Canadian Apheresis Group

The Canadian Apheresis Group (CAG) was formed in 1980 under the auspices of National Health and Welfare, Canada. The group includes representatives from 42 apheresis units in the 19 major medical centers in Canada. During the past 18 years, the CAG has been involved in the organization and direction of several randomized, controlled studies of plasma exchange (1-5). In addition, the CAG has acted as a registry by collecting and annually reviewing information on all 103 416 apheresis procedures (from 1980 to 1997) with the directors of each medical center. Although the annual meeting of the CAG medical directors focuses on new evidence and techniques for plasma exchange, an annual center-by-center review has been a standard feature. In these reviews, the directors of each medical center are asked to explain variances in their center’s activity with reference to available published evidence and to address the feasibility of creating a future pilot or randomized, controlled study.

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