Leukoreduction of sickle cell trait blood: an unresolved issue

With the increasing demand for leukoreduction of blood components and the implementation of universal leukoreduction in several countries, the problems associated with leukocyte filtration of sickle cell trait blood have been revisited. Currently, there is no unified standard practice for sickle cell trait donors. Different blood centers adopt different policies. While some defer these donors from red cell component donation, some do not. Some screen all ethnic African donors for hemoglobin S (Hb S), others do not. Furthermore, there are differences in views of whether sickle cell trait red cells should be considered as equivalent to non-sickle cell trait red cells. Some blood centers do not give red cells from a sickle cell trait donor to the newborn or patients undergoing general anesthesia as a preventative measure. In this presentation, we discuss the epidemiology of the sickle gene, the sickling process, problems associated with leukoreduction of sickle cell trait whole blood and red cells, and some unresolved issues concerning donor referral and the usage of sickle cell trait blood.