Possible cause of lack of positive samples on homologous blood transfusion

Abstract

Homologous blood transfusion is a prohibited method of blood manipulation that can be used to increase the number of erythrocytes circulating in the blood stream resulting in an increased oxygen transport capacity. In doping controls, homologous blood transfusions are determined by means of a procedure based on the detection of red blood cell phenotypes by flow cytometry. In the past six years, no adverse analytical findings concerning homologous blood transfusions were reported. One explanation for that phenomenon, assuming that athletes have not completely given up this kind of manipulation, would be a more careful selection of potential donors. If such a donor has the same set of minor erythrocyte antigens as the recipient, the established methodology to detect homologous transfusion would fail. We have hypothesized that any athlete can be a potential donor for teammates with the same RhD factor and AB0 blood group. Having analyzed the phenotype of erythrocytes of 535 Russian athletes in various endurance sports, several pairs of athletes with the same phenotype were observed. Based on the frequency of occurrence of red blood cell antigens, the theoretical probability of finding a donor within a team with exactly the same phenotype was calculated, and the existing number of occurrences where two individuals share the same phenotype in the same sport was in fact five times higher than the theoretical probability.

Computer analysis of the emotional modality of 20 million publications in PUBMED database indicates ways to increase the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy by identifying pseudoscientific publications aimed at negative emotional "pumping" of doctors

“…Не затрагивая достаточно короткий текст самой публикации [35], уже сам абстракт публикации заставляет насторожиться читателя, не готового к столь неуместной манипуляции сознанием: здесь и подмена понятий, и нарушения логики, и очевидная презумпция виновности российских спортсменов, и пренебрежение фундаментальными основами математической статистики и др.…”

“…Абстракт текста [35] начинается с утверждения, что «гомологическое переливание крови -это запрещённый метод манипуляций с кровью». Однако гомологическое переливание крови (профессионалы, вообще-то, говорят, «инфузионно-трансфузионная терапия») -этот общепринятый метод лечения!…”

Annual banned‐substance review: analytical approaches in human sports drug testing

“…Additional studies have, however, been suggested to account for factors potentially compromising the approach, especially the to‐date permitted supplementation of iron . Further to these considerations, the prevalence of team mates sharing the same RhD factor and AB0 blood group raised suspicion as to whether carefully selected blood donors (with matching erythrocyte surface antigens) are accompanying cheating athletes as team members . This strategy would de facto undermine testing approaches based on monitoring ex vivo storage‐induced parameters (e.g.…”

“…[234] Further to these considerations, the prevalence of team mates sharing the same RhD factor and AB0 blood group raised suspicion as to whether carefully selected blood donors (with matching erythrocyte surface antigens) are accompanying cheating athletes as team members. [235] This strategy would de facto undermine testing approaches based on monitoring ex vivo storage-induced parameters (e.g. plasticizers, iron) and most likely common analytical assays for the detection of homologous blood transfusion but presumably not the ABP.…”

The 32nd Manfred Donike workshop on doping analysis

“…Blood doping remains a major analytical challenge. Further progress in the field of homogenous as well as autologous transfusion is presented . Improvements in fast detection of doping with recombinant erythropoietin using MAIIA technology might still prove useful in the future …”