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.

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.

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).

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.