Blood Bank Guy Essentials Podcast

Sujit Sheth, a pediatric hematologist and director at the New York Comprehensive Thalassemia Center, shares insights into thalassemia, a significant yet often overlooked global health issue. He discusses the differences in treatment compared to sickle cell disease and emphasizes the complexities of managing this genetic disorder. The conversation covers red cell transfusion strategies, the importance of maintaining optimal hemoglobin levels, and advances like gene therapy. Sheth highlights education's role in improving awareness and care for thalassemia patients.

Continuing education episode! Usually, red cell alloantibodies are simple (find an antibody, give antigen-negative blood), but occasionally, some of them don't follow the rules! "Antibodies of variable clinical significance" act differently in different patients, sometimes causing hemolysis and sometimes not. They can be very hard to manage, especially because almost all blood donors are incompatible. The Monocyte Monolayer Assay, developed by today's guest, Sandy Nance, and her colleagues at the American Red Cross, helps answer the question, “Do we search the world for rare units of compatible blood, or can we just transfuse ABO-compatible red cells out of our regular inventory?” It's a great story, and this is a rare chance to hear about the MMA from one of the original sources, and to understand how to use it today. This episode is eligible for FREE CME and Continuing Certification credit for physicians and P.A.C.E. contact hours for laboratorians until October 12, 2023 through Transfusion News Continuing Education on Wiley Health Learning.

Expert Dr. Ruchika Goel discusses platelet transfusion in patients with diseases like ITP, TTP, and HIT. She shares data that might change how we transfuse these patients. The podcast covers topics such as the background and nomenclature of ITP, the diagnosis and classification of the disease, and the effectiveness and timing of various therapies in ITP. It also discusses different opinions and strategies for platelet transfusion in ITP patients, emphasizing the lack of large studies and the importance of individualized therapy and close monitoring.

Dr. Mark Yazer, an expert in blood transfusions, returns to discuss the latest developments in using Low-titer Group O Whole Blood for trauma care. He shares insights on the shift from crystalloids to whole blood, emphasizing its logistical benefits in emergencies. Dr. Yazer tackles the nuances of administering whole blood to group B patients and evaluates the risks involved with O-positive transfusions for certain demographics. The episode also includes some light-hearted hockey banter, adding a fun twist to the serious topic at hand.

Despite guidance in a 2015 publication from international experts in immunohematology and transfusion medicine, many clinicians and laboratorians have yet to integrate RHD genotyping into routine practice when a patient’s RhD serologic typing is weaker than expected. In this interview, international immunohematology expert Sue Johnson shows us how we can do better! NOTE: CE credit has expired for this episode.

Transfusion reactions that involve the heart and/or lungs, especially TACO and TRALI, are responsible for more transfusion deaths than any other entity. In this interview, Dr. Cserti-Gazdewich focuses on these two reactions and gives tips and strategies to identify, manage, and prevent them. NOTE: CE credit has expired for this episode.

Warm autoantibodies have a well-deserved reputation as tough challenges, creating unfamiliar situations for both clinical and laboratory staff. I interviewed the authors of two recent papers that outlined best practices in this situation to gain some clarity and help!

Blood transfusion is less likely to transmit infections today than ever. Through a combination of screening questions, donor testing, and direct treatment of blood products, the vast majority of opportunities for transfusion-transmitted infections are eliminated. In this learner-focused interview, Dr. Suchi Pandey from Stanford outlines current strategies to keep blood safe. NOTE: CE credit has expired for this episode.

In this thrilling discussion, Dr. Mark Fung, a pathology professor at the University of Vermont, and Dr. Jay Hudgins, medical director at USC, share chilling real-life scenarios from blood banking. They navigate complex cases, like managing severe anemia in an 18-year-old, emphasizing timely decisions. The duo also tackles emergency blood supply challenges in trauma care, highlighting the necessity of effective communication. Plus, they delve into the management of RH antibodies and the urgency of treatment during critical transfusion situations that can be life or death!

Every now and then, when a transfusion service does a pretransfusion workup, they find that the patient's plasma is incompatible with EVERY other red cell! In other words, NOTHING is compatible! These situations are intimidating, and can lead to delays in transfusion. Dr. Jill Storry is an international immunohematology expert, and she shares practical tips for what to do and how to recognize the three main patterns of panagglutinins. NOTE: CE credit has expired for this episode.