Consultation Services

Transfusion medicine consultation services are available 24 hours per day by calling the DTM physician on call. The on-call physician may be reached by pager 301 285-6670 or by calling the hospital page operator.

Blood and Component Utilization
The appropriateness of all orders for blood and blood components are subject to review using predetermined criteria approved by the Clinical Center Transfusion Committee. Copies of these concurrent review criteria are available in the DTM.

Copies of the "Circular of Information for the Use of Human Blood and Blood Components", published jointly by the American Red Cross, Council of Community Blood Centers, and the American Association of Blood Banks, are available by calling the DTM. This circular is considered an extension of blood and blood component labels and contains information on the proper use and administration of blood and blood components.

Blood Components Routinely Available
Packed Red Blood Cells, Leukocyte-Reduced and Irradiated
Fresh-Frozen Plasma (2 units)
Platelet Concentrate (6 to 8 units with supporting platelet count)

Blood Components Available Through Consultation
Frozen Deglycerolyzed Red Blood Cells
Granulocyte Transfusions
Cryoprecipitate
HLA Matched Platelets
Washed Red Blood Cells

Blood Derivatives Obtained Through Pharmacy
Albumin
IV IgG Immune Serum Globulin
Rho(D) Immune Globulin
Hepatitis B Immune Globulin
AHF (Factor VIII Concentrate)
Factor IX Concentrate
Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin
Tisseel Fibrin Sealant
Recombinant Factor VIIa

Apheresis Services
Available services include leukacytapheresis, peripheral blood progenitor cell collection, red cell exchanges, and plasma exchanges. These services are available for both research and therapeutic purposes following DTM consultation.

Cell Processing Services
Services are established for ex vivo cellular processing of marrow or peripheral-blood-derived cells for clinical or research use in transplantation, adoptive immunotherapy and gene therapy. Services provided include:

Separation and purification of cells
Tissue culture for expansion
Gene insertion using viral vectors
Storage or cryopreservation of cells
Safety testing of components

All services require prior approval through consultation.

HLA Services
HLA - A, B, Cw, DR, DQ and A2 subtyping are performed Monday through Friday. HLA typings for collaborative research or research support must be approved by the Chief, Laboratory Services Section (301 496-9702).

HLA antibody screens require the prior approval of the DTM physician on call. Beeper 301 285-6670 or 301 496-4506.

HLA cell line typings require the prior approval of the HLA supervisor (301 496-8852).

Blood Collection for Support of Research Protocols

Blood or blood components from normal donors for in vitro use:
IMPORTANT: Please click HERE first for additional information.

Research donors must meet criteria for blood donation established by the Food and Drug Administration and the American Association of Blood Banks. All research donors (even those recruited by the investigator) must undergo a full assessment prior to admission into the normal donor research protocol (99CC0168). The assessment includes a medical history, brief physical examination, complete blood count and viral testing (including tests for hepatitis and HIV.) Within a week results of the preassessment are evaluated and suitable donors may be scheduled for donation. Products are frequently released prior to completion of viral testing performed at the time of donation. However, the investigator will be contacted within 2-4 days if test results are positive. To allow efficient notification it is imperative to sign out all research products using the DTM computerized Signout Program.

The Research Coordinator must be informed at least 24 hours in advance if research products are not needed. Call 301 402-0758 to modify or cancel the collection of research products.

Blood or blood components obtained from NIH patients:
Phlebotomy and apheresis to obtain products for in vivo or in vitro use may be performed only when such procedures are specified in an IRB approved research protocol and informed consent for the procedure is obtained by the investigator. Procedures must be scheduled in advance by calling the Dowling Apheresis Clinic at
301 496-1430 and medical orders for the scheduled procedure(s) must be placed in MIS.

Emergency therapeutic apheresis (such as plasma exchange therapy indicated for the treatment of TTP) can be arranged at any time by contacting the DTM on-call physician.