Blood irradiation is an essential measure to prevent the occurrence of life-threatening transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD). But how can you ensure that irradiated blood is administered to patients? KABEG Klinikum Klagenfurt has summarized the most important information on this topic in a training video for its medical staff.
What is TA-GvHD?
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease is a very serious and almost always fatal complication following transfusion. It occurs when T cells from the donor blood enter the recipient’s body and become active. The disease typically manifests itself 3 to 30 days after transfusion and is characterized by high fever, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, and pancytopenia. Specific patient groups may therefore only receive blood that has been irradiated beforehand.
As a physician, how can you tell if blood has been irradiated?
The procedure is clearly regulated: the irradiated blood product is requested and delivered. Before starting the transfusion, it must be checked whether a radiation indicator is attached to the bag. Only when the color has changed from red to black may the product be used and the transfusion started.
„Only when the indicator has changed color from red to black may the transfusion be performed.”
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Why is the radiation indicator so important?
The blood irradiation indicator with its color change is the only visual check that provides reliable proof that the blood product was actually in the irradiation device and was irradiated. It is therefore particularly important to check before each transfusion whether the indicator has been placed on the blood bag and whether the color change has taken place correctly.
In the KABEG training videos, you will not only see step by step what exactly needs to be considered before irradiated blood is actually administered to the patient. You will also learn how to perform blood irradiation correctly.
To the videos:
Picture credit: on point medicals GmbH
Authors: Dr. Harald Sekljic, Lisa Springer
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