Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) in Australia

Effective from 3 March 2008

The Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) in Australia (the Criteria) has been developed to assist clinicians and transfusion medicine professionals to identify the conditions and circumstances for which the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is appropriate and funded under the National Blood Agreement. The Criteria supersedes the AHMAC IVIg Guidelines published in 2000.

The information and recommendations represent informed opinion, based where possible upon systematic review of the evidence. In the absence of published evidence, recommendations are based on clinical advice provided to the parties involved in developing this document (i.e. the Jurisdictional Blood Committee IVIg Working Party and its clinical advisers and consultants, the Jurisdictional Blood Committee, and the Commonwealth of Australia).

A Quick Reference Guide and Frequently Asked Questions have been developed to accompany the Criteria.

Published copies of the Criteria and the Quick Reference Guide can be obtained from the NBA by completing an order request form online or by facsimile .

A clarification of some of the indications within the Criteria was conducted in November 2008 resulting in revisions to the Criteria and associated Quick Reference Guide placed on the NBA website.

Some indications within the Criteria were out of scope of the Clarification Process which was established to consider existing indications listed in chapters 5 to 7 only. Indications that were considered as new evidence were to be submitted for the formal review process.

The Criteria will be reviewed three yearly, with the review process commencing two years after the release of each new version, allowing twelve months for consultation and drafting. A National IVIg Criteria Review Working Group (NICRWG) (NICRWG) has been established. The 2010 IVIg Criteria Review is scheduled to commence in March 2010.

Formal Submissions for the review will be called for and received from 23 December 2009 until 26 February 2010. After a systematic review of the evidence has been completed and consensus reached by the NICRWG, a Public Consultation process will be conducted on the proposed changes. It is anticipated this will commence in July 2010.

For more information please contact the National Blood Authority by email at ivigcriteria@nba.gov.au

Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) in Australia

Effective from 3 March 2008

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