Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Routine Screening Method for Microparticles in Platelet Transfusions
Published on: January 31, 2018
CMV screening of group-specific orders-good stewardship of the blood supply
Tara Francis1, Alexander Delk2, Richard R Gammon3
1OneBlood, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Background:
In addition to antigen-negative red blood cells (RBC), Immunohematology Reference Laboratories (IRL) must provide RBCs that are cytomegalovirus (CMV) seronegative. Due to high percentage of CMV seropositive individuals, it is challenging to find CMV and antigen-negative RBC. The IRL selects predominantly group O donors tested for CMV, and these RBC are sometimes needed to fill orders for nongroup O patients. This study evaluated units sent that were out of group to fulfill CMV-seronegative requests.
Study Design And Methods:
Requests for CMV-seronegative and antigen-negative RBCs were divided into Period 1 (January 1, 2019-February 29, 2020) before intervention and Period 2 (March 1, 2020-May 31, 2020) post intervention. ABO Rh units requested were compared to ABO Rh units provided.
Results:
Period 1: 537 CMV-seronegative RBC units were provided. 99/188(52.66%) B-positive requests were fulfilled using O RBCs. 58/504 (11.51%) of D-negative units were sent to D-positive patients. Period 2: 119 CMV-seronegative RBC units were provided. 18/51 (35.29%) B positive requests were fulfilled using O RBCs. Only 7/113 (6.19%) D-negative units were sent to D-positive patients.
Discussion:
For 239/656 (36.43%) CMV-seronegative antigen orders requested for B-positive patients, more than half of these orders were filled with O RBCs. To decrease group O usage for nongroup O patients, the IRL practice has changed to increase CMV testing for group B donors. Since the change in algorithm, there was a 17.37% decrease group O usage for group B patients.
More Related Videos
10:24Automated Cell Enrichment of Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells for Clinical Applications using the Cytokine-capture System
Published on: October 5, 2015
08:52Generation of Multivirus-specific T Cells to Prevent/treat Viral Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Published on: May 27, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...