ASH releases Blood journal app for iPhone and iPad

The American Society of Hematology (ASH), the world's largest organization concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders, today released the Blood journal app for iPhone and iPad. Blood is the official Journal of the Society and the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field.

By downloading the free application, users can access First Edition articles, conduct full-text searches, and view listings of articles by author and date with the in-app browser. The app also allows users to share articles via email and Twitter and download multiple issues on their devices and access them regardless of Internet connectivity, a feature not readily available on many other journal apps.

The launch of the Blood journal app is the latest technical innovation for the journal following recent reader preference research. Results from a 2011 readership survey indicate that nearly 20 percent of journal readers anticipate regularly accessing, searching, and reading professional journal literature on smartphones and tablets by 2015, signaling an opportunity for Blood to further expand its digital footprint.

"The launch of the Blood journal app demonstrates our recognition that our readers expect to be able to access journals on the go and our commitment to offering them the most cutting-edge science in the field through as many channels as possible," said Blood Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Dunbar, MD.

A version of the Blood journal app for Android devices will soon be available.

The Blood journal app was developed by Dartmouth Journal Services and The Sheridan Technology Group with support from a subcommittee of the following ASH members:

• Patrick Gallagher, MD, Yale University
• Stratford May, MD, PhD, University of Florida
• Menaka Pai, MD, McMaster University
• Georgia Vogelsang, MD, The Johns Hopkins University

At launch, ASH is offering a free 90-day trial of the Blood journal app to the general public. After 90 days, Blood subscriber or ASH member credentials will be required to continue to access full-text articles using the app. Abstracts will remain free to all users.