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Research Article
Variations in low titer group O whole blood practices in the United States
1 BS, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Dumke College of Health Professions, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, United States
2 DrPH, Medical Laboratory Sciences Department Chair, Dumke College of Health Professions, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, United States
3 MS, Associate Professor, Dumke College of Health Professions, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, United States
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Amy Z Lund
1888 N 5100 W Plain City, UT,
USA
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Article ID: 100078Z02AL2023
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Lund AZ, Kohli R, Nicholaou M, Rhees JR. Variations in low titer group O whole blood practices in the United States. Int J Blood Transfus Immunohematol 2023;13(2):1–7.ABSTRACT
Aims: Blood banking is a strictly monitored industry in the United States (US) with regulatory bodies and accrediting agencies establishing and enforcing standards for the collection, testing, and transfusion of blood products. However, there is a lack of standardization for the increasingly popular blood product low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB). The aims of our survey were to assess the degree of variation in the processes and procedures involved in the collection, manufacture, testing, storage, and transfusion of LTOWB products, which could serve as a resource for establishing future standards.
Methods: A survey was written using Qualtrics software. The link to the online survey was sent via email to individuals practicing within blood collection and transfusing facilities in the US. The email addresses were obtained using contact databases from two professional immunohematology and transfusion medicine organizations and one specialist in blood banking (SBB) academic program.
Results: A total of 64 responses demonstrates vastly varying practices between facilities among the donor acceptance criteria, antibody titer testing methodology, frequency of donor testing, antibody isotype tested, acceptable titer level, blood component manufacturing process, unit limit per patient, and where and when the units are transfused.
Conclusion: The collection and transfusion of LTOWB products continues to increase in the US, but there is notable variability in the manufacture, testing, storage, and transfusion of LTOWB products due to the few defined standards regarding LTOWB including an established acceptable titer threshold. The degree of variation among facilities that collect, test, and transfuse LTOWB is clearly apparent throughout the US.
Keywords: Low titer group O whole blood, Platelet, Whole blood transfusion practices
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank LeeAnn Walker from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), graduates of the UTMB SBB program, members of the South Central Association of Blood Banks (SCABB), and members of the Invitational Conference of Investigative Immunohematologists (ICII) for participating in our survey.
Author ContributionsAmy Z Lund - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Ryan Kohli - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Matthew Nicholaou - Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Justin R Rhees - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Guarantor of SubmissionThe corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.
Source of SupportNone
Consent StatementWritten informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.
Data AvailabilityAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Conflict of InterestAuthors declare no conflict of interest.
Copyright© 2023 Amy Z Lund et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.
