Transfusion monitoring

Project leaders: Margriet Dijkstra-Tiekstra PhD and Martin Smid MD PhD

Blood group discrepancies

Blood groups can be determined using several techniques. Most going techniques are the so-called tube technique and column technique. Besides this, blood group type sessions take place on large scale using the micro plate method and typing on the basis of DNA is also possible. It is known that in some cases a certain blood group (mostly A) is found using the tube technique, whereas with column technique a ’mixed field’ response is observed. Hospitals reported a few cases of red cells with a mixed field blood group. The aim of this project is to study the frequency of these discrepancies and give a recommendation how to concern.

Clinical project: Platelet transfusions, prophylactic versus on demand

RMH Kivit (Clinical Consultancy Department of Sanquin Blood Bank in Groningen) will finish a study with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Medical Center Leeuwarden (MCL) related to platelet transfusions. In leukemia-patients, treated with the same HOVON protocols, 2 different platelet transfusion policies will be studied: in UMCG patients are transfused prophylactic and in MCL on demand. End points of study are the number of platelet transfusions used during chemotherapy cycles and bleeding diathesis.

Clinical project: Enhancing quality of autologous stem cell products in cooperation with UMCG’s department of haematology

This project aims for enhancing the quality and quantity of stem cells in autologous transplants and was executed with financial support of Tekke Huizinga Fonds. Sanquin collects stem cells and processes the autologous products, executed in close cooperation with the UMCG that treats and transplants the patients.

Key publications