Transfusion
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Anti-CD38 therapy causes interference with both the direct and the indirect antiglobulin tests. We describe the experience from an Immunohematology Reference Laboratory and model cost options for providing safe transfusions. ⋯ Genotyping provided a more accurate antigen status than phenotyping patient RBCs. Patients requiring long-term transfusion support benefit from antigen matching when matching less than four antigens. Ultimately, the decision to genotype or use thiol-treated RRC antibody investigations will vary for each hospital blood bank.
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Patient blood management (PBM) programs are associated with improved patient outcomes, reduced transfusions and costs. In 2008, the Western Australia Department of Health initiated a comprehensive health-system-wide PBM program. This study assesses program outcomes. ⋯ Implementation of a unique, jurisdiction-wide PBM program was associated with improved patient outcomes, reduced blood product utilization, and product-related cost savings.
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Anti-CD38 is used to treat relapsed or treatment-refractory multiple myeloma. CD38 monoclonal antibodies, however, can interfere with routine blood bank serologic tests. Agglutination is observed at the indirect phase of testing as the drug binds to red blood cells (RBCs). ⋯ A number of devised methods to eliminate or bypass the effects of anti-CD38 on serologic tests are in use but no panacea exists. The limitations of each method require each testing site tailor an approach to best fit their needs. We present perspectives and testing practices from a hospital transfusion medicine service and an Immunohematology Reference Laboratory managing pretransfusion samples with anti-CD38.
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Platelet (PLT) transfusion before interventional radiology procedures is commonly performed in patients with thrombocytopenia. However, it is unclear if PLT transfusion is associated with reduced bleeding complications. ⋯ In patients with thrombocytopenia undergoing interventional radiology procedures, preprocedural PLT transfusion was not associated with reduced periprocedural RBC requirements. These findings suggest that prophylactic PLT transfusions are not warranted in nonbleeding patients with preprocedural PLT counts exceeding 50 × 109 /L. Future clinical trials are needed to further define relationships between prophylactic PLT administration and bleeding complications, especially at more severe levels of thrombocytopenia or in the presence of PLT dysfunction.