#PAGE_PARAMS# #ADS_HEAD_SCRIPTS# #MICRODATA#

Procedure for the administration of irradiated blood components Recommendations of the Society for Transfusion Medicine of the Czech Medical Association JEP


Authors: Z. Gašová 1;  J. Masopust 2;  R. Procházková 3;  V. Řeháček 4;  Š. Blahutová 5
Authors‘ workplace: Ústav hematologie a krevní transfuze Praha 1;  Transfuzní oddělení, Krajská zdravotní, Masarykova nemocnice Ústí nad Labem 2;  Transfuzní oddělení, Krajská nemocnice Liberec 3;  Transfuzní oddělení, FN Hradec Králové 4;  Krevní centrum, FN Ostrava 5
Published in: Transfuze Hematol. dnes,32, 2026, No. 2, p. 140-146.
Category: Best Practices

Overview

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD) is a rare, usually fatal post-transfusion complication. It occurs following the administration of blood components containing viable immunocompetent donor T lymphocytes. TA-GvHD may develop after transfusion of whole blood, red blood cells, platelets, and granulocytes. An effective preventive measure against TA-GvHD is the irradiation of blood components with gamma or X-rays. Irradiation inhibits the proliferation of radiosensitive lymphocytes. We present consensus recommendations concerning the type of blood component, timing, requirements, indications, and quality control procedures for the irradiation of blood components, including haemovigilance.

Keywords:

haemovigilance – irradiation of blood components – transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease


Sources

1. Guidelines on the use of irradiated blood components prepared by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology blood transfusion task force. Br J Haematol. 2020; 191 : 704–724.

2. Prokopchuk-Gauk O, Robitaille N, Tinmouth A, et al. Recommendations for use of Irradiated Blood Components in Canada: A NAC and CCNMT Collaborative Initiative [Internet]. Ottawa: National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products; October 17, 2017 [updated 2023 10 16]; Available from: https: //nacblood.ca/en/resource/recommendations-use-irradiated-blood-components-canada.

3. Kopolovic I, Ostro J, Tsubota H, et al. A systematic review of transfusion-associated graft versus-host disease. Blood. 2015; 126 : 406–414.

4. Cid J. Prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease with pathogen-reduced platelets with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light: a review. Vox Sang. 2017; 112 : 607–613.

5. Serrano K, Chen D, Hansen AL, Turner TR, et al. The effect of timing of gamma-irradiation on hemolysis and potassium release in leukoreduced red cell concentrates stored in SAGM. Vox Sang. 2014; 106 : 379–381.

6. Serrano K, Pambrun C, Levin E, et al. Supernatant reduction of stored gamma-irradiated red blood cells minimizes potentially harmful substances present in transfusion aliquots for neonates. Transfusion. 2017; 57 : 3009–3018.

7. McCullough J, Vesole DH, Benjamin RJ, et al. Therapeutic efficacy and safety of platelets treated with a photochemical process for pathogen inactivation: the SPRINT Trial. Blood. 2004; 104 : 1534–541.

8. Pineda A, McCullough J, Benjamin RJ, et al. SPRINT Study Group. Pathogen inactivation of platelets with a photochemical treatment with amotosalen HCl and ultraviolet light: process used in the SPRINT trial. Transfusion. 2006; 46 : 562–571.

9. Snyder E, McCullough J, Slichter SJ, et al. SPRINT Study Group. Clinical safety of platelets photochemically treated with amotosalen HCl and ultraviolet A light for pathogen inactivation: the SPRINT trial. Transfusion. 2005; 45 : 1864–1875.

10. van Rhenen D, Gulliksson H, Cazenave JP, et al. euroSPRITE trial. Transfusion of pooled buffy coat platelet components prepared with photochemical pathogen inactivation treatment: the euroSPRITE trial. Blood. 2003; 101 : 2426–2433.

11. van Rhenen DJ, Gulliksson H, Cazenave JP, et al. Therapeutic efficacy of pooled buffy-coat platelet components prepared and stored with a platelet additive solution. Transfusion Med. 2004; 14 : 289–295.

12. Garban F, Guyard A, Labussière H, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of platelets treated with pathogen reduction process (EFFIPAP) Study Group. Comparison of the hemostatic efficacy of pathogen-reduced platelets vs untreated platelets in patients with thrombocytopenia and malignant hematologic diseases: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2018; 4 : 468–475.

Labels
Haematology Internal medicine Clinical oncology

Article was published in

Transfusion and Haematology Today

Issue 2

2026 Issue 2

Most read in this issue
Login
Forgotten password

Enter the email address that you registered with. We will send you instructions on how to set a new password.

Login

Don‘t have an account?  Create new account

#ADS_BOTTOM_SCRIPTS#