The Current Status of Management for Specific Antigen-negative Blood Units in Korea

Chung, Yousun; Hong, Yun Ji; Hwang, Sang Mee; Kim, Taek Soo; Park, Kyoung Un; Song, Junghan; Han, Kyou Sup

Abstract

BACKGROUND
For pretransfusion testing, ABO and D antigen tests along with unexpected antibody screening tests are performed. When unexpected antibodies are identified, selection for specific antigen-negative blood units is needed in order to ensure safety of transfusion.
METHODS
A questionnaire survey was conducted from August 23 to September 10, 2012 in 36 medical institutes in order to evaluate the current status of management for specific antigen-negative blood units in Korea. The questionnaire consisted of a method for detection of unexpected antibodies, the number of antibodies identified in the last year, and the antigen tests performed for specific antigen-negative blood units. For the institutes where blood donations are obtained, we asked about the enrollment of donors for specific antigen-negative or rare blood types.
RESULTS
Among the 36 institutes, antigen testing for specific antigen-negative blood units was performed in 20 institutes. Of the remaining 15 institutes, except for one institute which answered as not applicable, eight institutes requested blood units at blood centers and another seven institutes replaced antigen tests with crossmatching tests. Among the 21 institutes where blood donations are obtained, two institutes had enrolled donors for specific antigen-negative or rare blood types.
CONCLUSION
For selection of specific antigen-negative blood units for recipients who have identified antibodies, standardization of antibody detection tests and antigen tests is needed. In addition, the accurate antigen frequency in the Korean population should be investigated and donors for specific antigen-negative or rare blood types should be enrolled and managed systematically. Following these efforts, practical measures for obtaining specific antigennegative blood units could be suggested for medical institutes in Korea.