Guidelines for Avoiding Blood Transfusions from Sickle Cell Trait Donors

In making decisions about blood transfusions, facilities should consider all available evidence and recommendations regarding donors with sickle cell trait. According to AABB standards, each transfusion service must establish policies outlining when to avoid transfusing blood from these donors.

However, due to the limited availability of evidence from controlled studies, the circumstances under which transfusions of sickle trait erythrocytes are avoided or deemed acceptable are not clearly defined. To address this, the AABB Scientific Section Coordinating Committee has developed a comprehensive guideline reviewing various recommendations and examining their basis.

Understanding the Importance of Evidence-Based Decision-Making

In the absence of robust evidence, it is essential to rely on expert recommendations and guidelines. This guideline provides a thorough review of the available evidence and provides a framework for facilities to make informed decisions about blood transfusions from donors with sickle cell trait.

Authored by experts in the field, Jerald E. Mullersman, MD, PhD, and Gary E. Carnahan, MD, PhD, this guideline is a valuable resource for transfusion services seeking to develop policies that ensure safe and effective blood transfusions.

The AABB guideline, published in 2005, is a 10-page digital publication (ISBN 978-1-56395-355-2) that provides actionable insights and recommendations for facilities seeking to optimize their blood transfusion practices.