Haemovigilance

Haemovigilance is defined by the International Haemovigilance Network as ‘a set of surveillance procedures covering the whole transfusion chain from the collection of blood and its components to the follow-up of recipients. It is intended to collect and assess information on unexpected or undesirable effects resulting from the therapeutic use of labile blood products, and to prevent their occurrence or recurrence’. 

The Western Australian Haemovigilance Program is a voluntary state-wide initiative to capture transfusion-related adverse events associated with the transfusion of fresh blood components. Participation in the WA Haemovigilance Program aligns with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard 7 Blood Management (external site) which states:

• Action 7.07 - The health service organisation uses processes for reporting transfusion-related adverse events in accordance with national guidelines and criteria.
• Action 7.08 - The health service organisation participates in haemovigilance activities, in accordance with the national framework.

These actions highlight the importance of conducting haemovigilance activities and promoting the safe management of blood and blood products. Participation in the WA Haemovigilance Program supports health service organisations improve clinical practice and blood product safety.

Haemovigilance data collected from the WA Haemovigilance Program contributes to national haemovigilance reporting through the National Blood Authority (NBA) and the Haemovigilance Advisory Committee (HAC). Additional information on national haemovigilance reporting can be found here (external site)

WA Haemovigilance Program resources:

• WA Haemovigilance Reporting Guideline 2025 (PDF 355KB) – Provides an overview of the WA Haemovigilance Program, key roles and responsibilities and the reporting process 
• WA Haemovigilance Program TRAE Definitions 2025 (PDF 195KB) – Provides detailed definitions and criteria for transfusion-related adverse events reportable to the WA Haemovigilance Program
• WA Haemovigilance Program Reporting Tool (external site) – A web-based REDCap survey tool for reporting transfusion-related adverse events to the WA Haemovigilance Program

These resources have been developed to support health service organisations to identify and report transfusion-related adverse events to the WA Haemovigilance Program.

Further information

For additional information on the WA Haemovigilance Program, please contact:

Blood Unit
Office of the Chief Medical Officer
WA Department of Health
Email: bloodmanagement@health.wa.gov.au