Scotblood 2011 features advances in translational medicine, haemopoietic progenitor cells and milestones of blood banking systems.

Amongst the presentations featured at Scotblood 2011 were advances in diagnostic tests for antibodies to red blood cells, the establishment of an islet isolation laboratory, and the development of a clinical product for corneal stem cell transplantation. In addition, the conference comprised presentations on state-of-the-art in collection, storage, and clinical utility of haemopoietic progenitor cells. It also included a session on blood banking systems dedicated to an SNBTS colleague, the late Russell Graham.

Scotblood 2010: key presentations of the past, present, and future of transfusion medicine to mark Scottish national blood transfusion service (SNBTS) anniversaries.

The year 2010 marked the 80th anniversary of the first volunteer blood donor panel in Scotland and the 70th anniversary of the first meeting of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Association - the forerunner of today's SNBTS. As such the annual Scotblood meeting hosted a distinguished group of speakers to present key note and award lectures on all aspects of Transfusion Medicine including red cell antigens, solving the problems, hazards that shaped our practice, the transfusion needs of patients, donor issues, and component therapy to cellular therapy and beyond. The Iain Cook Memorial Lecture was given by Prof.

The cellular immunobiology associated with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is caused by maternal antibodies that cross the placenta in connection with pregnancy and destroy fetal platelets. Recently, maternal T cell responses associated with FNAIT have been studied at the clonal level. These T cell clones recognize an integrin β3 epitope, which is anchored to the HLA-DRB3∗0101-encoded MHC molecule DR52a.

SCOTBLOOD 2009: the quest for understanding vCJD; Claudia's Trachea implantation; transfusion triggers; Scottish histocompatibility and immunogenetics network; and islet cell transplantation.

Scotblood 2009 consisted of a varied combination of leading edge presentations incorporating the past, present and future. Variant CJD was a major feature of the meeting comprising the quest for its understanding and the impact the disease was having on blood donation. The meeting also included the fascinating and groundbreaking story of Claudia's Trachea transplantation, along with progress in the establishment of the Scottish histocompatibility and immunogenetics network and islet transplantation.

The relationship of anti-HPA-1a amount to severity of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia - Where does it stand?

The issue of whether or not antibody quantity during pregnancy is related to severity of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia remains unresolved. In this article we cite studies in support of both sides of the argument and highlight some of the reasons that may lie behind the observed differences amongst those studies. It may well be that some of the reasons for the discrepant results could be due to the type of study carried out (eg retrospective versus prospective), the sample size, the timing of antibody sampling, and possibly the type or protocol of assay used.

Direct comparison between two quantitative assays in the measurement of maternal anti-HPA-1a antibody in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT).

Background: Around 80% of severe neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) cases in the Caucasian population are due to anti-HPA-1a antibodies. However, the relationship between anti-HPA-1a antibody quantity and severity of NAIT has been subject to debate, possibly due to discrepant results between studies incorporating different assays (such as ELISA and MAIPA) and the number of samples. The aim of this study was to compare the level of maternal anti-HPA-1a antibodies in the same samples, using two different methods; quantitative ELISA and quantitative MAIPA.

Scotblood 2008 celebrates 60th anniversary of the NHS through past, present, and future of transfusion medicine, encompassing Hepatitis C Scottish Odyssey, nursing, translational medicine and trauma.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the UK national health service (NHS), Scotblood 2008 featured an opulent array of presentations encompassing the beginnings of the scottish national blood transfusion service (SNBTS), through featuring progress on hepatitis C, to the advancing role of nursing in transfusion medicine, translational medicine, and trauma encountered in military transfusion. This commentary comprises summaries of the presentations, based in part on the abstracts provided by the speakers.

What's happening--probing of HPA-1a antigen-antibody interaction by surface plasmon resonance technology.

This brief report summarizes the use of surface plasmon resonance technology (SPRT) in probing HPA-1a antigen-antibody interactions, based on a poster presented at the 60th meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks. It was concluded that the GP purification method could affect the performance of antigen in SPRT. It also highlighted that chips immobilised with Monoclonal antibody (Mab)-purified GP-IIb/IIIa work satisfactorily with both monoclonal and recombinant Abs with the appropriate concentration and binding affinity, while determination of the avidity and concentration of maternal polyclonal antibodies in respect to clinical severity on NAIT warrants further development.

Scotblood 2007: Tackling local and global issues in transfusion medicine - donor recruitment, effective use of blood, stem cell plasticity, and vCJD.

This commentary briefly highlights some of the local and the global contemporary issues affecting transfusion medicine worldwide. The main areas of focus addressed this year were: donor recruitment, stem cell plasticity, the effective use of blood, and vCJD.

What's happening - Scotblood 2006 advances in immunetolerance, information technology, microarrays and pathogen inactivation in transfusion medicine.

This commentary on Scotblood meeting aimed to provide a highlight on four areas of new development in blood transfusion medicine, based on the abstracts provided by the invited speakers. Dr. Jerard Seghatchian would like to express his sincere thanks to Prof.

Prospective epidemiologic study of the outcome and cost-effectiveness of antenatal screening to detect neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to anti-HPA-1a.

Background: To assess the value of antenatal screening to detect neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) due to anti-HPA-1a, a prospective study was carried out to quantify the potential clinical benefits and determine whether screening would be cost-effective.

Study Design And Methods: An observational prospective controlled study was carried out on 26,506 pregnant women over 2 years. HPA-1a phenotyping was performed in the first trimester and women confirmed HPA-1a-negative were tested for anti-HPA-1a during pregnancy, at delivery, and 10 to 14 days after birth.

Is there a relationship between anti-HPA-1a concentration and severity of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia?

There is uncertainty about the relationship between anti-HPA-1a levels and severity of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT). To investigate this relationship further,the concentration of anti-HPA-1a in HPA-1b homozygous women was determined, using a newly developed quantitative ELISA that uses purified anti-HPA-1a to obtain a standard curve. Seventy-eight samples collected from 22 HPA-1b homozygous pregnant women at various stages of pregnancy were tested.

What's happening? The expanding role of apheresis platelet support in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: current status and future trends.

Despite some unresolved problems that may be associated with platelet transfusion, such as alloimmunisation, refractoriness, bacterial contamination, and the potential side effects related to the development of some biological response modifiers during storage, platelet therapy remains the most effective treatment for the management and prevention of severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage [Seghatchian J, Snyder EL, Krailadsiri P, editors. Platelet therapy: current status and future trends. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier; 2000].

The application of a new quantitative assay for the monitoring of integrin-associated protein CD47 on red blood cells during storage and comparison with the expression of CD47 and phosphatidylserine with flow cytometry.

Background: After the introduction of universal leukoreduction, the role of factors other than white blood cells in red cell (RBC) storage lesion is attracting increasing attention. These include changes in the levels of CD47 and phosphatidylserine (PS) markers on RBCs during storage. The aim of this study was to monitor these changes with both flow cytometry (FACS) and a newly developed quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Report on the 12th International Society of Blood Transfusion platelet immunology workshop.

Background And Objectives: The aims of the 12th International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Platelet Immunology Workshop were to evaluate the proficiency of molecular human platelet antigen (HPA) genotyping and detection of platelet antibodies of unusual specificity or reactivity, to assess whether quantification of anti-HPA-1a is practicable, and to determine the variability of reagents and components used in the monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens assay (MAIPA).

Materials And Methods: Forty participants from 23 countries were sent 10 samples for DNA typing, five samples for antibody detection, a freeze-dried anti-HPA-1a standard, three samples for anti-HPA-1a quantification and a MAIPA method questionnaire.

Results: The detection and identification of HPA antibodies varied from 2.

Collaborative study to establish the first international standard for quantitation of anti-HPA-1a.

Background And Objectives: This report describes the production of a freeze-dried preparation of pooled human plasma, containing immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the human platelet antigen 1a (HPA-1a). The material, coded 03/152, is proposed as an International Standard containing 100 arbitrary units of anti-HPA-1a for use in quantitative assays to determine the anti-HPA-1a activity in clinical samples.

Materials And Methods: Plasma samples containing potent anti-HPA-1a were pooled and freeze dried in 1-ml ampoules.

Red cell storage lesion: the potential impact of storage-induced CD47 decline on immunomodulation and the survival of leucofiltered red cells.

Red blood cells undergo major biochemical and biomechanical changes during storage that could effect their post transfusion performance. Biochemical effects include changes in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), ATP, and calcium levels, as well as metabolic modulation and release of Annexin V, a cytosolic component of blood cells, as a global marker of cellular injury and fragmentation. Biomechanical changes include alterations in cellular membrane, shape changes, phospholipid content, phospholipid asymmetry, and antigenic markers.

The development of a quantitative ELISA for antibodies against human platelet antigen type 1a.

Background: Severe neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is often due to antibodies against human platelet antigen type 1a (HPA-1a). The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative ELISA for the measurement of antibodies against HPA-1a.

Study Design And Methods: HPA-1a glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa was immobilized and mixed with recalcified anti-HPA-1a-positive plasma overnight at 4 degrees C.

The release of prion protein from platelets during storage of apheresis platelets.

Background: Recent studies using a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay method (dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay) showed that platelets and plasma are the main reservoir of the normal isoform of cell-associated prion protein (PrPc) in human blood. The aims of the present study were to monitor PrPc levels in various fractions of apheresis platelets during storage by using the DELFIA method and to assess the association of this release with alpha-granule protein ss-thrombo-globulin and cytoplasmic LDH.

Study Design And Methods: Units of apheresis platelets (n = 6) were obtained from volunteer donors by the use of a cell separator and stored up to 10 days.

An international trial demonstrates suitability of a newly developed whole-blood ELISA kit for multicentre platelet HPA-1 phenotyping.

Background: Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is in most cases due to pregnant women with HPA-1b platelet phenotype producing antibodies to HPA-1a platelets of the fetus, which may lead to intracranial haemorrhage with subsequent death or life-long morbidity. The availability of sensitive, reliable, straightforward, and inexpensive assays would enable large-scale screening in pregnancy and may help avoid NAIT.

Methods: A recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was produced in kit form incorporating modified reagents and enabling distribution to 21 international Platelet Immunology and Blood Centres (see Acknowledgements).

Application of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for the analysis of normal prion protein in human blood and its components.

Background And Objectives: To quantify the cellular isoform of prion protein (PrP(c)) in human blood using a new time-resolved dissociation-enhanced fluoroimmunoassay (DELFIA).

Materials And Methods: The DELFIA was optimised for human blood samples and applied to isolated cell and plasma fractions from blood donations. The physicochemical properties of PrP(c) were analysed.

Indicators of platelet turnover in thrombocytopenic infants.

Glycocalicin has been found to be a marker of increased platelet turnover, while interleukin-6 may be increased in response to thrombocytopenia. We used these markers to study the pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in newborn infants. Cord blood platelet counts were obtained from 499 infants.