The Big Picture

Transfused patients may develop antibodies in response to various antigens in the donor red cells, a process known as alloimmunization. Once alloimmunization has occurred, subsequent exposure can trigger a hemolytic reaction in which the patient’s antibodies destroy the donated red cells. While these reactions are uncommon, the potential consequences can be devastating: lung dysfunction, shock, anemia, and acute renal failure.

Blood banks are required to maintain records of patients with clinically significant antibodies and to review such records before each transfusion. These records speed up the screening process considerably, simply confirming the antibodies rather than identifying them by process of elimination, as well as tracking antibodies that have dropped below detectable levels. Unfortunately, when a patient is discharged that crucial information remains silently behind.

The National Patient Antibody Registry is a HIPAA-compliant on-line database service that links together records from blood banks across the country. So instead of working with limited information, NPAR lets blood bank technicians Get the Big Picture instantly.