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A proposal to eliminate weak D testing on autologous RBC donations

A blood bank in Southern California is in the process of eliminating pre-transfusion weak D (Du) testing of pretransfusion patient samples. In considering the impact of this change, they envision a hypothetical scenario in which a patient donates an autologous RBC unit that types as Rh positive (due to a Du/weak D test being reactive), but the patient him/herself types as Rh negative (because a weak D/Du test is not done). To avoid such a discordance they are considering eliminating the weak D (Du) testing of autologous donor units that they collect. They wonder if such a strategy would pose a regulatory problem. They do not 'cross over' their autologous units or ship them to other facilities. They recognize that autologous units collected elsewhere might still pose a problem, but most of their autologous blood is collected on site.

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

W. Tait Stevens, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Assistant Editor & Moderator
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Posted: Mar. 21, 2007

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