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Acta Haematologica 2022Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it has spread rapidly around the world and caused a serious global social crisis.... (Review)
Review
Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it has spread rapidly around the world and caused a serious global social crisis. During the epidemic, the blood collection and supply industry have been greatly impacted, due to the sharply dropped blood donors and transfusion transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2. Many infected individuals are asymptomatic and they may donate blood without awareness of the infection or before symptoms appear. In addition, viral RNAs have been detected in the blood of some patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Although no infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in the blood nor the blood components, there is a risk of transmission through blood transfusion which may endanger blood safety, especially during the pandemic period. This review briefly introduces the biological characteristics, epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, with a particular focus on SARS-CoV-2 infection and blood safety.
Topics: Blood Safety; COVID-19; Humans; Pandemics; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35134796
DOI: 10.1159/000522488 -
Turkish Journal of Haematology :... Feb 2022Hematologists often encounter transfusion problems, one of which is crossmatch incompatibility. In many countries, transfusion medicine is not a recognized specialty,... (Review)
Review
Hematologists often encounter transfusion problems, one of which is crossmatch incompatibility. In many countries, transfusion medicine is not a recognized specialty, there are no reference immunohematology laboratories, and most blood banks can only perform “type and screen” and crossmatch analyses. Therefore, hematologists should have basic knowledge about blood banking procedures and how to use them. This review aims to provide hematologists who do not have access to advanced blood bank laboratories some practical tips for handling problems in pretransfusion testing.
Topics: Blood Banks; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; Blood Transfusion; Humans; Transfusion Medicine
PubMed: 34886658
DOI: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2021.2021.0544 -
Viruses Jan 2024Blood safety remains a paramount public health concern, and health authorities maintain a high level of vigilance to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs)...
Blood safety remains a paramount public health concern, and health authorities maintain a high level of vigilance to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) [...].
Topics: Humans; Blood Safety; Public Health
PubMed: 38257823
DOI: 10.3390/v16010123 -
Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K,... Dec 2019In feline practice, blood groups were considered unimportant until the 1980s. Since then much has been learned. The most important blood group system in cats is the... (Review)
Review
In feline practice, blood groups were considered unimportant until the 1980s. Since then much has been learned. The most important blood group system in cats is the (renamed here as ) blood group system consisting of blood types , and (better referred to as ). Type cats have strong anti- alloantibodies potentially leading to incompatibility reactions during mismatched transfusions or neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) in type and () kittens born to type queens. Acute hemolytic transfusion reactions as well as NI have been clinically well documented in cats. Immunological and genetic tests have been established and blood typing and crossmatching test kits have become commercially available. This review updates the current knowledge of these blood types, their genetics, associated incompatibility reactions, and different diagnostic tools for avoiding such reactions in clinical practice.
Topics: Animals; Blood Group Antigens; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; Cats; Transfusion Reaction
PubMed: 31814091
DOI: 10.1055/a-1035-9649 -
Annals of Hematology May 2021An association of various blood types and the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been found in a number of publications. The aim of this literature review is... (Review)
Review
An association of various blood types and the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been found in a number of publications. The aim of this literature review is to summarize key findings related to ABO blood types and COVID-19 infection rate, symptom presentation, and outcome. Summarized findings include associations between ABO blood type and higher infection susceptibility, intubation duration, and severe outcomes, including death. The literature suggests that blood type O may serve as a protective factor, as individuals with blood type O are found COVID-19 positive at far lower rates. This could suggest that blood type O individuals are less susceptible to infection, or that they are asymptomatic at higher rates and therefore do not seek out testing. We also discuss genetic associations and potential molecular mechanisms that drive the relationship between blood type and COVID-19. Studies have found a strong association between a locus on a specific gene cluster on chromosome three (chr3p21.31) and outcome severity, such as respiratory failure. Cellular models have suggested an explanation for blood type modulation of infection, evidencing that spike protein/Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-dependent adhesion to ACE2-expressing cell lines was specifically inhibited by monoclonal or natural human anti-A antibodies, so individuals with non-A blood types, specifically O, or B blood types, which produce anti-A antibodies, may be less susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to the inhibitory effects of anti-A antibodies.
Topics: ABO Blood-Group System; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; COVID-19; Disease Susceptibility; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Incidence; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 33686492
DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04489-w -
Epidemiology and Infection Jun 2020While the majority of worldwide hepatitis E viral (HEV) infections that occur in people are from contaminated water or food sources, there has also been a steadily... (Review)
Review
While the majority of worldwide hepatitis E viral (HEV) infections that occur in people are from contaminated water or food sources, there has also been a steadily rising number of reported cases of transfusion-transmitted HEV (TT-HEV) in blood donation recipients. For most, HEV infection is acute, self-limiting and asymptomatic. However, patients that are immunocompromised, especially transplant patients, are at much higher risk for developing chronic infections, which can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure, along with overall increased mortality. Because of the rising trend of HEV serological prevalence among the global population, and the fact that TT-HEV infection can cause serious clinical consequences among those patients most at need for blood donation, the need for screening for TT-HEV has been gaining in prominence as an important public health concern for both developing and developed countries. In the review, we summarise evidence for and notable cases of TT-HEV infections, the various aspects of HEV screening protocols and recent trends in the implementation of TT-HEV broad-based blood screening programmes.
Topics: Blood Donors; Blood Safety; Blood Transfusion; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Humans
PubMed: 32594963
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820001429 -
Transfusion Jan 2021The availability of a safe blood supply is a key component of transfusion medicine. A decade of decreased blood use, decreased payment for products, and a dwindling... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The availability of a safe blood supply is a key component of transfusion medicine. A decade of decreased blood use, decreased payment for products, and a dwindling donor base have placed the sustainability of the US blood supply at risk.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
A literature review was performed for blood center (BC) and hospital disaster management, chronically transfusion-dependent diseases, and appropriate use of group O-negative red blood cells (RBCs), and the Choosing Wisely campaign. The aim was to identify current practice and to make recommendations for BC and hospital actions.
RESULTS
While BCs are better prepared to handle disasters than after the 9/11 attacks, messaging to the public remains difficult, as donors often do not realize that blood transfused during a disaster was likely collected before the event. BCs and transfusion services should participate in drafting disaster response plans. Hospitals should maintain inventories adequate for patients in the event supply is disrupted. Providing specialty products for transfusion-dependent patients can strain collections, lead to increased use of group O RBCs, and create logistical inventory challenges for hospitals. The AABB Choosing Wisely initiative addresses overuse of blood components to optimally use this precious resource. Group O-negative RBCs should be transfused only to patients who truly need them.
CONCLUSIONS
Collecting and maintaining a blood supply robust enough to handle disasters and transfusion-dependent patients in need of specialty products is challenging. Collaboration of all parties should help to optimize resources, ensure appropriate collections, improve patient care, and ultimately result in a robust, sustainable blood supply.
Topics: ABO Blood-Group System; Blood Component Transfusion; Blood Donors; Blood Safety; Cooperative Behavior; Disaster Planning; Erythrocytes; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Patient Satisfaction; Transfusion Medicine
PubMed: 33206404
DOI: 10.1111/trf.16145 -
Impact of disasters on blood donation rates and blood safety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Vox Sanguinis Jun 2022Timely and adequate access to safe blood forms an integral part of universal health coverage, but it may be compromised by natural or man-made disasters. This systematic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Timely and adequate access to safe blood forms an integral part of universal health coverage, but it may be compromised by natural or man-made disasters. This systematic review provides an overview of the best available scientific evidence on the impact of disasters on blood donation rates and safety outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Five databases (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL) were searched until 27 March 2020 for (un)controlled studies investigating the impact of disasters on blood donation rates and/or safety. Risk of bias and overall certainty of the evidence were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
RESULTS
Eighteen observational studies were identified, providing very low certainty of evidence (due to high risk of bias, inconsistency and/or imprecision) on the impact of natural (12 studies) and man-made/technological (6 studies) disasters. The available evidence did not enable us to form any generalizable conclusions on the impact on blood donation rates. Meta-analyses could not detect any statistically significant changes in transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) rates [hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/2, human T-lymphotropic virus I and II (HTLV-I/II) and syphilis] in donated blood after a disaster, either in first-time or repeat donors, although the evidence is very uncertain.
CONCLUSION
The very low certainty of evidence synthetized in this systematic review indicates that it is very uncertain whether there is an association between disaster occurrence and changes in TTI rates in donated blood. The currently available evidence did not allow us to draw generalizable conclusions on the impact of disasters on blood donation rates.
Topics: Blood Donors; Blood Safety; Disasters; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Hepatitis C; Humans; Syphilis
PubMed: 35167126
DOI: 10.1111/vox.13255 -
Blood Transfusion = Trasfusione Del... Sep 2021For neonates and preterm infants, in whom a transfusion dose is low, the use of red blood cells (RBC) from cord blood appears to be feasible. Standardisation of...
BACKGROUND
For neonates and preterm infants, in whom a transfusion dose is low, the use of red blood cells (RBC) from cord blood appears to be feasible. Standardisation of fractionation and identification and assessment of quality control parameters for such RBC are still lacking.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We describe the process used to obtain RBC from cord blood for transfusion purposes, including quality controls to evaluate fractionation performance and the effects of storage. The cord RBC, to which SAG-M was added, were sampled on the day of fractionation, and 7 and 14 days (end of storage) later in order to measure the complete blood count, biochemical parameters and residual white blood cells. We also assessed microbial contamination.
RESULTS
Data relative to 279 cord blood units were evaluated. The median gestational age at collection was 40 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 39.1-40.7) and the median volume was 90 mL (IQR 81-103). Units were subjected to automated fractionation with Compomat, and packed RBC were suspended in SAG-M solution. The median volume of the SAG-M-suspended units was 31 mL (IQR 24.0-38.1) and the median haematocrit was 54.2% (IQR 49.4-59.5). The median volume after leukoreduction was 22 mL (IQR 17-28), with the volume decrease being similar in units leukoreduced before (n=75) or after (n=204) storage. The haematocrit of leukoreduced units was higher than that of buffy coat-depleted units. Storage at 2-6 °C for 14 days was accompanied by an increase of potassium levels and percentage of haemolysis. Microbial cultures were positive for 2.9% of the collected units.
DISCUSSION
Fractionation of whole cord blood can provide RBC concentrates with similar baseline characteristics as units from adults. The transfusion dose and quality of the units appear safe and suitable for clinical use in neonates, with a satisfactory haematocrit and residual white blood cell content, despite a very variable collection volume.
Topics: Blood Preservation; Erythrocytes; Fetal Blood; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hemolysis; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature
PubMed: 33196415
DOI: 10.2450/2020.0138-20 -
Annals of Hematology May 2021COVID-19 pandemic has imposed worldwide challenge and has significantly affected transfusion medicine. Shortage in blood products along with concerns regarding the... (Review)
Review
COVID-19 pandemic has imposed worldwide challenge and has significantly affected transfusion medicine. Shortage in blood products along with concerns regarding the safety of blood products have emerged. Measures to overcome these challenges have been implemented in order to decrease the demand on blood products and to encourage blood donations while taking full precautions to minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission mainly at blood banks and medical centers. Several countries have been successful in facing these new challenges. In addition, the role of plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases, has been proposed and current studies are being conducted to determine its efficacy. Other therapeutic options are currently being explored. So far, the use of convalescent plasma is considered a promising rescue treatment to be looked at.
Topics: Blood Donors; Blood Safety; COVID-19; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Transfusion Medicine; Treatment Outcome; COVID-19 Serotherapy
PubMed: 33527161
DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04441-y