Irradiation of blood products: one year experience in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center

Pre-transfusion inactivation of donor T-cells by irradiation is the method of choice for prevention of TA-GVHD. This study reviewed the usage of irradiated products in one year period in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center. There were 1333 requests for irradiated blood products to be evaluated. The data including the quantity and type of irradiated products، patients’ age and indications were gathered. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 18 software. The requested irradiated products in the one-year period of time include platelets (71. 3%)، packed RBCs (28. 1%)، FFP (0. 4%)، paediatric bags (0. 2%)، and whole blood (0. 1%). The age groups of patients having received irradiated products were adults (59. 6%)، children (25. 9%)، infants (6. 5%)، and neonates (3. 3%). Indications of prescription consist of leukaemia/lymphoma and Hodgkin (49. 6%)، allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation (17. 7%)، immunosuppressive therapy (9. 6%)، congenital immunodeficiency (8. 6%)، premature birth (7. 6%)، aplastic anaemia (6. 5%)، relatives designated donation (0. 3%)، and HLA matched plateletphaeresis (0. 1%). The increasing trend in the quantity of requests of irradiated products and requesting hospitals was observed. It is recommended that a higher number of hospitals and their staff be informed about irradiated products and their indications and the roles they have on the prevention of TA-GVHD.