hematological and non-hematological, benign and malignant cases such as severe aplastic anemia, chronic and
acute leukemia, lymphomas, miltiples, mielomas, solid tumors, severe combined congenital immunoinsufficiency, the testis, ovary and breast cancer.
In 2004, this Department made first steps in the cell treatment of solid organs (treatment of myocardium infarction with stem cells taken from the patient’s own bone marrow). The Department today boasts the state-of-the-art equipment.
Procedures:
- Ambulatory specific chemoproducts transfusion;
- Aphaeresis procedures;
- Transplantation of stem cells of the peripheral blood or bone marrow, and
- Preoperative collection of autologic blood.
Blood Product Section
This Section produces chemoproducts out of 100% of collected blood units. The Institute today produces over 25 kinds of chemoproducts: resuspended erythrocytes in SAGM deprived of leukocytes, thrombocytes concentrate produced from“Buffy-coat”, filtrated erythrocytes and concentrated thrombocytes, crioprecipitats, frozen fresh plasma, fibric glue, ect. The Department is equipped with the most sophisticated apparatuses and devices used in this field.
Quality Control
Another part of the Section’s mission is blood product quality control. It is carried out with the aim of securing the maximum quality and harmfulness of blood products and in line with reccomendations of the European Council. It includes erythrocytes, thrombocytes, frozen fresh plasma and crioprecipitat.
Hematogenic Transmissible Viral Diseases
To prevent the spread of carriers of hematogenic viral diseases, each blood unit is tested for the presence of tumor markers of the infectious diseases: hepatitis B and C, AIDS and syphilis. Testing is conducted following the algorithm applied in such cases. The Institute boasts the state-of-the-art automatic equipment for the performance of specific and sensitive immunoenzymic tests (ELISA), which can produce the results for the quickest period of time of only 29 minutes. Only those blood/blood product units confirmed to be negative are used for therapeutic purposes. All preliminary positive results are checked by confirmation tests, and in case the blood donor is proved to be ‘positive’ he/she is referred to the relevant institution.
Military-Civil Cooperation
The Institute has a very successful cooperation with numerous healthcare facilities. It provides them with blood and blood products at their request either for patients in life threatening conditions or the needs for surgery programs due to their incapability to provide them in other way.
Medical team
Head of the Institute:
Col. Prof. Dr. Miroljub Trkuljić
Head of the Blood Conservation Department
Col. Bratislav Stanković, MD, M.Sc., transfusiologist
Head of the Chemotherapy and Aphaeresis Treatment Department
Prof. Dr. Bela Balint, fellow reaearcher, specialist in Trasfusiology, subspecialist in Hematology
Immunohematology and Immunogenetics Department
Capt. Nemanja Borovčanin, MD, specialist in Trasfusiology
Hematogenic Transmissible Viral Diseases
Assist. Prof. Dr. Dušan Vučetić, specialist in Trasfusiology
Blood Product Section
Dragana Jovičić, MD, specialist in Trasfusiology
Assit. Gordana Ostojić, ND, MSc, specialist in Trasfusiology
Maj. Rajko Graovac, MD, specialist in Trasfusiology
Marika Ljubenoc, MD, specialist in Trasfusiology
CONTACT:
The Transfusiology Institute, MMA, 17 Crnotravska St., Belgrade,
MMA’s Information Office: 381 11 2661 122, 2662 755
Head of the Institute, Col. Prof. Dr. Miroljub Trkuljić 381 011 3609 134
Clinic’s Administration Office: 381 11 3609 171
