Canadian Obstetrical and Pediatric Transfusion Network

The Canadian Obstetrical Pediatric Transfusion Network (COPTN) is a sub-committee of the CSTM. It was founded in 2017 and its mandate is to assess, analyze and strive to implement best practices in pediatric and obstetrical transfusion practice in Canada.

Committee representative includes pediatric hematologists, hematopathologists, transfusion medicine specialists, nurses
and transfusion safety officers from across Canada.

Activities include group projects and presentation of complex pediatric and obstetric transfusion cases.

Terms of Reference

Committee Membership

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Committee Activities

Perinatal Consensus Conference 2022

The Perinatal Consensus Conference, titled: "Choosing wisely when performing antenatal and postnatal transfusion tests", brought together medical experts in transfusion medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, family medicine, and maternal fetal medicine to discuss controversial issues in antenatal, perinatal and postnatal laboratory testing. As a result the conference organizers from ORBCoN with support from CBS, Héma-Québec and CSTM hope to develop consensus statements and further educational materials related to performing antenatal and postnatal transfusion tests.

The presentations from the conference are available at: https://transfusionontario.org/en/category/orbcon-resources/presentation-library/perinatal-consensus-conference/

Choosing Wisely Perinatal Recommendations

Choosing Wisely Canada, in collaboration with the CSTM Canadian Obstetrics and Pediatric Transfusion Network (COPTN), has released the CSTM’s four new Perinatal recommendations.

View the Recommendations here

Canadian Survey of Perinatal Transfusion Practice

One of the first projects the committee undertook was to send out a Canada-wide survey pertaining to perinatal testing and RhIG administration practice in the perinatal population.The results of the survey represent a comprehensive picture of laboratory testing practices related to prenatal blood samples, RhIG eligibility testing and postnatal maternal and neonatal evaluations.

Survey Report

Research Projects

Feto-maternal hemorrhage testing in antenatal patients: feasibility survey (PI: S. Tehseen)
Retrospective rare case review (PI: M. Yan; M. Bodnar)
Neonatal transfusion of ABO matched versus O red blood cells - national survey (PI: Z.Solh)

Publications

VanderMeulen H, Shuman M, Fam PN, Berman R, Callum J, Clarke G,
Lieberman L, Walsh C, Thorne J, Yan M, Transfusion Testing During Routine Pregnancies: Consensus Recommendations from a Modified Delphi Process, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada (2025), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2025.103034.
Vlachodimitropoulou E, Shehata N, Ryan G, Clarke G, Lieberman L. Management of pregnancies with anti-K alloantibodies and the predictive value of anti-K titration testing. Lancet Haematol. 2024 Nov;11(11):e873-e877. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(24)00239-4.
Jackson ME, Grabowska K, Lieberman L, Clarke G, Yan MTS; Canadian Obstetric Pediatric Transfusion Network. Management of Pregnancies Alloimmunized with Non-Rh and Non-K Alloantibodies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2024 Jan;46(1):102189. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2023.07.008.
Tran A, Clarke G, Callum JL, Smith G, Somerset D, Thorne J, Lieberman L. Reconsidering Routine Repeat Group and Screens During Pregnancy-Personalizing Pregnancy Care. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2024 May;46(5):102351. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2024.102351. Epub 2024 Jan 8. Erratum in: J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2024 Oct;46(10):102653. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2024.102653.
Arsenault, V., Lieberman, L., Akbari, P. et al. Canadian tertiary care pediatric massive hemorrhage protocols: a survey and comprehensive national review. Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-023-02641-w
Hajjaj OI, Clarke G, Lieberman L, Canadian Obstetrical Pediatric
Transfusion Network. Immunohematology testing using umbilical cord blood: review of the literature, survey of practice and guidance development. Transfusion. 2022; https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16834
Hajjaj OI, Cserti-Gazdewich C, Dumevska L, Hanna M, Lau W, Lieberman L, et al. Reconsidering sickle cell trait testing of red blood cell units allocated to children with sickle cell disease. Transfusion. 2022; https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.17223
Minuk L, Clarke G, Lieberman L. Approach to red blood cell antibody testing during pregnancy.
Canadian Family Physician July 2020, 66 (7) 491-498; https://www.cfp.ca/content/66/7/491
Tehseen S, et al. Thrombosis and hemorrhage experienced by hospitalized children with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or MIS‐C: Results of the PICNIC registry. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 69.9 (2022): e29793. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9350140/