BACKGROUND: Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) or RNA test is considered to be a supplemental test for confirming a HCV infection. A correlation has been reported between the signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratios of a third generation HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a confirmed HCV infection. This study examined the results of an evaluation of domestic anti-HCV EIA and immunoblot kit (RIBA) in Korean donors. METHODS: A total of 375,576 donor samples were tested for anti-HCV using the LG third generation HCV ELISA (LG HCD 3.0 TMB, LGphD, Korea) and HCV RNA by NAT (Biomerieux/Roche RT-PCR, 24 pool). The anti-HCV repeat reactive samples were further tested by third generation RIBA (LG HCD Confirm, LGphD, Korea). A positive result by either the nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) or RIBA was interpreted as a confirmed HCV infection. RESULTS: There were 506 out of the 375,576 donor samples (0.13%) that were anti-HCV repeat reactive (RR) by routine screening ELISA. The confirmed HCV prevalence in the donors was 0.01% (RIBA 42/375,570, RNA 36/375,570). 443 samples from the 506 repeat reactive samples in ELISA (87.6%) showed a S/CO ratio <3.0 but did not show positivity in the RIBA and RNA test. The rate of RIBA positivity in the RR specimens was 8.3% (42/506). The RNA detection rate in the RIBA positive samples was 85.7%(36/42). All 36 samples showing a positive result in both the RIBA and RNA test showed a significantly high S/CO ratio, >3.6 (mean 4.40+/-0.80), compared with the negative group (mean 1.54+/-0.64). CONCLUSION: There was a good correlation between a high S/CO ratios and a confirmed HCV infection. In addition, samples showing a low S/CO ratio with an ID (Indeterminate) or negative RIBA result suggest a high probability of nonspecific reactivity in ELISA.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Prevalence ; RNA* ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: One component of the multiple layers of protection that maintain blood safety at each blood collection facility is a safe donor registry containing the identity of individuals who are eligible to donate blood components for transfusion. Safe blood donor registry also makes it possible to supply of apheresis blood components to patients by appointed blood donation. We attempted to register safe and voluntary repeat donors from low-risk populations who provided a blood donation that was negative on all laboratory screening tests with the computerized donor registry system. METHODS: Safe donors were explained and recommended by charged nurse about the blood donor registry. When they agreed with it, they became a member of the program. The donors made an appointment of the following donation date and type that they wanted. Volunteer workers and nurses confirmed the appointed date by telephone 1 week before. RESLUT: Our blood center had maintained donor registry of 452 entries. Above 65% of them were office workers and college students. They donated 1084 units after the registration (mean donation times : 2.4 / one person). Male donors (86.5%) were more than females (13.5%). They were likely to donate apheresis-plasma (80%) rather than other types of blood donation. The intervals between donations were about 8-12 weeks (W/B), 3-4 weeks (apheresis-plamsa) and 2-3 weeks (apheresis platelet). Only 44.4% of appointed donors returned to donate. But appointed apheresis-platelet donors responded at higher returning rates than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The blood donor registry that retains safe and substantial blood donors should be taken root in red cross blood centers sooner or later. The discriminative benefits for the registered blood donors such as health screening tests and medical counsel must be provided to maintain the registered donors and to increse the return rate for the appointed blood donors.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Donors* ; Blood Safety ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Red Cross ; Telephone ; Tissue Donors ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: The peripheral blood hemoglobin and serum ferritin were analyzed in 30 consecutive repeat blood donors (28 men, 2 women; mean +/- SD age: 28.0 +/- 8.6 years: median number of donation 12.9 +/- 9.5) to evaluate the influence of the whole blood donation. 16 beginners in the blood donation were used for normal control (12 men, 4 women; 27.5 +/- 7.5years). METHOD: The repeat donors were grouped into the interval and frequency of donation. At the time of donation, blood samples were collected from all for research. Hemograms were performed using an automatic cell counter and enzyme immunoassay were used for the serum ferritin determination. Total protein and albumin were determined with an autoanalyzer. RESLUTS: The levels of the peripheral blood hemoglobin of the repeat donors were within normal limits and the median level was not significantly differentiated between the tested groups and normal control group. The median level of serum ferritin of the repeat donors was 32.19 +/- 22.82ng/mL, which was significantly low compared to the level of the normal control (62.10 +/- 25.67ng/mL, n=16)and was correlated with the interval and frequency of donation. The donors having short intervals less than 4 month reveal low ferritin level compared to other tested groups even though it was not significant. However the frequency of donation influenced significantly the level of serum ferritin. The median level of serum ferritin of the W/B donors having frequency of donation more often than 5 times was 30.64 +/- 16.22ng/mL, significantly lower than that of other tested groups and normal control (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The Interval and frequency of blood donation seem to be very important factors that act upon nutiritional status of consecutive repeat donors. Especially consecutive, frequent donation of W/B must be deplet the storage iron in the body. Therefore the interval and frequency of donation must be adjustified and must be permitted in proper manner for korean blood donors. Test items such as hemoglobin and serum ferritin seem to be essential for repeat donors at the time of donation. Also if we can, oral iron supplement could be recommended for the repeat donors in proper time to prevent iron depletion.
Blood Donors* ; Cell Count ; Female ; Ferritins* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Iron ; Male ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Cushing Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Regular blood donation can lead to iron deficiency. Serum ferritin is sensitive indicator of body iron depletion. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum ferritin reagents using the turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) and to establish a reference range in first time blood donors in Korea. METHODS: The study was prospectively conducted, between Feb. 2011 and Apr. 2011, on 120 male and 120 female blood donors at five blood centers. Serum ferritin was determined by TIA using two brands of reagents (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA; HBi, South Korea) and two automated chemistry analyzers (AU640, Beckman Coulter Inc.; Hitachi7180, Hitachi High-Technologies Corp., Japan). Precision, linearity, limit of detection, analytical measurement range and correlation with chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) were evaluated. A reference range for serum ferritin in first time donors was established. RESULTS: The coefficients of variation of precision were less than 4%. Linearity was observed up to 312.7~450 microg/L depending on which reagent used. Both reagents had good correlation with CLIA results. Serum ferritin levels for first time donors showed left skewed distribution. The reference ranges for males and females were 34.1~385.9 microg/L and 6.8~121 microg/L using Beckman Coulter (AU) reagent, and 18.7~271.3 microg/L and 4~83.7 microg/L using HBi (AU) reagent, and 15.2~274.7 microg/L and 6~84 microg/L using HBi (Hitachi) reagent. CONCLUSION: A reference range for serum ferritin in first time donors in Korea was established using automated chemistry analyzers with inexpensive TIA reagents.
Blood Donors ; Female ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Indicators and Reagents ; Iron ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: ABO subgroups are obstacles in blood typing and cross matching in the process of pre-transfusion. Correct ABO typing is important for ensuring safety of a transfusion. The ABO subgroups contain a lesser amount of antigen on red cells and this is a common cause of discrepancy between the results of cell and serum tests. This study was performed to analyze the frequency and distribution of the ABO subgroups in Korean blood donors. METHODS: ABO blood grouping was performed by an automated analyzer (PK7200/7300, Olympus, Japan) for the 3,397,983 donors from January 2007 to December 2009. The 1,868 donor samples that were suspected to have ABO subgroups were tested with adsorption/elution techniques. The results of the tests were analyzed and we received approval of the Institutional Review Board of the Korean Red Cross to publish this study. RESULTS: 1,771 donors out of the 1,868 donors who underwent the tests were finally identified as having ABO subgroups. The kinds of identified ABO subgroups were as follows; 118 donors with the A subgroup (A2, A3, Ax, Am, Ael), 237 donors with the B subgroup (B3, Bx, Bm, Bel) and 1,416 donors with the AB subgroup (A2B, A2B3, A1B3, AmB, A1Bm, A1Bel, AxB, A1Bx). The most frequently observed subgroups were A2B (496/1,868, 26.55%) and then A2B3 (457/1,868, 24.46%). The subgroups of 97 donors (5.19%) were not identified. CONCLUSION: This study was meaningful to provide data on the frequency and distribution of the ABO subgroups of Korean blood donors. A more sensitive technique such as genotyping could be useful to resolve cases with an unidentified subgroup.
Blood Donors ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Humans ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

The authors experienced a case of plasma cholinesterase variant who received succinylcholine, atracurium and reversal with pyridostigmine, and showed prolonged neuromuscular blockade postoperatively, and was ventilated artificia1ly until complete recovery. The patient and her two children later gave samples of blood. The patients blood revealed very low plasma cholinesterase activity of 0.11 IU/L(normal range; 5-12 IU/L) and dibucaine number of 33. In consideration of her childrens plasma cholinesterase activities and dibucaine numbers, we suggest that she has genetically abnormal plasma cholinesterase and probably her genotype is E E or E E.
Atracurium ; Child ; Cholinesterases ; Dibucaine ; Genotype ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Plasma* ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Succinylcholine

BACKGROUD: The blood component should not be issued for transfusion if there is any abnormality in color or physical appearance, or any indication of contamination. During 3 years (1999-2001), 1,041 blood components were returned to Central Red Cross Blood Center from the hospitals because of various reasons. We Analyzed the frequency and reasons of blood component returns for the useful information of blood supply plan. METHODS: Each blood component return in the Blood Component Return Report from 1999 through 2001 was examined for the number of units and return reasons. RESULTS: For 3 years, the total number of supplied blood components were 1,203,573 units and 1,041 (0.09%) of them were returned from 26 hospitals. The most common reason of return was broken bag or pilot tube (70.9%). Other reasons were fibrin(or precipitates) in bag (3.0%), clots in pilot tube (2.9%), turbid plasma (1.8%), hemolysis (0.5%), icteric plasma (0.3%), label errors (1.1%), incompatible cross matching (0.2%) and others (0.7%). Also there were blood returns due to poor handling of blood components in hospital (1.9%) and reasons unrelated to blood safety, purity and potency such as rare blood (5.8%), exchange for fresh blood (9.8%) and unused blood (1.2%). The most commonly returned blood component was plasma component (69.5% of units) CONCLUSION: The final product should be inspected prior to issue with more strict standard. And the proper system for assurance of returned normal blood components from hospitals must be applied for efficient blood utilization.
Blood Safety ; Hemolysis ; Plasma ; Red Cross

BACKGROUND: The use of single donor platelets (SDPs) has been increased substantially worldwide. But in korea, SDPs are supplied only 11.5% of total platelets transfused and most of them collected in hospital blood center. Korean Red Cross blood center decided to supply and started collection of SDPs from registered and random repeat donors since January, 2000. METHODS: The utilization of platelets including SDPs was analyzed by mail survey from 33 hospitals and by statistical yearbooks of KRC, 2000. The necessity of SDPs and supplementary amounts of SDP in case of need was estimated. RESULTS: Total 483,611 units of platelets (692-80,414 units) and 12,150 units of SDP(0-3364 units) were utilized by 33 hospitals participated mail survey. The mean discard rate of platelets in the 33 hospitals was 1.5% (0%-15%). The total amounts of SDP collection in 19 hospitals among them were 10,031 units. About one third of 29 hospitals investigated, call for to use 100% of SDPs for patients. And most of the hospitals were cooperative using SDPs supplied from KRC. The amounts of SDP used in Big 5 hospitals, which is located in Seoul was 76.1% of total SDPs used in Korea. CONCLUSION: The relevant amount of supplied SDPs would be 80.000 unit/year, which is 50% of total supplied platelets by KRC. Efficient utilization of SDPs needs well organized collection, SDP stock control and supply system by regional groups of KRC blood center. In additionally, donor recruitment and maintenance for substantial supply of SDPs, and the supplementary support from the government is important.
Humans ; Korea ; Postal Service ; Red Cross* ; Seoul ; Tissue Donors*

BACKGROUND: Immunoblot assays (IBAs) have been widely used to confirm the reactivity of immunoassay. However, indeterminate (ID) results have shown the limits for interpreting IBAs. There is some debate about the benefit of these assays. We assessed the actual status of the IBAs for the donor screening process and we proposed more available algorithms. METHODS: We analyzed the data from the blood information management system of the Korean Red Cross. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the KRC. The analyzed data included the present condition of various utilities and the results of the IBAs in the world. RESULTS: The infectivity of the ID results in IBAs seemed not to be high, but the safety could not be assured. IBA for HTLV was used as a confirmatory test in many countries. Most of the eligible blood donors could be saved by IBAs. CONCLUSION: IBAs seem to be valuable methods as supplemental and follow up tests for ID results. Furthermore, IBAs were useful to distinguish eligible blood donors. When donors show positive results on an immunoassay and NAT (HIV and HCV) concurrently, then IBA does not seem to be required. Only a RIBA for HCV is recommended for the donors showing a S/CO ratio above 2.0 on immunoassay. The additional alternative immunoassay would be effective in the HTLV screening algorithm.
Blood Donors ; Donor Selection ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Information Management ; Mass Screening ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors ; Uronic Acids