Long-Term Stability of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 National Reference Standards for in vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Intended to Be Used for the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: National reference standards are essential to the quality assessment and regulatory approval of in vitro diagnostic medical devices. However, the long-term stability of national reference standards has not been comprehensively secured. This study was performed to assessment on the long-term stability of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) national reference standards intended to be used for the nucleic acid amplification test (NAT). METHODS: The viral loads of the MFDS (Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) working standard and recombinant DNA for HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 were measured before and after storage at −70℃ for up to 72 months using Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas Taqman assays (Roche Molecular System, Inc., Branchburg, USA) at defined time points. RESULTS: The viral loads of national reference standards for in vitro diagnostic medical devices of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 stored at −70℃ for up to 72 months did not differ significantly from the baseline viral load. The changes in viral load of national reference standards of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 tested after storage at −70℃ for up to 72 months ranged from −0.36 to 0.16 log10 IU/mL and did not exceed 0.5 log10, which is the estimated intra-assay variation of molecular tests. CONCLUSION: The HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 national reference standards for in vitro diagnostic medical devices intended to be used for the NAT were relatively stable after long-term storage at −70℃ for up to 72 months, regardless of the initial titer.

Requirement of Establishment of Frozen Blood Storage System for Management of Rare Blood Supply and Strategic National Stockpile / 대한수혈학회지

The blood supply can become disrupted in situations of increased demand during unexpected national catastrophes and when a patient needs a rare blood transfusion, which depends on the blood inventory in peacetime. Cryopreservation of blood, which can be stored up to 10 years, represents a possible solution to this problem by avoiding storage lesions. This review describes frozen red cell technologies, quality control issues related to post-thaw red blood cells, and preconditions and practical considerations for implementation of a frozen blood banking system in Korea.

Freezing and Washing of Red Blood Cells Using Haemonetics ACP 215 / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: The use of a functionally closed system for the glycerolization and deglycerolization of red blood cells (RBCs) allows for prolonged post-thaw storage for more than 24 hours. The aim of this study was to assess glycerolization and deglycerolization processing for RBCs using a high glycerol method in the automated, closed system provided by Haemonetics ACP 215. METHODS: Thirty-five packed RBCs were glycerolized using the ACP 215 to a final concentration of 40% (wt/vol). The units were either frozen as such (n=30) or excess glycerol was removed (n=5) before freezing. After storage at −80℃, the units were thawed, deglycerolized and resuspended in SAG-M. The frozen-thawed RBCs were stored at 4℃, and analyzed for their stability and in vitro quality. RESULTS: No prefreeze excess glycerol removal units showed significantly less potassium leakage during post-thaw storage compared to the prefreeze excess glycerol removal units. All measurements of the stability and in vitro quality of thawed RBCs prepared from frozen RBCs without the prefreeze removal of excess glycerol during post-thaw storage at 4℃ for 7 days were acceptable to the American Blood Bank Association's standards and European standards. CONCLUSION: RBCs frozen without prefreeze removal of excess glycerol and the ACP 215 simplifies cryopreservation procedure and increases the stability of frozen-thawed RBCs. This increases the practical applicability of cryopreserved RBCs in blood transfusion practice.

Survey Analysis of the Current Blood Donor Interview / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: An objective and standardized interview process is important when screening for healthy blood donors. Our aims were to gather opinions of the interviewing nurses at blood centers on the current donor interview and to suggest improvements to the interview. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous survey consisting of five questions regarding the donor health questionnaire, which can be found on the reverse side of the donation record card. The survey targeted the interviewing nurses with more than 1 year of experience at collection sites of the Korean Red Cross and the Hanmaum blood centers. The survey was sent out and gathered via mail, fax or email between September and October of 2010. RESULTS: The average self-deferral rate of donors prior to interview was 7.4%, and 66.7% of the interviewing nurses considered 'taking medicine' as the most common reason for donor self-deferral. The past and current history of disorders was the hardest question for nurses to determine the eligibility of the donors. Having a history of blood transfusion, surgery, tattoo or a piercing procedure, etc. within a year was the most unacceptable reason for deferred donors. The nurses strongly recommended revision of redundant questions as well as re-examining the unsolvable dilemma of questions concerning malaria. CONCLUSION: According to the survey, this study outlines the perspectives of interviewing nurses at blood centers regarding the rate and reasons for self-deferral of blood donors, the difficulties and the suggestions for improving the current donor interview. The results will be helpful in the future when proposing modifications to the donor interview.

A Survey of Utilization of Blood Components for Transfusion by Training Hospitals (2000) / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Most of blood components in Korea have been used at training hospitals. For representing more advanced supplying modalities about an effective usage of blood components, all blood components which were supplied by the Korean Red Cross (KRC) and used in training hospitals were surveyed and analyzed in 2000. METHOD: The data about blood collection and distribution were based on statistical yearbook of KRC and the data of blood components used and discarded was analyzed by survey from 222 training hospitals, which belong to the Korean Hospital Association. Result : The amounts of red blood cells (RBCs), fresh frozen plasmas (FFP) and platelet concentrates (PC) supplied by KRC at 2000 year were 1,554,855 units, 575,760 units and 1,151,919 units, respectively. Among total blood units supplied by KRC, 1,264,724 units of RBCs (81.3%), 516,506 units of FFP (89.7%) and 1,038,447 units of PCs (90.1%) were used at 222 training hospitals. The usage of blood components in each region was concentrated on metropolitan cities, and particularly 56.9% of RBCs, 62.5% of FFP and 62.9% of PCs were used in 3 regions (Seoul, Pusan and Kyunggido). CONCLUSION: Since the usage of blood components in Korea was concentrated on few number of metropolitan cities, it is not easy to supply appropriately for the demand of each regional blood center. For further effective blood supplies, development of more advanced blood transportation system should be attempted : Sharing of information about blood demands, an efficient supplying of blood components, shortening time and preventing accidents during the transport of them.

A Case of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in a Renal Transplant Recipient due to Anti-A of Donor Origin / 대한수혈학회지

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to antibody formation against the A or B antigen in renal transplant recipients has been reported on rare occasions. We experienced a case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia which developed 11 days after renal transplantation during CsA and prednisolone administration as immunosuppressive agents. The patient was a 46 year old male, blood group was Rh(+) A, who had received a kidney from his Rh(+) O, HLA haploty'pe identical elder brother. He was transfused with three units of Rh(+) A RBCs preoperatively and his hemoglobin level was 9.2g/dl 1 day after transplantation. After 11 to 12 days posttransplantation, the hemoglobin level dropped to 3.8g/dl. A peripheral blood smear showed marked spherocytosis and polychromatophilia. The reticulocyte count was increased to 4.2%, and total bilirubin was increased to 2.91mg/dl. The LDH was raised to 561 IU/L and the plasma Hb level was 6.Smg/dl. Blood bank tests confirmed that the autoantibody cause hemolytic anemia was anti-A. If transplant recipients of blood groups A, B, or AB, who recieve organs from blood group 0 donors, have hemolytic anemia and ABO discrepancy, the possibility of AIHA due to anti-A or anti-B should be considered.