Update on programs for achieving Specialist in Blood Banking certification in the United States: 2023.

A person who has achieved the Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) certification is a medical laboratory scientist who receives advanced training in blood banking and transfusion medicine and has passed an examination given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. There are several pathways or "eligibility routes" to qualify for the examination to obtain SBB certification, with the most common route involving enrollment in a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs-accredited SBB program. The goal of this study was to compile information about the current accredited SBB programs in the United States and SBB exam statistics for purposes of assessing changes in the programs and detecting trends in SBB exam takers and pass rates. SBB program coordinators were surveyed about qualitative and quantitative aspects of their programs. Current data, changes over time, and nationally available data were tabulated for comparison. This information may be helpful for all medical laboratory scientists interested in considering further studies and certification in blood banking and transfusion medicine.

The Duffy blood group system: a review.

Duffy was the first blood group mapped to an autosome (chromosome 1) using cytogenetic studies. Duffy antigens are located on a glycoprotein that can be found on erythrocytes and other cells throughout the body. Fy(a) and Fy(b) are products of their respective alleles (FY*A, FY*B). Fy(x) characterized by weak Fy(b) expression, is a result of an additional mutation in FY*B. The Fy(a-b-) phenotype, most commonly found in Blacks, occurs primarily as a result of GATA promoter region mutation upstream of the FY allele. This mutation prevents expression of Duffy glycoprotein on erythrocytes only, while permitting expression of nonerythroid cells. Other antigens include Fy3, Fy5, and Fy6. Antibodies to Duffy antigens are usually clinically significant and have been reported to cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. This review provides a general overview of the Duffy blood group system, including the role of the Duffy glycoprotein as a chemokine receptor (Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines) and in malarial infection.

Pulmonary edema after transfusion in a patient with end-stage renal disease.

AIMS: To describe a patient with end-stage renal disease who developed non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema after transfusion of packed red blood cells. DESIGN: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: The patient under consideration is a 60-year-old woman who developed acute pulmonary edema after transfusion of packed red blood cells without concomitant dialysis. The initial diagnosis of fluid overload was managed by isolated ultrafiltration. Minimal fluid removal led to significant hypotension that was resistant to vasopressors. Subsequent pulmonary artery catheter readings were consistent with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The patient improved spontaneously over the next few days with supportive care only. Plasma from the donors was checked for granulocyte antibodies and antibodies to HLA class I antigens. No granulocyte antibodies were detected in donor plasma but of one the HLA antibodies detected in donor plasma had specificity for a recipient HLA-A antigen. These characteristics supported a final diagnosis of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). CONCLUSIONS: Acute pulmonary edema following blood transfusion in a dialysis-dependent patient does not always signify fluid overload and nephrologists should be aware of the alternative diagnosis of TRALI. Proper awareness of TRALI will lead to prompt diagnosis and appropriate management.

Patellar dislocation: a case report and a review of other uncommon adverse events associated with blood donation.

Patellar dislocation is a fairly common occurrence usually associated with various activities such as sports or dancing. A case report of patellar dislocation associated with blood donation in a 17-year-old female is described. A review of uncommon adverse events associated with blood donation is also presented.

Production of vascular endothelial growth factor by human tumors inhibits the functional maturation of dendritic cells.

Inadequate presentation of tumor antigens by host professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including dendritic cells (DCs), is one potential mechanism for the escape of tumors from the host immune system. Here, we show that human cancer cell lines release a soluble factor or factors that dramatically affect DC maturation from precursors without affecting the function of relatively mature DCs. One factor responsible for these effects was identified as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Thus, VEGF may play a broader role in the pathogenesis of cancer than was previously thought, and therapeutic blockade of VEGF action may improve prospects for immunotherapy as well as inhibit tumor neovasculature.

Issues in the development of a local cord blood bank.

An increasing number of transplants are being performed using stem cells harvested in placental and umbilical cord blood. Thus, interest in developing local cord blood banks is also increasing. This report discusses the issues and challenges that one may face in the development of a local cord blood bank.