Methods for the selection of platelet products for alloimmune-refractory patients.

The ability to efficiently and accurately diagnose the cause(s) of platelet (PLT) refractoriness is paramount in providing effective PLT products for transfusion. Recent advances in methods for detecting and identifying alloantibodies against human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and human PLT antigens, combined with accurate molecular techniques for HLA typing, have provided a framework for the development of clinical algorithms to support such patients. Alloantibodies may be detected and/or identified by several methods, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and microbead-based assays using Luminex or flow cytometry.

New RHCE variant alleles encoding the D- - phenotype.

Background: Variant alleles that do not produce RhCE antigens are rare. Consequently, they pose a challenge to transfusion when found in alloimmunized patients and make blood units valuable when found in donors.

Study Design And Methods: Five index cases and their relatives were studied by both serologic and molecular techniques.

Blood groups and transfusions in pigs.

The blood groups of pigs are important to transplantation research because some are also important transplantation antigens and because pigs undergoing organ or hematopoietic transplantation may require transfusion support. There is considerable literature on the subject but much of it is not in transplant related journals. We will review this literature and also give some practical advice on transfusion support.

Performance evaluation of the application of body fluids on the Sysmex XE-2100 series automated hematology analyzer.

Body fluid analysis on the Sysmex XE-2100 series automated hematology analyzer was evaluated at 4 hospitals (Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX; St. John's Mercy, St. Louis, MO; Carle Clinic, Urbana, IL; and ACL Laboratories, West Allis, WI, USA).