A patient's serum, used as a source of anti-Goa typing serum, was found to contain a second antibody that detected a 'new' red cell antigen present in approximately 5 percent of blacks, but not yet found in Caucasians. Among blacks, the 'new' antigen shows an antithetical relationship to the high frequency antigen Tca, as evidenced by tests on eight unrelated Tc(a-) black women and the families of two of these propositi. The antigen, designated Tcb, has not been found on the red cells of Tc(a-) persons whose racial origins differ from the propositi of this report, which suggests that more than one genetic mechanism can produce the Tc(a-) phenotype. The presence of both anti-Goa and anti-Tcb in the same serum appears to be a coincidental and unrelated finding.
Frozen erythrocytes can provide a valuable addition to many blood banks for better patient care. Exaggerated fears concerning cost and complexity have frightened many blood bankers from consideration of a frozen erythrocyte program for their hospital blood bank. This type of program promotes improved blood banking as it emphasizes the need for increased utilization of specific blood components in hemotherapy. Since better inventory control is achieved, the patient is more likely to receive the desired component when needed. Erythrocytes containing optimal levels of DPG and ATP always are available. As compared to ordinary whole blood, frozen erythrocytes markedly reduce the incidence of febrile and hypersensitivity reactima, and the incidence of hepatitis may be reduced. A frozen erythrocyte program is also advantageous in that an autotransfusion program can be developed successfully and blood from selected d e nom lacking certain antigens can be stored for future transfusions to patients presenting problems.
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