Implementation of a blood irradiation program at a community cancer center

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 41; no. 12; pp. 1610 - 1616
• Main Authors: Patton, Gregory A., Skowronski, Michael G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.12.2001; Blackwell Publishing
• Subjects: Alabama; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Banks - standards; Blood Component Removal - instrumentation; Blood Component Removal - methods; Blood Component Removal - standards; Blood Component Transfusion - adverse effects; Blood Component Transfusion - standards; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Cancer Care Facilities - organization & administration; CT = computed tomography; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Equipment Design; Graft vs Host Disease - prevention & control; Hospitals, Community - organization & administration; Humans; Immunosuppression - methods; MCBB = Montgomery Community Blood Bank; MCC = Montgomery Cancer Center; Medical sciences; MU(s) = monitor unit(s); Organizational Policy; Product Labeling; R&V = record and verify; T-Lymphocytes - radiation effects; TA-GVHD = transfusion-associated GVHD; TLD(s) = thermoluminescent dosimeter(s); Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Alabama; Human; Immunopathology; Transfusion; Treatment efficiency; Legislation; Functional organization; Graft versus host reaction; Blood; Prevention; Quality assurance; Immunosuppression; Ionizing irradiation; Dosimetry; Technique
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2001.41121610.x

BACKGROUND: Blood component irradiation is an accepted method of preventing transfusion‐associated GVHD. Previous publications have largely focused on the technical aspects of the irradiation process itself, but relatively little attention has been paid to the details associated with the implementation of a blood irradiation program at the level of a community cancer center. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An observational study was performed, detailing the specific operational, documentation, and quality assurance measures employed in providing a blood component‐irradiation service within the institutional context of a community cancer center. RESULTS: The Montgomery Cancer Center irradiated 589 units of blood components in 1998 and 1999 to provide a local blood bank with an alternative for procurement of irradiated blood components while complying with applicable quality assurance and regulatory requirements. CONCLUSION: Blood component irradiation is within the scope of most well‐equipped and adequately staffed community cancer centers. Establishment of a blood component irradiation program requires scrupulous physics and dosimetry support, both to ensure the quality of the irradiated component and to satisfy governmental agency regulatory requirements.