header
  Search CBBS Website

Selection of Rh-positive RBC units for brain-dead Rh-negative individuals who are scheduled for organ harvest

A blood bank medical technologist in Virginia comments that her transfusion service occasionally receives orders to dispense RBC units for brain-dead patients who are scheduled to have their organs harvested within the next 24 hours. The question has come up as to the selection of Rh-positive RBC units for such brain-dead individuals who are Rh-negative, due to the theoretical risk of transfused Rh-positive red cells being in harvested organs and posing a risk of alloimmunization to the D-antigen, if those organs are transplanted into an Rh-negative recipient. She asks if it is acceptable to use Rh-positive RBC units for the transfusion of Rh-negative brain-dead potential organ donors, in the event that the hospital blood product inventory is short on Rh-negative units?

Editor’s note: Colleagues might find the following discussions to also be germane to the above question:

Please submit comments to the e-Network Forum.

Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator

W. Tait Stevens, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Assistant Editor & Moderator
Printable PDF of this page


Posted: Aug. 24, 2006

Addenda:

The e-Network Forum is supported in part by the California Blood Bank Society (CBBS) and the American Red Cross Blood Services (ARCBS) and endorses collegial discussion among blood banking and transfusion medicine professionals. However, neither the CBBS nor the ARCBS in any way endorse the specific views and opinions expressed in the forum. The forum is not intended as a substitute for medical or legal advice and the content should not be relied upon for any medical or legal purposes. Readers should make their own determinations as to: (i) what constitutes appropriate medical, technical, and administrative practices, and (ii) how best to comply with laws and regulations relevant to their questions. For the latter, they should consider consulting, as to any medical matters, a qualified physician, and, as to any legal matters, an attorney familiar with related state and federal laws. The user of the forum, by accessing same, assumes all risks arising out of such use and releases CBBS and their respective members, directors, officers and agents from and against any loss, damage, claim or liability arising out of such use of the Forum.