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February 12, 2013

News for the transfusion medicine and cellular therapy community

Top Story

Blood bank reports broader access to rare blood types
LifeStream blood bank said it now has access to around 1,000 rare blood types. The blood bank, which serves more than 80 Southern California hospitals, said the expansion was supported by $175,000 in grants from the Desert Healthcare District and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration) (2/11)

Discount on Regenerative Medicine Journal offered to AABB members
AABB has partnered with Regenerative Medicine Journal to offer an online subscription for $30 per year to AABB members. This journal provides a forum to address the important challenges and advances in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Visit the AABB Marketplace or add-on to your online AABB membership renewal.

Science & Health

CDC: Flu season appears to be waning
CDC officials report that in much of the U.S., flu season is starting to wind down, according to data from the week ending Feb. 2. Widespread flu activity was reported in 38 states, down from 42, and mortality attributed to influenza also was down. Nineteen states recorded high levels of flu activity, the agency said. USA Today (2/8), U.S. News & World Report (2/8)

Aspirin plus clopidogrel lowers risk of stroke recurrence
Researchers tracked 5,170 minor stroke or transient ischemic attack survivors in China and found that those who received aspirin and clopidogrel were 32% less likely to suffer a second stroke in 90 days than those who took aspirin alone. The two groups both had comparably low rates of intracerebral bleeding, death and myocardial infarction. The study was presented at the International Stroke Conference. MedPage Today (free registration) (2/10)

Emerging Trends

Biosensor device offers hope of better diagnoses
A universal biosensor could help doctors quickly identify microbes, leading to more accurate diagnoses and better treatments for illnesses. Abbott's PLEX-ID biosensor isolates microbes from saliva and blood to identify any known pathogens. The device is used for research, but a smaller version is being developed for possible use in clinical settings. New Scientist (2/6)

Industry News & Practice

Fresenius product prevents blood loss during home dialysis
Fresenius Medical Care has introduced WetAlert, a wireless system designed to detect when an in-home dialysis needle becomes dislodged, which can cause blood loss. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model)/Business Updates blog (2/11)

Pa. maker of placenta-derived tissue graft obtains $2.23M
AFcell Medical has obtained $2.23 million of a targeted $10 million round, which it will use for its sales and marketing team. The Pennsylvania-based startup is the maker of AmnioClear, a tissue graft derived from the placenta of living human donors that could speed recovery for tendon surgery or wound repair patients. MedCityNews.com (2/11)

Firms ally to develop new treatment for infections
Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Pergamum agreed to jointly develop a treatment for infections with a novel targeting mechanism. The collaboration will focus on a new class of short synthetic peptides developed by Pergamum. Cadila will shoulder all product development-related costs until midstage studies, and the companies will share global rights. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (2/8), PharmaTimes (U.K.) (2/8)

The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)

Registration Now Open - April 9, 2013 PACT Workshop
“Developing Cellular Therapies: From Preclinical Safety to Clinical Evaluation”. Hosted by University of Wisconsin, Waisman Biomanufacturing (WB), Madison, WI. No charge for attendance. Click here for more details.

Government & Regulatory

FDA OKs HLA typing systems from Life Technologies
The FDA has given Life Technologies 510(k) clearance to market its SeCore HLA typing test kits and 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers. The company said the devices are the first sequencing-based tools to be cleared in the U.S. for HLA typing. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (2/11)

FDA could erase OTC exemption from device identifier rule
Over-the-counter medical technologies might not be excluded from the unique device identifier rule being prepared for publication in June by the FDA. "There's a lot of interest in not seeing this exemption in the final rule, so we're taking this into account," said Jay Crowley, senior adviser on patient safety for the FDA. Clinica (subscription required) (2/8)

FDA submits device data gathering proposal for OMB review
The FDA has submitted a proposal to renew its program for gathering data about medical devices to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. The program is part of its system to identify and ban devices that are harmful or risky. The agency also is requesting public comment on its process for banning medical technologies. MassDevice.com (Boston) (2/8)

Association News

AABB website features new section on malaria
AABB's Regulatory Affairs department has created a new Web page to provide easy access to updated information on malaria. Resources to notify members of active and rescinded malaria outbreaks and recommendations, recent actions and a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also are included. Learn more.

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Position Title	Company Name	Location
Donor Collections Director	Blood Centers of the Pacific	US - CA - San Francisco
Medical Technologist CLS - Cord Blood Program	San Diego Blood Bank	US - CA - San Diego

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