WASHED RED BLOOD CELLS

Washed red blood cells are red blood cells from which most of the plasma, platelets, and white blood cells have been removed and replaced with saline or another type of storage solution.

The most common reason for using washed red blood cells in transfusion medications is to prevent the recurrence of serious allergic transfusion reactions that do not respond to medical treatment. The usual cause of these allergic reactions is donor plasma proteins. These proteins are removed by the red blood cell washing process.

There are several methods to wash red blood cells. These can include automated or manual methods. They can use centrifugation or no centrifugation methods. Red blood cells can be resuspended in saline or other types of special preservative solutions for red blood cells, eg. Ex. SAG-M.

The most common reason for using washed red blood cells in transfusion medications is to prevent the recurrence of serious allergic transfusion reactions. The allergen is usually a plasma protein that is removed by the red blood cell washing process.

Several proteins, such as antibodies directed against IgA or haptoglobin in people with IgA and haptoglobin deficiency, have been suggested to have a causal relationship with the allergic reaction.

Cytokines and chemokines, which accumulate during the storage of blood components, have also been suggested as causative agents. However, the literature is sparse and contradictory, as a passive infusion of anti-IgA antibodies into recipients has not been found to cause an allergic reaction.

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