Access to Normal Human Immunoglobulin (NHIg) in Australia

Supply of NHIg Under the National Blood Arrangements 

Normal human immunoglobulin (NHIg) may be supplied under the national blood arrangements for two purposes:

1.    Public health disease control activities, to treat susceptible contacts of an indicated infectious disease (hepatitis A, measles, poliomyelitis or rubella), where directed by the public health units in each state and territory. 

Advice and guidance to public health units in responding to a notifiable disease event can be found in the Series of National Guidelines (SoNGs) which have been developed by the Department of Health in consultation with the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) and endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

Instructions on ordering NHIg are available below: How to order NHIg for public health control activities

2. The treatment of specified immunodeficiency conditions for patients for whom treatment with both IVIg and SCIg (where available) is contraindicated

Eligibility requirements for accessing immunoglobulin are defined in the Criteria for the Clinical Use of Immunoglobulin in Australia. NHIg must be ordered through the online system BloodSTAR. The following conditions apply: 

  • the authorisation of NHIg must use the same diagnostic, qualifying, exclusion and review criteria as would apply for authorisation of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) for the same condition
  • at the time of seeking authorisation, the prescribing specialist clinician must confirm in writing the specific clinical reason why treatment with IVIg and SCIg are both contraindicated, and
  • the governing requirements for SCIg must be applied where NHIg is proposed to be used outside of the hospital setting.

Ongoing access to NHIg may cease if the required review and supporting documentation demonstrating clinical effectiveness against the review criteria have not been met.

Instructions on ordering NHIg for immunodeficiency purposes are available below: How to order NHIg for specified conditions.

NHIg will not be routinely provided for any other purpose, including travel prophylaxis for hepatitis A. Advice in relation to prophylaxis for hepatitis A can be found in The Australian Immunisation Handbook, on the Department of Health’s website.

Ordering or Requesting Access to NHIg

Ordering NHIg for Public Health Control Activities

To order NHIg for public health disease post-exposure prophylaxis, please complete the relevant form below and submit it to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood in your your state or territory contact (contact details are provided on the form). You will need to provide details of the public health unit that provided advice in relation to your request for NHIg.

Normal Human Immunoglobulin (NHIg) Order Form

Complete form online and print off
  (pdf)
Complete form online and print off 
  (docx)

Requesting NHIg for Specified Conditions within the Criteria (where IVIg and SCIg are both contraindicated)

The Blood System for Tracking Authorisations and Reviews (BloodSTAR) must be used to request, manage and review NHIg for all other eligible conditions (as described above). For more information: see BloodSTAR – Ig product authorisation & review. BloodSTAR is accessed through BloodPortal - the central gateway to the NBA’s ICT systems.

Once authorised via BloodSTAR, product is ordered through BloodNet.

Keep up to date

 

Ig Program Updates provides a snapshot of the NBA’s current work program and priorities in the immunoglobulin space. It is updated quarterly.

To receive the latest Immunoglobulin Governance Program Updates by email, join the Ig Updates and National Immunoglobulin Interest Group (NIIG) subscription list: email Iggovernance@blood.gov.au(link sends e-mail) with the words SUBSCRIBE Ig Program Updates and NIIG in the subject line.

In the body of the email, please indicate your interest (e.g. Healthcare Professional/ Patient/ Government, etc.) and include your signature block.

Subscribers receive notification of the quarterly Ig Program Updates, and may also be invited to informally discuss and comment on individual Ig-related issues as they arise (participation is optional).

For more information on NIIG, see: www.blood.gov.au/Ig-committees.

For further information

Please contact the National Blood Authority on 13 000 BLOOD (13 000 25 663)  or email IgGovernance@blood.gov.au.