Analysis of ABO Blood Discrepancies and Transfusion Experiences in Chonnam National University Hospital

Heo, Min Seok; Cho, Duck; Park, Hye Ryoen; Shin, Myung Geun; Shin, Jong Hee; Suh, Soon Pal; Ryang, Dong Wook

Abstract

BACKGROUND
ABO blood group discrepancy occurs when the results of red cell tests do not agree with those of the serum test. In order to select the proper blood units for transfusion, clarification of the cause of ABO discrepancies is essential. We analyzed the cases and recent actual transfusion experiences at Chonnam National University Hospital (CNUH).
METHODS
In total, among pre-transfusion blood samples at CNUH between January 2012 and July 2013, 55 cases of ABO discrepancies were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS
The discrepancy incidence was 0.14%. Problems with serum were the most common cause of ABO discrepancies, with 31 cases (56.4%), and extra serum reactivity due to cold allo-antibodies accounted for the highest frequency (n=7). There were three cases of non-specific aggregations caused by commercial RBC constituents and aggregation was not observed when a re-test was performed with other commercial RBCs or self-prepared human RBCs. Two of three cases with mix-field aggregations involved a pair of twins after in vitro fertilization - embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Among 55 patients, 20 were actually transfused, and all but four cases had weaker or identical RBC units and stronger or identical plasma units.
CONCLUSION
There were newly revealed ABO discrepancies caused by non-specific aggregations of commercial RBCs and in twins after IVF-ET. In addition, investigation of actual transfusion experiences in patients with ABO blood group discrepancies would be helpful.