Jorge A. Rios

The effect of previous pregnancy and transfusion on HLA alloimmunization in blood donors: implications for a transfusion-related acute lung injury risk reduction strategy

BACKGROUND: Antibodies to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in donated blood have been implicated as a cause of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI). A potential measure to reduce the risk of TRALI includes screening plateletpheresis donors for HLA antibodies. The prevalence of HLA antibodies and their relationship to previous transfusion or pregnancy in blood donors was determined.

Donor deferral and resulting donor loss at the American Red Cross Blood Services, 2001 through 2006

BACKGROUND: A large number of blood donors are deferred each year and many of the temporarily deferred donors do not return to donate blood. This study analyzed actual deferral and return donation data from the American Red Cross to further assess the impact of donor deferral on donor availability.

Seroprevalence of Babesia microti in blood donors from Babesia-endemic areas of the northeastern United States: 2000 through 2007.

BACKGROUND: Current estimates of 70 cases of transfusion‐transmitted Babesia microti, with 12 associated deaths, suggest that Babesia is a growing blood safety concern. The extent of Babesia infections among blood donors has not been well defined. To determine how common exposure to B. microti is among blood donors, a seroprevalence study was undertaken in the American Red Cross Northeast Division.

Prevalence of HLA antibodies in remotely transfused or alloexposed volunteer blood donors

BACKGROUND: HLA antibody testing of previously transfused or pregnant donors may help reduce the risk of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI). However, the prevalence of HLA antibodies in transfused donors has not been well characterized.

The potential impact of selective donor deferrals based on estimated blood volume on vasovagal reactions and donor deferral rates

BACKGROUND: Whole blood donation in the United States is restricted in volume to 10.5 mL/kg or less in an effort to prevent hypovolemic reactions, but still may exceed more than 15% of a donors estimated blood volume (EBV). We analyzed the association of EBV with prefaint and systemic vasovagal reactions (SVRs) among whole blood donors and the potential impact of an EBV‐based deferral policy.

Adverse reactions and other factors that impact subsequent blood donation visits

BACKGROUND: The importance of adverse reactions in terms of donor safety recently has received significant attention, but their role in subsequent donation behavior has not been thoroughly investigated.

Viability of red cells prepared with S-303 pathogen inactivation treatment

BACKGROUND: A nucleic acid–targeted pathogen inactivation process with S‐303 was developed to treat red blood cells (RBCs).

Prevalence of selected viral infections among blood donors deferred for potential risk to blood safety

BACKGROUND: Health history questions identify blood donors believed to pose a higher risk of transmission of infectious diseases. This study assesses the current impact of some of these questions on blood safety as reflected by infectious disease markers.

Donation return time at fixed and mobile donation sites

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of blood donation environment, fixed or mobile with differing sponsor types, on donation return time.

Blood donations from previously transfused or pregnant donors: a multicenter study to determine the frequency of alloexposure

BACKGROUND: Transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) mitigation strategies include the deferral of female donors from apheresis platelet (PLT) donations and the distribution of plasma for transfusion from male donors only. We studied the implications of these policies in terms of component loss at six blood centers in the United States.