Citations

Abstract Patients requiring chronic transfusion support are at risk of alloimmunization after red blood cell (RBC) transfusion because of a disparity between donor and recipient antigen profiles. This research explored the probability of obtaining an exact extended phenotype match between blood donors randomly selected from our institution and patients randomly selected from particular ethnic groups. Blood samples from 1,000 blood donors tested by molecular method were evaluated for the predicted phenotype distribution of Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, and MNS. A random subsample of 800 donor phenotypes was then evaluated for the probability of obtaining an exact match with respect to phenotype with a randomly selected patient from a particular ethnic group. Overall, there was a greater than 80 percent probability of finding an exact donor-recipient match for the K/k alleles in the Kell system. The probability ranged from 3 percent to 38 percent, depending on the ethnicity and disparities in phenotypic profiles, for the Rh, Kidd, Duffy, and MNS systems. A significant donor-recipient phenotype mismatch ratio exists with certain blood group antigens such that, with current routine ABO and D matching practices, recipients of certain ethnic groups are predisposed to alloimmunization. Immunohematology 2011; 27:12–19.

Almost 50% of trauma‐related fatalities within the first 24 hours of injury are related to hemorrhage. Improved survival in severely injured patients has been demonstrated when massive transfusion protocols are rapidly invoked as part of a therapeutic approach known as damage control resuscitation (DCR). DCR incorporates the early use of plasma to prevent or correct trauma‐induced coagulopathy. DCR often requires the transfusion of plasma before determination of the recipient's ABO group. Historically, group AB plasma has been considered the “universal donor” plasma product. At our facility, the number of AB plasma products produced on an annual basis was found to be inadequate to support the trauma service's DCR program. A joint decision was made by the transfusion medicine and trauma services to provide group A thawed plasma (TP) for in‐hospital and prehospital DCR protocols. A description of the implementation of group A TP into the DCR program is provided as well as outcome data pertaining to the use of TP in trauma patients.

BACKGROUNDOur institutional policy allows patients who are scheduled for elective surgery with no history of a pregnancy or blood transfusion in the preceding 3 months to have a presurgical sample (PSS) collected and tested up to 56 days before their scheduled surgery; however, our PSS TS completion rate in eligible patients before the morning of surgery was 83%. In 2011, a team was charged to develop a standardized process along with other process improvements while ensuring no increase in transfusion‐related events.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe team followed the DMAIC framework in appraising the effectiveness and efficiency of the current state process including baseline data collection such as PSS TS completion rate, number of eligible patients needing a PSS TS on the day of surgery, benchmarking, SSBO utilization, and future state mapping.RESULTSFirst quarter (Q1) 2011 versus Q1 2012 postimplementation results showed significant improvements of the process including a 53% decrease in PSS TS on the day of surgery; a 13% increase in PSS TS completion before the morning of surgery; a 26% reduction in total XM RBCs; and a 58.8% reduction in XM RBCs not issued, plus a 47% decrease in RBC wastage. Q1 2011 versus Q1 2013 showed a 41% reduction in total XM RBCs and an 88.4% reduction in XM RBCs not issued but overall RBCs issued versus returned increased slightly and represents a future opportunity for improvement.CONCLUSIONSThe redesigned, transformational process eliminated SSBO and improved ordering process and PSS TS completion rate as well as blood product ordering and utilization.

Background The national waste rate for hospital‐issued blood products ranges from 0% to 6%, with operating room–responsible waste representing up to 70% of total hospital waste. A common reason for blood product waste is inadequate intraoperative storage. Study Design and Methods Our transfusion service database was used to quantify and categorize red blood cell ( RBC ) and fresh‐frozen plasma ( FFP ) units issued for intraoperative transfusion that were wasted over a 27‐month period. Two cohorts were created: 1) before implementation of a blood transport and storage initiative ( BTSI )— RBC and plasma waste J anuary 1, 2011‐ M ay 31, 2012; 2) after implementation of BTSI — RBC and plasma waste J une 1, 2012, to M arch 31, 2013. The BTSI replaced existing storage coolers (8‐hr coolant life span with temperature range of 1‐10°C) with a cooler that had a coolant life span of 18 hours and a temperature range of 1 to 6°C and included an improved educational cooler placard and an alert mechanism in the electronic health record. Monthly median RBC and plasma waste and its associated cost were the primary outcomes. Results An intraoperative BTSI significantly reduced median monthly RBC (1.3% vs. 0.07%) and FFP (0.4% vs. 0%) waste and its associated institutional cost. The majority of blood product waste was due to an unacceptable temperature of unused returned blood products. Conclusion An intraoperative BTSI significantly reduced median monthly RBC and FFP waste. The cost to implement this initiative was small, resulting in a significant estimated return on investment that may be reproducible in institutions other than ours.

BackgroundGroup O red blood cell (RBC) units are used for emergency transfusions and are often uncrossmatched when transfused. We sought to determine the risk of alloimmunization and identify acute adverse outcomes of this practice.Study Design and MethodsThe transfusion medicine database was searched for emergency‐release transfusion (ERT) episodes from January 2006 through December 2010. The data collected included age and sex of the recipient, blood bank history, survival after the ERT episode, antibody screen results, antibody identifications, and compatibility of released units.ResultsA total of 1444 ERT episodes took place involving 1407 patients. A total of 4144 RBC units were released. Of the 129 positive antibody screens, 34 had no antibody on further work‐up, 14 had autoantibodies, 48 had a single antibody specificity, and 25 had multiple antibody specificities. Seven patients developed an antibody that could be attributed to the ERT episode, and 15 patients developed an antibody after ERT and additional RBC transfusions. There were 32 reported suspected transfusion reactions. No acute hemolytic transfusion reactions were reported. Seven patients were given a total of 10 incompatible RBC units. Of these patients, one developed a delayed serologic transfusion reaction. The rate of alloimmunization attributable to ERT was 3%. Overall, the rate of incompatible transfusion was less than 0.3% and the rate of a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction was approximately 0.02%.ConclusionThere is minimal risk associated with the release of emergency uncrossmatched blood in the setting of an acutely bleeding patient. [Correction statement added after online publication 15‐Oct‐2012: the number of patients with autoantibodies, single antibody specificity and multiple antibody specificity has been update.]