Investigating options
Reputable resources can help you make
informed choices for patients
IVIG resources
- Allows clinicians, nurses, and specialty pharmacists to review critical formulation differences across available therapies
- Useful for making patient-specific product selections based on tolerance, comorbidities, IgA sensitivity, etc.
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Once you request access (name and email address required), the PDF you receive includes side-by-side comparisons of IVIG (and SCIG) products on key
attributes:
- Brand names and manufacturers
- IgG concentration (%), volume
- Stabilizers/sugars used
- IgA content
- pH and osmolality
- Approved infusion routes and rates
- Storage conditions and shelf-life
- Authored by IDF, an independent non-profit organization
- Reflects all FDA-approved IVIG/SCIG products in use, with objective formulation details and infusion parameters
The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice is the leading evidence-based reference for infusion therapy across all care settings; including hospital, ambulatory infusion centers, specialty pharmacy, and home infusion. It establishes national standards for:
- Vascular access device selection and management
- Safe medication preparation and administration
- Infection prevention and aseptic technique
- Independent Professional Society: INS is a nonprofit professional organization that is not affiliated with any IVIG manufacturer
- Evidence-Based Development Process: Recommendations are derived from systematic literature review, expert panel consensus, and graded evidence methodology
- Widely Adopted Across Healthcare Systems: Hospitals, infusion centers, home infusion providers, and specialty pharmacies use INS Standards to build internal policies and competency programs
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Regulatory & Accreditation Alignment: INS Standards are often referenced in preparation for:
- Joint Commission reviews
- Magnet designation
- CMS compliance
- Accreditation surveys
- Multidisciplinary Relevance: While nursing-focused, the Standards impact pharmacists, prescribers, and quality leaders because they define infusion safety expectations across disciplines
- Regularly Updated: The Standards are updated approximately every three years to reflect the latest clinical evidence and practice evolution
- Infusion-related adverse event recognition and management
- Competency validation for infusion clinicians
- Policy and procedure development
Visit the bookstore on the INS website for valuable downloadable resources, including the latest version of the INS Standards of Practice, which includes guidance on immunoglobulin administration, which includes practical infusion considerations including vein health, rates, filters, and premedication protocols.
The Immunoglobulin National Society (IgNS) Therapy Standards of Practice (currently, Version 3.2) is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based clinical resource that outlines comprehensive standards for immunoglobulin (IG) therapy, tailored for nursing and pharmacy professionals. It provides a structured framework for developing organizational policies, procedures, and data collection practices.
- Treatment Planning: Evaluating patient-specific factors (comorbidities, previous reactions, fluid restrictions, cultural or psychosocial needs) to guide individualized drug and route selection
- Product Selection & Handling: Understanding formulation differences (concentration, stabilizers, volume, infusion route), matching product characteristics to patient risk profiles, and adhering to appropriate procurement protocols
- Safe Administration: Guidance on selecting infusion route and rate, managing infusion-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and ensuring proper equipment and environment based on setting (hospital, clinic, home)
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Emphasizes shared responsibilities across nurses, pharmacists, and prescribers, advocating for coordinated care planning, patient monitoring, and advocacy
- The standards are grounded in published literature, expert consensus, existing infusion nursing standards, and legal/regulatory frameworks
- They include a clear Evidence Classification System (I–V) to denote the quality of evidence behind each recommendation, as well as regulatory references (eg, AABB, OSHA)
- You can purchase the standards in hardcopy or eBook format via the IgNS website. Membership is not required; however, discounted prices are available for members
- IgNS also offers complimentary resources, such as “Ig Products and Risk Factors Chart,” a free downloadable or poster-format reference comparing FDA-approved IG products alongside patient risk considerations and mitigation tips
- A trusted, non-manufacturer source developed by IG therapy experts and maintained by a dedicated clinical society (IgNS)
- Multidisciplinary alignment facilitates synchronized protocols across nursing, pharmacy, and clinical teams
- Patient-centered and risk-informed approach helps tailor product and route choices based on individual patient safety and needs
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.