Granulocytes

Granulocyte transfusions are commonly used in chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation patients (when bone marrow is expected to recover imminently), who develop a bacterial or fungal infection that doesn’t respond to anti-microbial agents.

Finding the right donor for your patient is critical. Time is of the essence, since granulocytes must be transfused within 24 hours after collection. The pool of eligible donors will be small for each patient, but the nationwide reach of the Red Cross enables us to source donors from beyond your immediate geographical area.

Side effects from granulocyte transfusion include HLA alloimmunization and pulmonary reactions including TRALI. In order to minimize these risks, our granulocyte donors are drawn from those who have donated platelets within the past 30 days. Since granulocytes must be transfused before testing can be completed, the testing performed at the time of the platelet donation is used to screen potential donors to ensure the safest possible outcome for your patient.