WHY

The use of Immunoglobulin (Ig) products, specifically Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin (SCIg), continues to increase each year, at an average rate of 8-9%.

In 2020, the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario (OAGO) released the findings of their Value-for-Money Audit of Blood Management and Safety (https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en20/20VFM_02bloodmgmt.pdf).

Recommendation three specifically stated the need:

“To better manage the demand and supply of immunoglobulins so that they are available for Ontarians who need them most and to avoid costs of wasted product, we recommend that the MOH, in consultation with Ontario Health: Collect more complete data from hospitals on how immunoglobulins are being used and identify emerging conditions that may warrant inclusion in provincial utilization guidelines……”.

Currently in Ontario, Ig requests are completed by the prescriber and sent to Transfusion Medicine Laboratories on paper requisitions (MOH IG Request Forms- Neurology and Non-Neurology). These paper forms do not leave the hospital transfusion laboratory in which they are submitted. Lack of provincial Ig utilization data makes it difficult to understand how Ig is being used.

• ➢To address this situation Canadian Blood Services is developing an IT system with financial support from the Ontario Ministry of Health to understand the use of Ig in Ontario, support Ig stewardship, and make informed decisions.

Canadian Blood Services has developed Youtube videos to inform Ontario on project updates and timelines. To stay up to date on project initiatives these videos can be accessed here:

Immunoglobulin G: A Canadian perspective on its use, supply, and relevant initiatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAv2V_9vhME

Ig IT System Project Overview: https://youtu.be/VggynYI5h5k

Ig IT System Project Update – Quarter 1 – https://youtu.be/kYvFBTg9vTU

Current State vs Future State process flow diagrams