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Background: Daratumumab (DARA) causes non-specific results in indirect agglutination testing (IAT). Dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment of panel red blood cells (RBCs) abolishes DARA interference. The objective of our study was to extend stability of DTT-treated panel RBCs to 28 days through application of a commercially available panel RBC stabilizer., Materials and Methods: Serological antigen typing and IAT using DARA sera and DARA plasma spiked with weakly reacting alloantibodies was performed up to 28 days after DTT treatment and stabilization., Results: DTT treatment resulted in loss of Fy-antigen expression on some panel RBCs. Antigen profiles of stabilized, DTT-treated panel RBCs remained stable. Alloantibodies in DARA sera and DARA plasma were reliably detected., Conclusions: Application of a commercially available RBC stabilizer extends shelf life of DTT-treated panel RBCs to 28 days., (© 2018 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

According to many textbooks, iron deficiency (ID) is associated with reactive thrombocytosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between serum ferritin levels and platelet counts in a large cohort of healthy blood donors. We included all whole blood and apheresis donors aged 18 years or older with at least one ferritin measurement and one platelet count performed at the same visit between 1996 and 2014. A total of 130 345 blood counts and ferritin measurements obtained from 22 046 healthy donors were analysed. Overall, no correlation between serum ferritin and platelet count was observed (r = -0.03, ρ = 0.04 for males, and r = 0.01, ρ = -0.02 for females, respectively). Associations remained clinically negligible after adjusting for age, time since previous blood donation, number of donations and restricting the analysis to ferritin deciles. In this large, retrospective single-centre study, correlations between low ferritin and platelet count in a large and homogeneous cohort of healthy donors were negligible. Further studies in patients with more severe anaemia and patients with inflammation are warranted., (© 2016 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

Background and Objectives: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) prevention strategies in platelet (PLT) apheresis donors focus on identifying antileucocyte antibody-positive donors. The use of microbead based assays for screening purposes is hampered by the lack of a consensus cut-off for TRALI prevention and the undefined role of anti-leucocyte antibodies in never-alloexposed donors. This study evaluated anti-leucocyte antibody assays in PLT apheresis donors with and without prior immunizing events with special focus on microbead assay cut-offs, antibody specificities and their potential significance in never-alloexposed donors., Material and Methods: Blood samples of male and female PLT apheresis donors with and without history of prior immunization were tested for anti-leucocyte antibodies., Results: Of 262 female and 118 male PLT apheresis donors, 37·4% had prior immunizing events. Fifty-eight of 238 (24·4%) donors without prior immunizing event had anti-HLA antibodies confirmed in microbead single antigen assay (mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) >500). Even with a cut-off MFI >3000, anti-HLA antibodies were detected in 10·6% of female and 4·3% of male donors without history of immunization. Of the antibody specificities found, 6 of 17 (35·3%) anti-HLA-A, 4 of 8 (50·0%) anti-HLA-B and 4 of 6 (66·6%) anti-HLA class II antibodies have been detected in donors associated with TRALI cases in the literature., Conclusion: Platelet apheresis donors without history of immunization have anti-leucocyte antibodies that potentially can cause TRALI. In our opinion, this cohort should be included in screening strategies for TRALI prevention. As references and consensus cut-offs have not yet been established, it is premature to use microbead assays as standard for donor screening., (© 2013 The Author(s) Vox Sanguinis © 2013 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

Background and Objectives: Blood donation can contribute to iron deficiency. The possibly resulting anaemia importantly affects donor return rate. The determination of serum ferritin levels revealed iron deficiency in many non-anaemic premenopausal female blood donors at our Institution. We started an iron substitution programme targeting this donor group to prevent anaemia and enhance donor retain., Materials and Methods: Women aged≤50 with haemoglobin levels adequate for donation and serum ferritin≤10 ng/ml were offered iron supplementation. Substitution lasted 16 weeks and the donation interval was extended. History collection including iron deficiency-related symptoms, whole blood count and serum ferritin determination was performed at baseline and after 2 and 6 months. Data were recorded prospectively and compared with those of 108 female controls with iron deficiency not receiving iron substitution (retrospective data)., Results: Of the 116 participating subjects, 60% completed the programme. Significant results were serum ferritin increase (from a mean value of 7.12 to 25.2 ng/ml), resolution of prostration, fatigue, sleep disturbances, tension in the neck, hair loss and nail breakage. No case of anaemia occurred. Sixty per cent of the women completed the programme and donated blood again., Conclusions: Targeted iron substitution prevents the development of anaemia and enhances donation return in premenopausal female blood donors with iron deficiency., (© 2010 The Author(s). Vox Sanguinis © 2010 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)