The prevalence of selected clinically significant red blood cell antigens among Australian blood donors.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion can cause some patients to form antibodies to RBC antigens when RBC phenotypes do not match that of the blood donor. Transfusion practitioners can order phenotyped RBC units for patients with known RBC antibodies or those who are at risk of forming them. However, with increasing demand for phenotyped RBC units, contemporary data on antigen prevalence is required to manage the changing supply.

Patient-reported outcomes of serum eye drops manufactured from Australian blood donations and packaged using Meise vials.

Introduction: Serum eye drops (SED) are an effective treatment for dry eye syndrome. However, autologous serum collection can have challenges. Patient-tailored (allogeneic) SED (PT-SED) can be made from healthy blood donors.

Understanding the demand for phenotyped red blood cell units and requests to perform molecular red blood cell typing for Australian patients.

Background: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has seen a 50 % increase in demand for phenotyped red blood cell (RBC) units between 2016-2018 and a 30 % increase in demand in 2018 to perform molecular RBC typing on patient samples. Lifeblood conducted a survey to understand transfusion laboratory practices for requesting patient phenotyping and/or molecular RBC typing and for selecting phenotyped RBC units in various patient groups.

Study Design And Methods: An electronic Qualtrics survey form was sent to 296 transfusion laboratories with questions designed to understand the practice of selecting phenotyped RBC units and reasons for requesting extended serology or molecular RBC typing.

Review of full blood count reference interval using a large cohort of first-time plasmapheresis blood donors.

Full blood counts (FBC) are routinely performed on blood donors donating by apheresis. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (Lifeblood) historically set FBC reference intervals (RIs) in alignment with standards of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). Recommendations now advise that RIs be developed locally to represent the population.

Evaluation of a tool to score donor vein suitability for blood donation.

Background And Objectives: Phlebotomy is a central task for whole blood donation, yet there are no published standards regarding systematic donor vein assessment or the impact of vein quality on successful blood donation. Blood donation failures and related adverse events are highly predictive of donors not returning for future blood donation. A specific blood donation vein scoring tool was assessed to measure donor vein suitability for whole blood collection and investigate the correlation of the donor's veins with donation outcomes.

The use of historical platelet counts from blood donors to program apheresis platelet donation: An Australian perspective.

Background: For Australian apheresis platelet donations, in-centre haematology analysers provided the platelet count used to program the platelet collection machines. When the haematology analysers were not functional, historical platelet counts from previous donations were used. This study aimed to confirm that the routine use of historical platelet counts for programming apheresis collection machines would maintain platelet yields within the donated units and that haematology analysers could be removed.

An analysis on the fate of a selection of blood products derived from cytomegalovirus-seronegative donors at three tertiary referral hospitals in Australia.

Background: Supply of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative blood products in Australia is an ongoing challenge. Requests for CMV-negative products are increasing with prediction that the demand will exceed supply by 2019. Clinical information evaluating how these products are being utilized by health providers within Australia is limited.

A national review of the clinical use of group O D- red blood cell units.

Background: There has been an international decline in the demand for red blood cell (RBC) units. In Australia, there has been a 21% reduction in demand between 2012 and 2015. In contrast, the demand for the "universal" group O D- RBC units is in fact proportionally increasing.

Immunomodulation of inflammatory leukocyte markers during intravenous immunoglobulin treatment associated with clinical efficacy in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Objective: The objective of the study was to profile leukocyte markers modulated during intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment, and to identify markers and immune pathways associated with clinical efficacy of IVIg for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) with potential for monitoring treatment efficacy.

Methods: Response to IVIg treatment in newly diagnosed IVIg-naïve and established IVIg-experienced patients was assessed by changes in expression of inflammatory leukocyte markers by flow cytometry. The adjusted INCAT disability and Medical Research Council sum scores defined clinical response.

Sustained benefits of autologous serum eye drops on self-reported ocular symptoms and vision-related quality of life in Australian patients with dry eye and corneal epithelial defects.

Background: This research examined the effect of autologous serum eye drops (ASED) on ocular symptoms, visual-related functioning and quality of life for patients failing other therapies.

Methods: Patients (N = 77) were asked to complete a survey prior to ASED use, and 2 and 12 months post-treatment.

Results: Significant improvements in symptom frequency and severity were documented for dryness, ocular pain and grittiness at 2 and 12 months.

Serum eye drop preparation in Australia: Current manufacturing practice.

Serum eye drops are used to treat diseases such as dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), a disease of the surface of the eye that results in an unstable tear film. Patients are referred to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service by ophthalmologists for autologous serum eye drops when other therapies such as artificial tears or topical immunosuppressive agents have failed. In order to manufacture autologous serum eye drops, whole blood is collected from the patients using standard blood collection procedures.

An 8-week course of 45 mg of carbonyl iron daily reduces iron deficiency in female whole blood donors aged 18 to 45 years: results of a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Blood donation is known to contribute to iron deficiency in regular blood donors. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of postdonation iron replacement to mitigate iron deficiency in blood donors.

Study Design And Methods: A total of 282 female whole blood donors aged 18 to 45 were prospectively randomized in a double-blinded placebo controlled trial to receive an 8-week postdonation course of carbonyl iron (45 mg daily) or placebo.