Leucocyte depletion of blood components

Universal leucocyte depletion has been implemented in the UK and several other European countries as a precautionary measure against the potential risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by blood transfusion. Leucocyte depletion had previously only been recommended for a relatively small proportion of transfusion recipients based on clinical and experimental evidence showing clinical benefit. However there is now increasing evidence to support its value in preventing transfusion transmission of infectious agents and in reducing some of the adverse immunomodulatory effects of allogeneic transfusion. The financial costs of providing universal leucocyte depletion are substantial, but, if it transpires that leucocyte depletion has a beneficial effect in reducing, for example, postoperative infection rates, then the health economic gains in this patient group alone may largely or wholly offset these financial costs. The experience in the UK and other European countries in terms of these collateral clinical benefits will help other countries, where the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease may not be so great, to decide whether to similarly adopt universal leucocyte depletion.