A Novel ABO Gene Variant Leads to Discrepant Results in Forward/Reverse and Molecular Blood Grouping.

Background: Discrepant results in antigen and reverse ABO blood typing are often caused by a variant ABO gene. Molecular analysis can help to characterize such variants. Here, we describe the identification of a novel ABO gene variant in a patient with aberrant ABO phenotype and discrepant genotyping results.

Recommendations for the use of therapeutic plasma.

Four approved plasma preparations are available in most European countries: fresh frozen plasma, lyophilized plasma, solvent/detergent(SD)-treated plasma and methylene blue/light-treated plasma. Evidence of the clinical efficacy of plasma is mainly based on controlled or uncontrolled observational studies, case reports or expert opinion. As definitions of evidence grades used in previous guidelines and recommendations are sophisticated and difficult to apply to clinical routine, we established a simple system involving 2 recommendation strengths (1 and 2) and 3 evidence grades (A, B, C).

[Guidelines of the German Medical Association for Therapy with Blood Components and Plasma Derivatives--an introduction. Evidence-based recommendations for the risk-benefit analysis in hemotherapy].

The German transfusion laws authorize and instruct the German Medical Association to institute a working group to provide "Guidelines for Therapy with Blood Components and Plasma Derivatives" for the critical use of blood products to promote a standardized hemotherapy and to help to protect patients from avoidable risks. In particular, because the collection of such products requires the willingness of numerous volunteers to donate blood, the responsible and carefully considered application of blood products is mandatory. For the first time, the recommendations have been evaluated on evidence-based criteria and listed for many specific medical interventions so that comprehensive procedures can now be created for the transfusion personnel in hospitals and clinics.

Dispermic chimerism identified during blood group determination and HLA typing.

Background: Chimerism is the presence of two or more genetically distinct cell populations in one organism.

Study Design And Methods: We report the identification of dispermic chimerism in a 19-year-old female volunteer blood donor. During routine ABO blood grouping strong reactions of the blood donors red blood cells (RBCs) with anti-A reagents and mixed-field reactions with anti-B reagents were observed, while serum-testing showed the absence of anti-A and anti-B antibodies.