The AABB’s Blood Bank/Transfusion Service Standards Program Unit has revised requirements regarding the mitigation of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). The updated requirements address an exemption previously specified in the 29th edition of Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services. They will continue to require that “plasma and whole blood for allogeneic transfusion shall be from males, females who have not been pregnant, or females who have been tested since their most recent pregnancy and results interpreted as negative for HLA antibodies.” Initial requirements specified acceptable donors for “high plasma volume components,” and exempted apheresis platelets collected in platelet additive solution (PAS) from these standards. This exemption sparked concern, however, due to the residual plasma volume remaining in platelets collected in PAS still possibly causing TRALI. Consequently, platelets are no longer included in this standard.
Reference
1. AABB Weekly Report. AABB Revises and Clarifies TRALI Risk Reduction Requirements. Sept 27, 2013. Accessed online: http://www.aabb.org/resources/publications/weeklyreport/Pages/default.aspx
