Analysis of red blood cell irradiation practices from South India

Age of red blood cell (RBC) units at the time of irradiation is important and prolonged storage of preirradiated units is detrimental. The objectives were to determine RBC age at irradiation, days from expiry (DFE), and percentage of late transfusions of irradiated RBC. To estimate the concordance on expiry of irradiated RBC units with present American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)/Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), New Delhi over British Committee for Standards in Hematology (BCSH) and Council of Europe (CE) guidelines.

All the RBC units irradiated for a 1 year period were included. Retrieved data included date of collection, irradiation, revised expiry, and issue of blood. Late transfusions are units transfused in the last 2 week of RBC's shelf-life and wastage due to expiry was determined. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for comparisons between the guidelines.

Out of 1303 RBC units irradiated, the median age for irradiation was 2 (0-36) days and 99.3% units irradiated within day +14. Median DFE for these units transfused was 26 (0-28) days. 2.8% units expired as per local standards. Late transfusions happened in 121 (9.3%) units transfused. AABB/DGHS practice was not concordant with CE standards for 86 (6.6%) units and with BCSH 94 (7.2%) units. Overall discordance between the present practices was CE and BCSH was seen in 130 (10%) events.

Median RBC irradiation age and DFE was two and 26 days respectively at our center. Only 90% concordance was observed between AABB/DGHS and CE/BCSH guidelines with 9.3% units transfused as late transfusions. Restricting late transfusions of irradiated RBC can act as surrogate to improve the quality of units transfused through an inexpensive strategy.