Call for Abstracts
The submission period for abstracts has now closed. Thank you to all who have submitted their work.
The 2025 South African National Blood Transfusion Congress will showcase the latest research, interesting findings and present a forum for sharing achievements and knowledge, solving problems, and generally broadening the knowledge base of blood transfusion medicine in South Africa, Africa and internationally.
Research abstracts must please be submitted online and are limited to a maximum of 500 words. Tables and graphs should not be included in the abstract.
Abstracts can include scientific research, administrative studies or case studies, and should be structured to the following headings:
- Background
- Aim
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusion
SANBTC abstracts may be submitted in the following categories:
- Donor education, recruitment, retention and marketing
- Apheresis donations and specialised donations, including therapeutic services
- Donation testing and blood component processing
- Immunohaematology
- Transfusion practices and clinical case studies
- Haemovigilance and adverse transfusion reactions
- Transfusion-transmitted infections
- Inventory management, storage, cold chain management and distribution
- Capacity building and training in blood transfusion services
- Quality management systems
- Business management, finance and human resources management
- Information systems and record management
Guidelines for writing abstracts
Background
What is the topic and why is it worth studying? The background should describe the general topic under review and provide context for the research.
Aim
Why was the study done? The aim should include a statement of the purpose of the study and the question/s to be explored.
Methods
How was the study done? This section should describe the study design and details of analytical, investigative and statistical methods used.
Results
What was found? This section describes the data that was collected and the results of any statistical tests that were performed.
Conclusion
What do these results mean? This section deals with the interpretation of results and their implications for practices, or adding to the body of knowledge about the topic. A conclusion following the study should be made, which can include recommendations or limitations from the study.
Administrative Study Abstract Format
Introduction
WHY the study/project was performed (a brief statement of the background and purpose of the study)
Nature of the problem
WHY the study/project was performed (a brief description of the problem/unmet requirement that led to the study/project being performed)
Design and methodology
HOW the study/project was performed (a brief description of how the study was performed including details of analytical, investigative or statistical methods used)
Results
WHAT was found (a summary of the results obtained using the mentioned methods)
Discussion
WHAT these results mean (interpretation and explanation of the results obtained)
Conclusion
WHAT the outcome of the study is (a brief statement of outcome including (if appropriate) recommendations that can be made based on the results of the study).
Scientific Studies Abstract Format
Introduction and background
WHY the study was done (a brief background and a statement of the purpose of the study)
Study design or materials and methods
HOW the study was done (a statement concerning study design and details of analytical, investigative and statistical methods used)
Results
WHAT was found (a summary of the results obtained from the analytical, investigative and statistical methods used)
Discussion
What these results mean (interpretation and clarification of results obtained analytical, investigative and statistical methods used)
Conclusion
WHAT is concluded from these results (a statement of the author’s conclusions based on the stated results)
Case Study Abstract Format
Introduction
WHY the case study was important (a brief statement of a statement of why the case is of special interest)
Nature of the problem/case
WHY the case study was performed (a brief description of the problem that led to the study being performed), and/or a short description of the case/s.
Body of work
WHAT was done (a brief summary of the salient aspects of the case under discussion with special reference to points that make the case worthy of presentation)
Closing remarks
WHAT the case details and information mean (a statement of the author’s conclusions based on the case information supplied and any recommendations that stem from the case)
