TRALI: Platelet/Plasma Strategies for Blood Centers and Hospitals
Program Code: 094577
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (ET)

MODERATOR
Jerry Holmberg, PhD, MT(ASCP)SBB, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnotstics, Inc.

SPEAKERS
Anne Eder, MD, PhD, American Red Cross
Louis Katz, MD

DESCRIPTION
Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) has been recognized as the leading reported cause of death in both male and female transfusion recipients. Associated with plasma containing blood components, TRALI is thought to be the result of white blood cell antibodies in donors which active granulocytes in the recipient's lungs resulting in pulmonary edema. AABB recommended that blood collecting facilities should implement interventions to minimize the preparation of plasma components from donors known to be leukocyte-alloimmunized or at increased risk of leukocyte alloimmunization. In addition, blood transfusion facilities were encouraged to implement appropriate evidence-based hemotherapy practices to minimize unnecessary transfusions. Monitoring of reported TRALI incidences as well as TRALI-related mortality was recommended for both the blood collection and transfusion facilities. These measures were to be implemented by November 2007 for whole blood and plasma components. Measures relating to platelet products were to be implemented in November 2008. This audioconference will review the current status of TRALI, mitigation strategies and outcomes of those strategies.