Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg)

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) is a solution of human immunoglobulins, mainly IgG antibodies with a broad spectrum of antibody activity. SCIg is prepared from large pools of human plasma and contains the typical IgG antibodies found in the normal population. SCIg is used for patients who need antibody replacement.

SCIg can be obtained under National Blood Supply arrangements. Refer to the National Blood Authority website about the supply of SCIg in Australia.

Always read and refer to the product information sheet of every product prior to administration.

What is the criteria for its use?

SCIg is only approved for patients with a medical condition where there’s support for use cited in the Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Australia, namely:

• inborn errors of immunity (IEI) with antibody deficiency
• specific antibody deficiency
• acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to haematological malignancies, or post-haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
• secondary hypogammaglobulinaemia unrelated to haematological malignancies, or post-haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and
• chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), (including IgG and IgA paraproteinaemic demyelinating neuropathies).

In addition to the above, SCIg is also approved for patients who are:

• being treated by a clinical specialist within a hospital-based SCIg program where the hospital provides all resources and takes full accountability for the management and use of the SCIg product, at no additional cost to patients, and
• following a patient-specific SCIg request submitted to, and authorised by, Lifeblood.

Access to SCIg

The National Blood Authority (NBA) has established arrangements for access to immunoglobulin products for subcutaneous use.

In all States/territories government-funded SCIg is accessed online by registered users of BloodSTAR.

BloodSTAR is the National Blood Authority’s online system that facilitates authorisation, dispensing and reviews of immunoglobulin products such as SCIg.

To register for BloodSTAR you will need to create an account with the National Blood Authority’s BLOODportal.

Further assistance with accessing immunoglobulins for patients is available on the National Blood Authority's website.