Blood Transfusion 1 Flashcards
What is the prevalence of RhD positive patients?
85% of population carry RhD antigen
Can receive RhD -ve (just a waste!) or RhD +ve red cells
What is the prevalence of RDh negative patients? What blood should they not be given?
15% of population lack RhD antigen
Patients can make immune anti-D if exposed to RhD +ve red cells
What are immune anti-D antibodies?
IgG (so cross placenta)
Do not cause direct agglutination of RBCs
Cause delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction.
There are some other Rh antigens e.g., C, c, E + e
What are the other blood groups antigens?
Kell (K), M, N, S, Duffy (Fy), Kidd (Jk)
But only match for these if patient has corresponding antibody
Who can RhD negative cells be given to?
Can safely be given to anyone, but often in short supply.
Occasionally (emergency/ shortage) may be necessary to give RhD +ve blood to RhD -ve patients, this does not cause acute problems but sometimes induces formation of anti-D.
Will be picked up by the lab next time they need blood. RhD -ve blood would then be issued.
What RhD reaction may occur in pregnant women?
RhD -ve women exposed to RhD +ve blood can produce immune anti-D, which can cause haemolytic disease of the newborn or severe foetal anaemia + heart-failure (hydrops fetalis) in future pregnancy.
What are the immune antibodies involved in blood transfusion?
IgG
What is antibody screening and what is screened?
Can’t test all RBC antigens (100s)
but ~1-3% of patients have immune RBC antibodies to >,1 RBC antigen as a result of TRANSFUSION +/- PREGNANCY.
REALLY IMPORTANT to identify clinically significant RBC antibodies + transfuse RBCs that are -ve for that antigen to prevent a DELAYED HAEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTION. (>24h)
How does antibody screening occur?
Use 2-3 reagent red cells containing all the important red cell antigens between them.
Screen by incubating the patient’s plasma + screening cells using IAT technique.
What is the IAT technique?
Indirect antiglobulin technique.
Bridges red cells coated by IgG, which can’t themselves bridge 2 red cells – to form a visible clump. Takes 30 mins’ incubation at 37°C.
Why does antibody screening happen before every transfusion even if it might have been done before?
Because new antibodies can be made after a transfusion or in pregnancy.
What is electronic issue?
The selection + issue of red cell units where compatibility is determined by IT system, without physical testing of donor cells against patient plasma.
What are the advantages of electronic issue?
Quicker
Fewer staff
No need to have blood “standing by” just in case
Remote issue
Better stock Mx
What is serological crossmatch? Describe the indirect anti globulin technique for this
Full crossmatch:
Patient plasma incubated with donor red cells at 37C for 30-40 mins, will pick up antibody antigen reaction that could destroy the red cells + cause extravascular haemolysis.
Add antiglobulin reagent (AHG). IgG antibodies can bind to RBC antigens but do not crosslink so AHG reagent is added.
Agglutination/ haemolytic = incompatible
What crossmatching technique is used in acute need/ trauma cases?
Immediate spin technique
Saline, room temperature.
Incubate patient plasma + donor red cells for 5 mins only + spin, will detect ABO incompatibility only.
IgM anti-A +/- anti-B bind to RBCs, fix complement + lyse the cell.