New transfusion rules restrict donations from previously preg...( East Hills NY (Oct. 2 2007) -- New r...),Health

East Hills, NY (Oct. 2, 2007) -- New recommendations that restrict women who have previously been pregnant from donating platelets and plasma will have a major impact on the blood supply. The reason is a potentially deadly protein associated with Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury, or TRALI. According to the FDA, TRALI is the leading cause of transfusion-related deaths in both male and female patients. Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL), a leading blood safety company, is helping blood banks and hospitals fill transfusion shortfalls with a new technology that efficiently provides a safe supply of platelets, a life-saving blood product used to aid clotting.

TRALI is a serious pulmonary syndrome which may lead to death if not promptly recognized and treated. It is linked to antibodies found in the blood of some women who have had one or more pregnancies or some donors who have been previously transfused. The protein, antibodies to human leukocyte antigen (HLA antibody), is found in the blood of about one in five women donors. TRALI can occur when these antibodies in the donors blood react with the white blood cells (leukocytes) of the transfusion recipient. This causes changes in the recipients lung tissue that allows fluid to enter, resulting in acute pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation). Platelets derived from single-donor collection (apheresis) and plasma for transfusion are disproportionately associated with TRALI fatalities.

The new AABB recommendations state that blood collection centers should institute procedures to reduce the risk of TRALI from plasma donation by November 2007 and from platelet donation as soon as possible but no later than November 2008. AABB is the organization that sets standards and provides accreditation for transfusion medicine services.

Implementing the new recommendations is already leading to significant changes in the way blood banks handle donations, especially those from women. Although the guideline
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