What should be the disposition of a donor red blood cell unit that contains an antibody?

What should be the disposition of a donor red blood cell unit that contains an antibody?

• A. The unit must be discarded
• B. Only the plasma may be used to make components
• C. The antibody must be adsorbed from the unit
• D. The unit may be labeled and released into inventory

Answer: (D)

When a donor red blood cell unit contains an antibody, it is essential to consider various factors involving the safety and compatibility of the blood for transfusion. If the antibody identified in the blood does not pose a risk for hemolytic transfusion reactions and is not directed against common antigens present in the majority of recipient's blood, the unit can be labeled and released into inventory. This may occur in cases where the antibody is directed against a minor antigen that is not prevalent in the population or does not cause significant clinical concern. Blood banks often have protocols to evaluate the significance of detected antibodies and to test against potential recipients to ensure compatibility. Thus, if the unit is deemed safe for transfusion based on these evaluations, it can remain in inventory, providing that it is labeled appropriately with information about the antibody present, ensuring that future transfusions consider this relevant data. The other options imply either unnecessary waste of usable blood (discarding the unit) or risk a potential exposure by using only the plasma to make components, which may not be the best use of the red cells. Adsorption of the antibody may not be practical or necessary if the unit can be safely used as is.

When a donor red blood cell unit contains an antibody, it is essential to consider various factors involving the safety and compatibility of the blood for transfusion. If the antibody identified in the blood does not pose a risk for hemolytic transfusion reactions and is not directed against common antigens present in the majority of recipient's blood, the unit can be labeled and released into inventory.

This may occur in cases where the antibody is directed against a minor antigen that is not prevalent in the population or does not cause significant clinical concern. Blood banks often have protocols to evaluate the significance of detected antibodies and to test against potential recipients to ensure compatibility.

Thus, if the unit is deemed safe for transfusion based on these evaluations, it can remain in inventory, providing that it is labeled appropriately with information about the antibody present, ensuring that future transfusions consider this relevant data.

The other options imply either unnecessary waste of usable blood (discarding the unit) or risk a potential exposure by using only the plasma to make components, which may not be the best use of the red cells. Adsorption of the antibody may not be practical or necessary if the unit can be safely used as is.