IN-TRUST: Using a transfusion database to explore the immune-modulatory impacts of blood transfusion and the clinical impacts of blood processing changes

Canadians rely on blood transfusion as a life-saving treatment. The goal of this study is to improve the safety of blood transfusion by understanding if transfusions affect a patient’s immune system causing adverse reactions. The McMaster Centre for Transfusion Research maintains a database of patient and blood transfusion information from four Hamilton Hospitals. We have developed a new program allowing us to easily and efficiently get and interpret data from this database. We will use this new program to monitor for adverse reactions to transfusion not yet captured in any surveillance system: infections, blood clots, lung failure, and dysfunction of other body organs. Research suggests that changes made when preparing blood products may affect product quality, increasing or decreasing these reactions. We will determine if changes in blood product preparation in Canada (2002-2018) might have changed reaction frequency. If results show that some changes have increased reactions, then the blood preparation changes made should be further studied and altered to improve transfusion safety. If the results show a change was beneficial (less reactions), then this information will be useful for other blood suppliers around the world. Results from this study will lead to safer blood transfusions for all patients.

NING, Shuoyan

McMaster University

Intramural Research Grant Program

Ontario

$270,352