title: Red cell storage age policy for patients with sickle cell disease: A survey of transfusion service directors in the United States.
abstract: In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), the effects of the red cell storage lesion are not well defined. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of transfusion services that limit red cell units by storage age for patients with SCD. We developed a 22 question survey of transfusion service director opinions and their corresponding blood bank policies. Target subjects were systematically identified on the AABB website. Responses were recorded in SurveyMonkey and summarized using standard statistical techniques. Ninety transfusion service directors responded to the survey. Response rate was 22%. Only 23% of respondents had storage age policies in place for patients with SCD, even though 36% of respondents consider older units to be potentially harmful in this patient population. Of those with a policy, a less-than 15 day storage age requirement was most often used (75%), but practices varied, and most respondents (65%) agreed that evidence-based guidelines regarding storage age are needed for patients with SCD. Policies, practices and opinions about the risks of older units for patients with SCD vary. As patients with SCD may have unique susceptibilities to features of the red cell storage lesion, prospective studies in this population are needed to determine best practice.
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: matthew.karafin@bcw.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Karafin
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singavi
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Mehraboon S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Puca
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baumann Kreuziger
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Pippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D001771:Blood Banks; D001793:Blood Preservation; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003710:Demography; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Red cell storage age; Sickle cell disease; Transfusion practice