Update on our preparations for UK plasma self-sufficiency

As part of our commitment to share information with you as we move towards domestic plasma component (FFP and cryoprecipitate) self-sufficiency, we are pleased to provide the following update.

COMPONENT ORDERING:

  • Work is progressing to enable hospitals to order “generic” FFP (or cryoprecipitate) through OBOS
  • We are planning on the IT system changes being made on 1 April 2020 which will then enable “generic” ordering of FFP and cryo
  • These components will appear on OBOS and be ordered in the normal way
  • Further detail on component ordering will be provided as part of our ongoing updates to you

We are grateful to Julie Staves for convening an extraordinary meeting of the National Transfusion Laboratory Managers (NTLM) group to discuss the practicalities of managing component provision during the transition.  The NTLM’s and NHSBT have jointly agreed the following:

  • During the transition, NHSBT will fulfil FFP/cryoprecipitate orders with a mix of UK and non-UK components
  • As NHSBT data suggests that non-UK plasma components will only account for about 15% of our total plasma stock (and will decrease during the transition period), we will not take any specific measures to artificially increase the proportion of UKFFP provided to hospitals who pre-thaw UKFFP
  • NHSBT will use “best endeavours” to share UK/non-UK component provision equitably; whilst the exact mix may fluctuate in individual orders, it should even out over the transition period
  • If, as the transition period progresses, individual hospitals consider there is a material imbalance in the mix of UK/non-UK components being received which is causing difficulties for patient treatment those hospitals may contact their Customer Service Manager for assistance
  • Additionally, if individual hospitals wish to volunteer to increase their stocks of non-UK components, they should contact their Customer Service Manager to discuss

NHSBT would like to place on record our appreciation for the insight brought into our planning from our hospital colleagues on the NTLM group.

COMPONENT PRICING:

  • NHSBT’s Executive Board has approved a uniform price for FFP and cryoprecipitate to remove the current price differential
  • As per standard process, NHSBT’s pricing proposals are now before the Department of Health and Social Care’s National Commissioning Group (NCG) for scrutiny
  • Subject to ratification by the NCG, from the 1 April 2020 we intend to charge one price for FFP and one price for cryoprecipitate, regardless of the origin of that component’s plasma
  • We will update you as matters progress 

PLASMA COMPONENT PORTFOLIO:

  • The move to domestic plasma self-sufficiency requires a number of revisions to our portfolio of plasma components
  • Some of these changes require amendments to the Guidelines for the Blood Transfusion Services in the UK (also known as the “Red Book”) which set out the specification of plasma components for neonatal use
  • Subject to final confirmation, the intended availability and timing of plasma components is:

MBFFP (adult)

No change to current availability.

Will be gradually phased out during transition to be replaced by UKFFP (adult).

MBFFP (neonatal)

No change to current availability.

Will continue to be the standard component for neonatal use during transition. Will be gradually phased out during transition to be replaced by UKFFP (neonatal).

UKFFP (adult)

No change to current availability.

Availability will increase to meet forecast FFP demand with 100% UK sourced plasma.

UKFFP (neonatal)

Not available at launch (April 2020). Component will be introduced during transition period. 

New component specification to be added to the Red Book. Will communicate to hospitals when small volume of UKFFP comes on stream. New product code will be issued. Until this time, orders will be fulfilled with MBFFP (neonatal).

MBcryo pools

No change to current availability.

Will be gradually phased out during transition to be replaced by UKcryo pools.

MBcryo single

No change to current availability.

Will continue to be the standard component for neonatal use during transition. Will be gradually phased out during transition to be replaced by UKcryo singles.

UKcryo pools

No change to current availability.

Availability will increase to meet forecast cryo demand with 100% UK sourced plasma.

UKcryo single

Not available at launch (April 2020). Component will be introduced during transition period.

New component specification to be added to the Red Book. Will communicate to hospitals when UKcryo singles come on stream. New product code will be issued.    Until this time, orders will be fulfilled with MBcryo.

STOCK MANAGEMENT FOR HOSPITALS ON NHSBT’s STOCK MANAGEMENT SERVICE:

We will shortly issue a tailored communication to hospitals on our Stock Management Service advising current stock targets for plasma components.  This will allow hospitals to decide if they wish to adjust those targets once we start to fulfil FFP and pooled cryoprecipitate orders with a mixture of UK and non-UK components.

NHSBT DEMAND PLANNING TO SUPPORT COMPONENT AVAILABILITY:

  • We continue to ask hospitals to maintain appropriate ordering of high titre negative components and their current UK/non-UK component ordering profiles

 

PLATELETS:

Further to previous communication, we are not currently planning to make any significant changes to the percentages of apheresis platelets that we collect. 

This is an operational decision unrelated to the revised SaBTO recommendations.

FURTHER UPDATES:

We thank you for your support and partnership.  We will continue to provide updates as our planning progresses.

 

Alastair Hunter, NHSBT Frozen Component Manager, February 2020