Coming 1 July 2026: Adjusted body weight Ig dosing in BloodSTAR

From 1 July 2026, the way in which immunoglobulin (Ig) doses are calculated in BloodSTAR is changing for both initial and continuing requests.  

• Adjusted body weight dosing will be the mandated default in BloodSTAR (unless an exclusion applies – see below).  
• If there is a clinical reason not to use adjusted body weight dosing, the clinician should select the appropriate option in BloodSTAR and provide a clinical justification in the authorisation request.   
• Entering the patient’s height will therefore be mandatory for all BloodSTAR authorisation requests.  

Exclusions and safeguards  

Adjusted body weight dosing is not recommended by the National Blood Authority (NBA) for patients who:   

• are aged < 18 years  
• are < 152 cm in height  
• are pregnant, or 
• have an actual body weight that is lower than their adjusted body weight.  

In these cases, BloodSTAR will apply actual body weight dosing.  

Safeguards have been built into the BloodSTAR system to ensure patients in these groups are exempt. Prescribers can also elect to use actual body weight dosing if it is clinically justified for your patient.  

Clinical judgement should always be applied, and maintenance dosing should be adjusted according to clinical response and ongoing monitoring.   

Prescribers must make sure that they are familiar with the change to how doses are calculated and consider how this will affect their patients. Clinicians retain responsibility for and control over the final dose of Ig that is administered to their patient.   

Quick links to key resources  

The BloodSTAR home page presents users with a summary of these changes.   

Additional information is available on the NBA’s website:  

• Position statement on Ig adjusted body weight dosing   
• Factsheet for prescribers  
• Factsheet for patients  

Use of adjusted body weight dosing better reflects Ig pharmacokinetics, supports use of the lowest effective dose to achieve clinical benefit and may reduce the risk of dose related adverse effects.   

These changes will bring Australian practice in line with standard dosing approaches used internationally including New Zealand, Canada, and the UK. The change is supported by the National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee (NIGAC) and the Jurisdictional Blood Committee and forms part of our ongoing commitment to promoting the safe and efficient use of blood products.   

The Position Statement – Immunoglobulin adjusted body weight dosing summarises the evidence and includes supporting references. Click here for more information.