Jeanne V. Linden

Transfusion-associated babesiosis after heart transplant.

We describe a 54-year-old spleen-intact man with transfusion-associated Babesia microti infection after a heart transplant. Adult respiratory distress syndrome developed in the patient, and he required mechanical ventilation. Our experiences with this patient suggest that babesiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of transplant patients who have fever and hemolytic anemia.

Error contributes to the risk of transmissible disease

hemolyzed group 0 red cells to a titer of 16 and had titers of 128 against A and B red cells in tests with enzyme-treated cells. Two 0, donors had been located. Their blood was drawn, and their red cells, suspended in group AB plasma, were used in a 420-mL exchange transfusion. The pretransfusion bilirubin level in the infant was 130 p o l per L; after transfusion, it was 34 p o l per L. The infant made an uneventful recovery following the exchange transfusion. It has been shown, in the classic 0, phenotype, that the anti-H present can rapidly destroy transfused group 0 red cells.) The cases described here show, as expected, that IgG anti-H can cross the placenta and cause in vivo red cell destruction in group 0 infants of an 0, mother. Studies of the anti-H made by the woman described in this report showed that dithiothreitol treatment of the serum reduced antibody activity by only two doubling dilutions or so. Our cases demonstrate that, just as 0, individuals must be given 0, blood,3 exchange transfusions in infants with hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by the anti-H of an 0, mother must be performed with 0, red cells.

Therapeutic insemination by donor I: A review of its efficacy

Of all the assisted reproductive technologies in current use, artificial insemination has by far the longest history. While the earliest verifiable reports using this technique date to the eighteenth century for nonhuman artificial insemination and to the nineteenth century for human artificial insemination, systematic use of this approach to assist reproduction did not occur until the early part of this century. During the early 1900s, in Russia, Ivanov developed methods for semen collection from and insemination of horses. These techniques were later modified to apply to other agriculturally important species so that by the 1930s, millions of horses, cattle and sheep were being bred using artificial insemination. The adaptation of widespread use of artificial insemination (primarily in cattle) in agriculture extended to Britain in the early 1940s and to the USA in the 1950s. Corresponding implementation of artificial insemination in human reproductive medicine closely followed these innovations in the animal husbandry field.

Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015: BABESIOSIS IN NEW YORK, 2004-2015

Babesiosis is a potentially life‐threatening zoonotic infection most frequently caused by the intraerythrocytic parasite Babesia microti. The pathogen is usually tickborne, but may also be transfusion or vertically transmitted. Healthy persons, including blood donors, may be asymptomatic and unaware they are infected. Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for symptomatic disease.

The release of unsuitable units through misinterpretation of laboratory results transmitted by facsimile

BACKGROUND: Preventable errors in transfusion medicine that have a significant risk of adverse outcome include the erroneous administration of blood of the wrong type or blood with unsuitable laboratory test results. Mandatory reports of errors by facilities providing blood services in New York State offer the opportunity for review and analysis of common factors. The state also collects statistics on the collection, laboratory testing, distribution, and disposition of blood in these facilities.

Therapeutic insemination by donor II: A review of its known risks

In an effort to summarize the potential risks of therapeutic insemination by donor (TID), including a review of cases of disease attributed to donor semen, a MEDLINE literature search was conducted to identify all published case reports of transmissible diseases occurring in donor semen recipients published in English between 1975 and 1992. The reference list for each article was reviewed to locate additional published case reports. Pertinent case reports were compiled according to disease agent and classified into viral, bacterial and other categories.

Professional standards in cell and tissue processing.

In the United States, standards for cell and tissue processing have been developed by a variety of professional tissue banking organizations. Several organizations, including the American Association of Tissue Banks and the Eye Bank Association of America, have accreditation programs for member institutions. Some governmental agencies, such as the New York State Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, have adopted strict regulations, which may subject noncompliant tissue banks to certain enforcement actions. Professional tissue banking organizations have also issued guidelines that provide recommendations for implementing efficacious policies and procedures for the acquisition, processing, storage, and distribution of tissues.