The IgA-deficient blood donor: something in the air?
In May 1994, the Blood Transfusion Centre, Sheffield, introduced a new screening test for Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency. The test is performed in parallel with routine donor ABO grouping and Rh typing on two Olympus PK 7200 autoanalysers. A panel of IgA-deficient donors is required to provide blood products for IgA-deficient patients in whom the presence of anti-IgA antibodies may cause serious anaphylactic transfusion reactions (Welborn & Hersch, 1991). Detection rates during high summer became noticeably inconsistent and since a relationship between IgA deficiency and hypersensitivity states is recognized (Amman & Hong, 1971), a comparison between the detection rate and pollen levels during June and July 1994 was undertaken; the results of this study are presented here.
Munks
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Blood Transfusion Centre, Sheffield, UK.
D001782:Blood Donors; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011058:Pollen; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*