Posttransfusion Detection of Donor Red Cell Abnormalities

Abstract

After the transfusion of packed red cells, two pediatric patients showed unexpectedly decreased mean corpuscular volumes (MCVs), increased red cell distribution widths (RDWs), and visible alterations in their red cell histogram patterns. Further investigation of the donor units involved showed that both children had received red cells that were extremely microcytic (MCVs of 58.4 and 63.9 fL, respectively). Subsequent laboratory studies of blood from these two donors showed that both were iron deficient and that one of the donors also had the hemoglobin electrophoresis pattern characteristic of β-thalassemia trait.