Analyzing actual risk in malaria-deferred donors through selective serologic testing.

Background: Approximately 150,000 US blood donors are deferred annually for travel to malaria-endemic areas. However, the majority do not travel to the high-risk areas of Africa associated with transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) but visit low-risk areas such as Mexico. This study tests for Plasmodium infection among malaria-deferred donors, particularly those visiting Mexico.

A 25-year study of the clinical and histologic outcomes of hepatitis C virus infection and its modes of transmission in a cohort of initially asymptomatic blood donors.

Background: A total of 738 volunteer blood donors who were positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) were assessed for risk factors and outcomes for up to 15 years within the study and up to 54 years from the estimated onset of infection.

Methods: A third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) was performed to distinguish true from false anti-HCV reactivity. Findings of HCV polymerase chain reaction classified subjects as having chronic HCV infection or as having recovered.

The clinical relevance of persistent recombinant immunoblot assay-indeterminate reactions: insights into the natural history of hepatitis C virus infection and implications for donor counseling.

Background: Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) is used to determine the specificity of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The RIBA result is recorded as positive, negative, or indeterminate. The interpretation and significance of RIBA-indeterminate reactions are unclear.

Conversion to low transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)-risk plasma significantly reduces TRALI.

Background: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is an uncommon but serious transfusion reaction. Studies have shown that the transfusion of HLA and HNA antibodies in donor plasma can lead to TRALI. Female donors are more likely to have such antibodies due to alloantigen exposure during pregnancy.

Increased all-cause and cancer mortality in HTLV-II infection.

Background: Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I and HTLV-II cause chronic human retroviral infections, but few studies have examined the impact of either virus on survival among otherwise healthy individuals. The authors analyzed all-cause and cancer mortality in a prospective cohort of 155 HTLV-I, 387 HTLV-II, and 799 seronegative subjects.

Methods: Vital status was ascertained using death certificates, the US Social Security Death Index or family report, and causes of death were grouped into 9 categories.

Long-term increases in lymphocytes and platelets in human T-lymphotropic virus type II infection.

Human T-lymphotropic viruses types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) cause chronic infections of T lymphocytes that may lead to leukemia and myelopathy. However, their long-term effects on blood counts and hematopoiesis are poorly understood. We followed 151 HTLV-I-seropositive, 387 HTLV-II-seropositive, and 799 HTLV-seronegative former blood donors from 5 U.

The American Red Cross donor hemovigilance program: complications of blood donation reported in 2006.

Background: The American Red Cross (ARC) initiated a comprehensive donor hemovigilance program in 2003. We provide an overview of reported complications after whole blood (WB), apheresis platelet (PLT), or automated red cell (R2) donation and analyze factors contributing to the variability in reported complication rates in our national program.

Study Design And Methods: Complications recorded at the collection site or reported after allogeneic WB, apheresis PLT, and R2 donation procedures in 36 regional blood centers in 2006 were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Pasteurella multocida bacteremia in asymptomatic plateletpheresis donors: a tale of two cats.

Background: Bacterial contamination of platelet (PLT) concentrates occurs in 1 in 1000 to 1 in 3000 components and has been a leading cause of transfusion-associated morbidity and mortality. Two cases of Pasteurella multocida bacteremia in asymptomatic plateletpheresis donors are reported. Clinical outcomes were profoundly different, emphasizing the importance of robust methods to detect bacterial contamination.

Radiofrequency identification technology can standardize and document blood collections and transfusions.

Background: We evaluated the potential for radiofrequency (RF) transponder microchips to standardize and document key steps in the blood collection and transfusion process.

Study Design And Methods: Using the blood center's standard operating procedures for blood collections, we programmed a laptop computer and 10 multiwrite 256-byte RF microchips to prompt operators to enter data for key steps in blood collection. Before collections, RF microchips were attached to blood collection sets at the blood center.