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Introduction: Anti‐D detection and titration plays a major role in RhD negative antenatal cases both, for monitoring maternal as well as fetal status as well as initiation of early therapeutic interventions, such as intra‐uterine transfusions (IUT) to improve maternal as well as fetal morbidity and mortality and reduce the adverse effects of haemolytic disease of fetus and newborn (HDFN). We conducted a survey focusing on the policies and procedures of anti‐D detection and titration among major tertiary care centres across India. Methodology: The survey was drafted by a working group of transfusion medicine and immunohematology specialists from six different centres in India. Data were obtained via the use of an online questionnaire. Results: Results were categorised into four categories, Hospital information, immuno‐haematological testing methodology, clinical significance of anti‐D testing and the role of transfusion medicine specialists. The survey highlighted the modalities as well as the methodologies of anti‐D detection and titration in antenatal women across different major tertiary care centres in India. Conclusion: This survey provided a unique snapshot of the prevalent methodologies being employed by major tertiary care centres across the country for detection and titration of anti‐D levels as well as the important role it plays in the therapy of affected antenatal women to minimise adverse effects on the fetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: COVID-19 has infected and caused the deaths of millions of people globally with India being the second most affected country in the world. The primary objective of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) antibodies in healthy blood donors in North India. The secondary objective of the study was to find the association of vaccination and infection with seropositivity in the blood donors. Methods: All blood donor samples were screened for the presence of IgG antibodies against SARS CoV2 spike (S1) protein. Anti-SARS CoV2 IgG antibody status, demographic data, history of past COVID infection, and vaccination of all eligible donors in the study period were collected. Seroprevalence was calculated as the percentage of total number of donors positive for anti-SARS CoV2 IgG antibodies. Month-wise seroprevalence was also calculated and analyzed. Results: Out of 1456 donors, 874 were found to be seropositive, resulting in a seroprevalence of 60%. Seroprevalence was found to be 38.3% and 77%, respectively, in the months of April and May 21. Seropositivity was 100%, 92%, 79%, and 54% in those with a history of both COVID infection and vaccination, vaccination only, infection only, and no history of vaccination or infection, respectively. Conclusion: Blood donors represent an easy access to seroprevalence studies and need to be tapped at the national level to obtain a temporal picture of the COVID-19 situation to guide healthcare policies, mark regions where vaccination drives need to be intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: ICMR conducted a multicentric trial "PLACID" that allowed COVID convalescent plasma (CCP) as an experimental drug for the management of moderate COVID-19 disease and the authors' institute was one of the participating centers. The efficacy of CCP in COVID-19 is still debatable. However, unlike therapeutic efficacy, there is not enough literature on issues and challenges faced by health-care institutions in donor recruitment, and the entire vein-to-vein process and approach of CCP transfusion. The authors would like to share their experiences, challenges faced, and their mitigation during the course of donor recruitment, screening, testing, apheresis donation, storage, inventory management, and issue and transfusion of CCP including the regulatory provisions, as their evolution. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over a period of 7 months at a large tertiary care hospital in north India. Based on ICMR guidelines, the study analyzed the screening process and donation from all consecutive potential CCP donors. The study also identified various issues and challenges faced by the institute and how they were resolved. Results: Prospective donors registered at the blood center were 843. Majority were males (96.6%), first-time CCP donors (93%), age interval 31-45 years (52.2%), who had a history of mild COVID-19 symptoms (86.9%), and were home-quarantined (83.8%). The most common blood group was B positive (50.6%). Only 6.3% of donors were deferred due to the absence of anti-COVID-19 antibodies. Of 843, 705 selected CCP donors donated 1488 CCP units and six donors (0.8%) experienced mild adverse reactions. Challenges faced by authors included donor recruitment, lack of regulatory approval for plasmapheresis, revisions of COVID-specific selection criteria, no "anti-COVID-19 antibody" kit, and CCP inventory management. Conclusion: This study provides real-world comprehensive data on process management of CCP donors and their donations. This understanding of the process, its challenges, and their mitigation could be a template for any possible future pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cryoprecipitate helps in replenishing important coagulation factors like fibrinogen, Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor without running the risk of volume overload. It is very useful in the treatment of trauma patients with active bleeding and works best when administered early. Extending the shelf life of thawed cryoprecipitate beyond 4 hours enables us to manage inventory better, reduces the burden of demand vs supply as well as minimizes wastage. It can also help in logistically supporting the transfusion services in making cryoprecipitate readily available in mass casualty scenarios (war, natural calamity) in remote locations by reducing the time required for thawing cryoprecipitate and the need for costly storage equipment. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of Factor VIII, Fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor on thawed cryoprecipitate after prolonged storage for 5 days at a temperature of 2-6°C. METHODOLOGY: The above mentioned coagulation factors were analyzed in cryoprecipitate at the time of product thaw and again after 120 hours of 2 to 6°C storage using fully automated coagulation analyser (STA Compact Max). All parameters were expressed as Mean ± Standard deviation and were analyzed using paired t test with level of significance, P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the level of Factor VIII, whereas the levels of fibrinogen and von Willebrand Factor remained stable during the storage period. All the cryoprecipitate units retained factor activities above therapeutic range even after 5 days of storage at 2-6°C. CONCLUSION: Although the levels of clotting factors are reduced during storage, they are still maintained above the therapeutic range. In scenarios where maintaining frozen cryoprecipitate inventory is a logistical challenge and emergency massive demands of cryoprecipitate are foreseen, the use of pre-thawed cryoprecipitate can be considered as a viable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]