View info about one of our nine  neighborhood donor centers

TRALI - Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury


What is TRALI?
TRALI is an acronym for Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury. TRALI is defined as an acute lung injury that rarely occurs after a blood transfusion. It occurs in approximately 1 in 5000 transfusions.

What causes TRALI?
TRALI can be caused by a blood transfusion recipient's reaction to white blood cell antibodies present in the plasma component of blood products. TRALI reactions have been associated with blood products from female donors who have had one or more pregnancies. Women are more likely than men to have the antibodies due to exposure to fetal antigens during pregnancy.

So the plasma from women who have been pregnant could cause this?
Maybe. Transfusion of plasma or blood components containing a high volume of plasma obtained from previously pregnant women is thought to carry a higher risk of inducing TRALI.

Will female donors be turned away?
Absolutely not. All blood will be used. Hoxworth personnel are the experts in blood collections and have implemented new technologies to enhance blood collections based on the current needs of patients at our local hospitals. We customize the blood components that we provide to the 28 hospitals in the Tri-state area.

Will we stop taking plasma from female donors?
No.

Is there a test for TRALI?
At this time there is no test to predict occurrences of TRALI. However, there are screening tests to detect white cell antibodies. Screening tests will be used to evaluate the serum of certain female donors so that Hoxworth can best use the donated blood products.

What are we doing to prevent TRALI?
Hoxworth and other blood centers across the country are working on strategies to reduce the transfusion of female plasma or other blood products containing a large plasma volume such as apheresis platelets. These strategies will permit us to use all donated blood to maximize the benefits for the blood recipients in the hospitals we serve.
 
Related links:
- Letter to the editor from Hoxworth's director Dr. Ronald Sacher
- Video news story on TRALI - WKRC-TV Local 12
 
How to donate:
  • Call our Appointment Center at (513) 451-0910 or (800) 830-1091 to speak with tele-recruitment representative.
  • Visit one of our nine neighborhood donor centers or a community blood drive.
  • E-mail our Appointment Center and someone will call you back. Please include:
    • name
    • date of birth
    • phone number
    • where you want to donate
    • date and time of donation
  • Click here to send email: hoxapctr@ucmail.uc.edu.
WANT TO DOUBLE YOUR DONATION?
Click here to see if you qualify: http://www.hoxworth.org/donate_double_red.htm
 
The requirements to give blood are:

• Age: At least 17 years old and in good general health. There is no upper age limit.
• Weight: Minimum of 110 pounds.
• Identification: Must provide photo I.D.
• Food: Eat a good meal within four hours before giving.
• Drink: Drink plenty of water or juice before and after donating.

Hoxworth operates donation centers in Anderson, Blue Ash, UC, Downtown, Ft. Mitchell, Ft. Thomas, Mason, Tri-County and Western Hills. Operating days and hours vary with each center.

Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center needs to collect from 350 volunteer blood donors and 40 volunteer platelet donors each day to keep up with the demands of tri-state hospitals and their patients. Hoxworth, founded in 1938, serves 28 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects over 94,000 units of blood from local volunteer donors.

-###-
 
comments@hoxworth.org        
 

Copyright © 2006 Hoxworth Blood Center | Member: America's Blood Centers