Hematology

Transfusion Medicine continues to evolve as a field. Previous decades have heralded the serologic characterization of red blood cell (RBC) antigens, and recent years have brought on new genotyping technologies which have allowed for better care of serologically complex patients. Mass genotyping of blood donors is making it easier to manage the blood supply more effectively. The blood supply is the safest it has ever been thanks to more sensitive donor testing and, more recently, because of pathogen reduction technologies. In the United States, platelet and plasma pathogen reduction technology has been FDA approved. RBC pathogen reduction processes will be possibly available in the future. After reviewing solid scientific evidence, the FDA has changed the blood donor eligibility criteria, making the donated blood safer while allowing previously deferred blood donors to give blood. Improvement in Therapeutic Apheresis technologies have supported the growing field of solid organ transplantation and cellular therapies. New instruments have smaller extra-corporeal volumes that allow collection of leukocytes in a wide range of patient ages.

 

New challenges have pushed Transfusion Medicine clinicians and scientists to adapt and innovate. The field of immunohematology has been confronted by interference in pre-transfusion testing caused by new immunotherapies. The blood banking community was faced with hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, it had to efficiently create and maintain a convalescent plasma supply. Secondly, shortages in supplies, materials, and staffing, amongst others, made the community struggle to meet blood supply demands and ensure safe patient care in a highly regulated field. The goal of this article collection is to understand how the field of Transfusion Medicine continues to adapt to new dilemmas, which is essential to its progress.

 

This article collection will be focused on a wide array of Transfusion Medicine topics. Articles related to Immunohematology, Blood Donation and Collection, Therapeutic Apheresis, Transfusion Practice, Blood Component Therapy and Cellular Therapies are encouraged. Article types accepted include Original Research, Case Reports and Case Series, Review Articles, and Letters to the Editor.

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David R. Gibb,

: Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

David Gibb is an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Division of Transfusion Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He received his MD/PhD at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed Clinical Pathology residency and Transfusion Medicine fellowships at Yale University. He is a physician-scientist with a focus on mechanisms underlying RBC alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease and autoimmunity.

Ingrid Perez-Alvarez

Title: Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Ingrid Perez-Alvarez is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Division of Transfusion Medicine. She obtained her medical education at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at UCSD and Fellowship in Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her interests include the role of HLA in Transfusion Medicine, improving Transfusion Practice, Transfusion Medicine Education, and Therapeutic Apheresis.

 

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