Transfusion of Uncrossmatched Group O Erythrocyte-containing Products Does Not Interfere with Most ABO Typings.

BACKGROUND: Group O erythrocytes and/or whole blood are used for urgent transfusions in patients of unknown blood type. This study investigated the impact of transfusing increasing numbers of uncrossmatched type O products on the recipient's first in-hospital ABO type. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Results of the first ABO type obtained in adult, non-type O recipients (i.e., types A, B, AB) after receiving at least one unit of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing product(s) for any bleeding etiology were analyzed along with the number of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products administered in the prehospital and/or in hospital setting before the first type and screen sample was drawn. RESULTS: There were 10 institutions that contributed a total of 695 patient records. Among patients who received up to 10 uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products, the median A antigen agglutination strength in A and AB individuals on forward typing (i.e., testing the recipient's erythrocytes for A and/or B antigens) was the maximum (4+), whereas the median B antigen agglutination strength among B and AB recipients of up to 10 units was 3 to 4+. The median agglutination strength on the reverse type (i.e., testing the recipient's plasma for corresponding anti-A and -B antibodies) was very strong, between 3 and 4+, for recipients of up to 10 units of uncrossmatched erythrocyte-containing products. Overall, the ABO type of 665 of 695 (95.7%; 95% CI, 93.9 to 97.0%) of these patients could be accurately determined on the first type and screen sample obtained after transfusion of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products. CONCLUSIONS: The transfusion of smaller quantities of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products, in particular up to 10 units, does not usually interfere with determining the recipient's ABO type. The early collection of a type and screen sample is important.

Genomic and epidemiologic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Southern Brazil and identification of a new Omicron-L452R sublineage.

Recently, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was first identified in Botswana in November 2021. In a short period of time, this highly mutated variant replaced the previous dominant Delta variant, causing an exponential increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, resulting in a new wave of pandemic. This current research article aims to analyze and summarize information about the genetic characteristics, amino acid mutations and epidemiological data providing scientific findings to enrich the SARS-CoV-2 knowledge. More importantly, we describe here, for the first time, the identification of a new Omicron variant of concern: Omicron-L452R in Brazil.

The infectious risks in blood transfusion as of today - A no black and white situation.

Transfusion has been tainted with the risk of contracting an infection - often severe - and fears about this risk are still prevailing, in sharp contrast with the actual risk in Western countries. Those actual risks are rather immunological, technical (overload) or metabolic. Meanwhile, in developing countries and particularly in Africa, transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) are still frequent, because of both the scarcity of volunteer blood donors and resources and the high incidence and prevalence of infections. Global safety of blood components has been declared as a goal to be attained everywhere by the World Heath Organization (WHO). However, this challenge is difficult to meet because of several intricate factors, of which the emergence of infectious agents, low income and breaches in sanitation and hygiene. This review aims at encompassing the situation of TTIs in different settings and means that can be deployed to improve the situation where this can possibly be.