Neil Blumberg: Clinical Harm Associated With Infusion of ABO Incompatible Antibody and Antigen
Neil Blumberg, Transfusion Medicine Specialist and Platelet Researcher (Former Professor and Director, URMC), shared on LinkedIn:
“Some ideas become dogma without any strong data to support them. Examples include the equivalent safety of universal donor group O red cells and group AB plasma to ABO identical transfusions. Data have now accumulated to show that these assumptions are largely incorrect.
Our group reviewed the data demonstrating that infusion of modest amounts of ABO incompatible cellular and soluble antigen, and ABO incompatible plasma are associated with clinical harm, including increased mortality.
Tong N, Masel D, Nguyen PL, Asante A, Refaai M, Heal JM, Blumberg N.
The case against infusing ABO incompatible antibody and antigen from all blood components.
Transfus Apher Sci. 2026 Jan 31;65(2):104402. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2026.104402. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41633302.
Abstract
The transfusion of ABO compatible but not ABO identical red blood cells and plasma and the transfusion of platelets and cryoprecipitate without concern for ABO in any manner, are practices that have been accepted as safe for patients.
While these practices make managing blood component inventories easier by reducing component outdating, they do lead to the development of immune complexes, donor antibody induced hemolysis, and potentially endothelial cell and platelet injury.
A growing body of evidence has shown that these practices are associated, likely causally, with negative consequences for patients including increased mortality.
The adoption of a policy of providing only ABO identical blood components when practical, and avoiding infusion of ABO incompatible antibody, cellular and soluble antigen should thus become the optimal standard of care for patients.
For those without access to the full article, request a .pdf from [email protected].”
Find more posts featuring Neil Blumberg on Hemostasis Today.
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:28Daniel Pereira Monteiro: Why Is Beta Thalassaemia Major so Severe?
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:27Pradip Pawar: Cell and Gene Therapy – Transforming Medicine in the 21st Century
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:26Aviva Schwartz: How Can We Better Protect Patients After an Ischemic Stroke?
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:25Does Reversing Factor Xa Inhibitors Really Carry as Much Thrombotic Risk as We Think? – RPTH Journal
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:25Akshat Jain: Novel Therapies in Childhood Blood and Cancer Disorders
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:57Abdul Muqtadir Abbasi: Anticoagulation in DVT Patients With Hidden Varices Requires Extreme Caution
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:42Anesa Mulabecirovic: Why Von Willebrand Disease Takes Years to Diagnose in Women
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:32Kaitlin Lichty: A New Identity Reflecting a Shared Legacy of Bleeding Disorders
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:07Toong Youttananukorn: The WFH Registry Driving Better Care and Advocacy