The accurate estimation of ABO antibody titers is of the utmost importance in organ transplants involving ABO incompatibility. We aim to compare five different methods of titration and analyze the data. Samples of 48 O group blood donors who donated during the month of December 2015 to January 2016 in our institution were subjected to ABO antibody titration by five different methods: immediate spin (IS) tube titer, antihuman globulin phase tube titer, Coomb's gel card titer, gel card titer after dithiotreitol (DTT) treatment of plasma, and the solid phase red cell adherence method. The mean number of titer serial dilution steps in the different titer estimation methods was compared using the paired t-test and McNemar test. A correlation between the methods was tested using Spearman's rho and kappa statistics. The median antiglobulin (AHG) phase tube titers were found to be the highest anti-A (128) and anti-B (192) titers. Significant differences in the ABO antibody titer readings among the five different methods were noted. Titers were reduced by DTT treatment in nearly 50% samples tested for both anti-A and anti-B titers. Average agreements between the DTT-applied AHG phase gel card titers and the solid phase red cell adherence (SPRCA) titers was observed for anti-A (κ = 0.473) and anti-B (κ = 0.530). The AHG phase tube and gel cards titers showed poor agreements. There are differences in the interpretability of the ABO antibody titer among different techniques. Consistent and uniform application of the method for titration throughout the treatment of a patient is highly essential.

The resolution of ABO typing discrepancy is essential to minimise the chance of transfusion of ABO-incompatible blood.

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A prospective randomized trial of use of donor-specific transfusion and cyclosporine given 24 h before operation was performed in living related renal transplant recipients. The benefits, disadvantages and effect on graft and patient outcome was analyzed. Cyclosporine was started 72 h before operation and 48 h before donor-specific transfusion (DST). Fifteen patients received DST while another 15 age- and sex-matched living related renal allograft recipients on similar immunosuppression served as controls. Patient and donor demographics were similar in the two groups. The DST group had significantly fewer rejection episodes than the control group (0.26 vs. 1.1 rejection episode per patient, p < 0.01). There were fewer episodes of acute rejection in the first 3 months posttransplant in the DST group. Hyperresponder recipients (as tested by mixed lymphocyte cultures) also benefitted by DST which significantly reduced the number of acute rejection episodes (0.25 vs. 1 episode per hyperresponder patient, DST vs. control, p < 0.05). The need for dialysis, incidence of infections and other complications were similar in the two groups. Graft function at 3,6,9 and 12 months after transplant was significantly better in the DST group (p < 0.05). Graft survival at 1 year in DST group (85.5%) was not statistically different than control (74.8%). In conclusion, DST and cyclosporine given 24 h before live related renal transplantation is effective in improving graft function and reducing the number of acute rejection episodes which could have a beneficial effect on long-term graft survival.

BACKGROUND:Blood transfusion of contaminated components is a potential source of sepsis by a wide range of known and unknown pathogens. Collection mechanism and storage conditions of platelets make them vulnerable for bacterial contamination. Several interventions aim to reduce the transfusion of contaminated platelet units; however, data suggest that contaminated platelet transfusion remains very common.AIM:A pathogen inactivation system, “INTERCEPT”, to inactivate bacteria in deliberately contaminated platelet units was implemented and evaluated.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Five single-donor platelets (SDP) and five random donor platelets (RDP) were prepared after prior consent of donors. Both SDP and RDP units were deliberately contaminated by stable stock ATCC Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, with a known concentration of stock culture. Control samples were taken from the infected units and bacterial concentrations were quantified. The units were treated for pathogen inactivation with the INTERCEPT (Cerus Corporation, Concord, CA) Blood system for platelets (Amotosalen/UVA), as per the manufacturer's instructions for use. Post illumination, test samples were analyzed for any bacterial growth.RESULTS:Post-illumination test samples did not result in any bacterial growth. A complete reduction of >6 log10 S. aureus in SDP units and >6 log10 Escherichia coli in RDP units was achieved.CONCLUSION:The INTERCEPT system has been shown to be very effective in our study for bacterial inactivation. Implementation of INTERCEPT may be used as a mitigation against any potential bacterial contamination in platelet components.