Applying molecular immunohematology discoveries to standards of practice in blood banks: now is the time

Abstract

Lessons from more than 100 years of immunohematology exemplify that many critical discoveries were made serendipitously and their more rapid implementation could have benefited transfusion recipients and pregnancies. Constituents of blood that are not essential for the attempted therapeutic benefit of a transfusion are largely removed from today's blood products. We are now moving on to avoid unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful constituents of the therapeutically required cells, like blood group antigens that are foreign to the patient. Cost efficacy needs to be kept in mind but may eventually prove much better than anticipated, once hidden benefits are captured, as we show by examples from past immunohematologic developments. Here, we detail clinical applications for molecular immunohematology advances including "dry-matching" that will improve transfusion outcomes and argue for their widespread implementation by rapid timelines through standards of practice.