Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Crit Care. 2004;8 Suppl 2:S27-30. Epub 2004 Jun 14.Click here to read Links

To filter blood or universal leukoreduction: what is the answer?

Shapiro MJ.

SUNY-Stony Brook School of Medicine, General Surgery, New York, USA. mjshapiro@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

The safety of the blood supply has been a concern over the past 20-30 years because of the transmission of infectious diseases. Blood is still routinely tested for viruses, and leukoreduction is an effective strategy to reduce the transmission of cell-associated viruses. Clinically, the benefits of leukoreduction include decreases in transfusion reactions, HLA alloimmunization, infections, fever episodes, and antibiotic use. Although leukoreduction will add cost to a unit of blood, projections indicate that leukoreduced blood will become the standard of care.

PMID: 15196319 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]