Are we the only ones still screening units for patients producing anti-Lewis A?  Is there ever a reason to do this for routine cross matches?

Scott

Edited November 14, 20177 yr by SMILLER
oops!

Probably!

We haven't screened for the Le^a antigen for anyone with an anti-Le^a for years in the UK, and we haven't come across a transfusion reaction - although there are reports in the literature.

We don't.  We don't carry the antisera for testing.  Also, in Canada, the national blood supplier no longer routinely tests for it.  I suppose if someone had a hemolytic anti-Lea something could be done as a special case, but not routinely.

If the current antibody screen is negative we issue electronically crossmatched units untested for Le^a. If the current antibody screen is positive, we issue IgG-crossmatch compatible units untested for Le^a

Ja.  Here, if the anti-Le a shows up on an inpatient, we set up 2 AHG crossmatched units, because that is what we do for all atypical antibody patients.  But if it does not show  up in the antibody screen, we have to order confirmed Le a units from our blood supplier and XM those!

It's so 20th century...

Scott

1 hour ago, SMILLER said:

Ja.  Here, if the anti-Le a shows up on an inpatient, we set up 2 AHG crossmatched units, because that is what we do for all atypical antibody patients.  But if it does not show  up in the antibody screen, we have to order confirmed Le a units from our blood supplier and XM those!

It's so 20th century...

Scott

Sorry Scott.  In my personal opinion, and it is only my personal opinion, it's not 20^th century........it is at best 18^th century!!!!!!!!  

If the patient has a history of Anti-Le(a) and the current antibody screen is negative we perform an IS/AHG crossmatch and do not antigen type the units. If the Anti-Le(a) is active then we will give antigen negative units.

11 hours ago, Laurie Underwood said:

If the patient has a history of Anti-Le(a) and the current antibody screen is negative we perform an IS/AHG crossmatch and do not antigen type the units. If the Anti-Le(a) is active then we will give antigen negative units.

Given the number of reactions that are recorded in the literature, which are very few, and the fact that the small amount of plasma left on the red cells to be transfused will very readily inhibit in vivo the anti-Lea in the patients plasma, I think this is overkill.

From you to our pathologist's ear, Malcolm!

Scott

3 hours ago, Malcolm Needs said:

 I think this is overkill.

Malcolm, are you really trying to kill Mr. Lewis??????????

No Anna.