• Theme of the month
• CEU Editor Focus
• New CEU's on eCPD
• Feature Article of the Month
• Industry News
• Article of Interest
• Upcoming Conferences
• Health Alert |
 Mrs Toegfah Ortell
Contributing Editor: Medical Technology
Toegfah studied Medical Technology at the Port Elizabeth Technikon and started working for the Eastern Province Blood Transfusion Service (known as South African National Blood Service) in 1983.
She qualified in Blood Transfusion in 1984. In the good ol' days the supervisors moved from laboratory to laboratory.
As a result she gained experience in ELISA and RIA testing, donor grouping, anti-sera and preserved cell preparation, antibody identification and titration, amniotic fluid analysis for bilirubin and crossmatching.
She started up the quality programme in Port Elizabeth and we attained our first SANAS Accreditation in June 2004.
After that she joined the Vocational Training Department and now hold the position of Zone Technical Training Officer for the Eastern Cape.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr von Mayer for her continuing contribution to the success of eCPD.
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| Feature Article of the Month |
Evidence-Based Platelet Transfusion Guidelines / Platelet Transfusion
Transfused platelets (plts) are either pooled random-donor platelet (plt) concentrates or single-donor apheresis plts.
When stored for 5 days, all of these products are equally efficacious.
The optimal plt dose/transfusion is being evaluated in an ongoing clinical trial.
Read Full Article |
Transfusion-transmitted infections
Although the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections today is lower than ever, the supply of safe
blood products remains subject to contamination with known and yet to be identified human
pathogens. Only continuous improvement and implementation of donor selection, sensitive
screening tests and effective inactivation procedures can ensure the elimination, or at least
reduction, of the risk of acquiring transfusion transmitted infections.
Read Full Article
Musculoskeletal complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic claimed more than 3 million lives worldwide in 2002,
and an estimated 5 million people became infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that year,
bringing to 42 million the total number of people living with the virus, 980,000 of whom live in North America.
The best current projections suggest that an additional 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010.
Read Full Article
HIV disease progression
The progression of the HIV infection may be measured through various outcome measures such as the plasma virus load set point,
the rate of decline in CD4 count, increase in plasma virus load and the HIV associated opportunistic infections.
Though a number of factors may influence the course of disease progression,
a balance between the host factors and the virus factors are major determinants of the outcome of HIV infection.
Read Full Article
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44th Congress of the South African Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
- 2nd till 5th November 2008
The theme of the meeting will be on Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology. To this end they have compiled at excellent faculty of speakers from all over the world who are experts in their field.
Register here...
SA Heart Congress
- 2nd till 5th November 2008
There are a number of new and challenging approaches to the management of various cardiovascular conditions and they plan to address these. There are an impressive list of confirmed international speakers and they have been asked to ensure entertaining talks and be prepared to participate in robust debates.
Register here...
Healthcare Technology 2008 Exhibition & Conference
- 19th and 20th November 2008
The conference will keep healthcare delegates up-to-date about the latest solutions for improving medical care and improving efficiencies in the healthcare system. They have pulled out all the stops to bring delegates high powered topics which will address latest developments in healthcare technology.
Read more...
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A new virus named Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) is making its outbreak in South Africa.
It is reported that the virus can kill a person within 72 hours.
VHF is an extremely infectious and life-threatening disease caused by a group of viruses, including the Ebola virus.
The death rate can be as high as 90%. Symptoms vary from fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding.
Please be aware and warn your patients and loved ones.
For more information about the research click here
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According to a new report by independent market analyst Datamonitor, competition is becoming so intense some big players in the HIV market may eventually be either squeezed, or opt out.
The proteins are known to have anti-viral properties, which may prevent HIV from multiplying, or anti-inflammatory abilities that help prevent transmission of the virus.
Benylin is launching a new single dose cough syrup sachet for a convenient and effective remedy when you're on the run.
A new strain of avian flu never before reported in Africa has been identified in Nigeria.
Scientists from Finland, Germany and the ESRF have developed a new X-ray technique for the early detection of breast cancer.
Local payment software innovation, Nexion, is allowing increasing numbers of GPs to improve their cash flow position by reducing the cost of collecting receivables.
Use of paracetamol in babies increases the risk of developing asthma five years later.
Summer can be a painful time for people who suffer from headaches.