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How do Transfusion Services investigate blood components suspected of causing bacterial sepsis in recipients?

A facility in Indiana wants to update/combine their Transfusion Complication standard operating procedure, and is interested in feedback from others as to how their protocols are set up for the following:

  • Are gram stains performed on all red cell and/or platelet products during Transfusion Complication work-ups? If so, what guidelines are used (ie., increase in temp of 1 degree C?).
  • Are platelet products routinely cultured? If so, how and in what media?

The clinical group at the Indiana facility is very much aware of their Blood Center's involvement with bacterial contamination detection for platelets, but they want to learn what other Transfusion Services are doing in this regard.

Please submit comments to the e-Network Forum.

Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator
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Posted: December 12, 2002

Addenda:

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