Predicting donor-related factors for high platelet yield donations by classification and regression tree analysis

Introduction Collecting high-dose (HD) or double-dose (DD) apheresis platelets units from a single collection offers significant benefit by improving inventory logistics and minimizing the cost per unit produced. Platelet collection yield by apheresis is primarily influenced by donor factors, but the cell separator used also affects the collection yield. Objectives To predict the cutoff in donor factors resulting in HD and DD platelet collections between Trima/Spectra Optia and MCS+ apheresis equipment using Classification and Regression Trees (CART) analysis. Methods High platelet yield collections (target ≥ 4.5 × 1011 platelets) using MCS+, Trima Accel and Spectra Optia were included. Endpoints were ≥ 6 × 1011 platelets for DD and ≥ 4.5 to < 6 × 1011 for HD collections. The CART, a tree building technique, was used to predict the donor factors resulting in high-yield platelet collections in Trima/Spectra Optia and MCS+ equipment by R programming. Results Out of 1,102 donations, the DDs represented 60% and the HDs, 31%. The Trima/Spectra Optia predicted higher success rates when the donor platelet count was set at ≥ 205 × 103/µl and ≥ 237 × 103/µl for HD and DD collections. The MCS+ predicted better success when the donor platelet count was ≥ 286 × 103/µl for HD and ≥ 384 × 103/µl for DD collections. Increased donor weight helped counter the effects of lower donor platelet counts only for HD collections in both the equipment. Conclusions The donor platelet count and weight formed the strongest criteria for predicting high platelet yield donations. Success rates for collecting DD and HD products were higher in the Trima/Spectra Optia, as they require lower donor platelet count and body weight than the MCS+.

Assessment of Biological Risk among Dentists during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The health and life of a healthcare worker are repeatedly under threat due to the rising number of epidemics and pandemics. The COVID?19 pandemic is said to be fatal in people with a risky biological, demographic profile and working environment. This study is the first of its kind carried out on the dentist population from India, who were most affected during the COVID?19 pandemic. Aims and Objective: The present study aims to assess the biological risk of dentists based on the objective risk stratification (ORS) tool developed by Strain et al. Materials and Methods: This was a cross?sectional study of dentists in government dental colleges of Kerala using the online form of the ORS tool consisting of questions which included certain demographic characteristics and comorbid conditions of the individual. An additional question was added to the tool, to categorise the work of the dentist depending on the exposure to aerosol (non?aerosol, minimal aerosol and aerosol). Results: Out of the 74 dentists, 48.6% reported high aerosol and 31% with minimal aerosol. The median score of the study participants was 2 (ranging from 1 to 12). Using the ORS tool, 16.2% had medium risk and only 2.7% had high risk. When the ORS tool was stratified with the aerosol generation, 5.4% had minimal and 6.7% had significant with medium?risk scores. Also, 2.7% with a high?risk score had minimal aerosol generation. Conclusion: Identifying the high?risk category to allocate duties accordingly and decrease the morbidity and mortality among dentists has to be kept a top priority in the event of a pandemic.

Comparison of abo antibody levels in apheresis platelets suspended in platelet additive solution and plasma

ABSTRACT Background Transfusion of platelets (PLTs) with high ABO antibody titres can pose a risk of hemolysis if the unit crosses the ABO type. The PLTs stored in the platelet additive solution (PAS) remove asubstantial fraction of plasma and replace it with an isotonicbuffered solution.We aimed to assess the difference in anti-A/B antibody levels in Groups O, A and B apheresis platelets (APs) suspended in plasma and PAS. Methodology Apheresis donors are categorized into two groups, Plasma (Group I) and PAS (Group II), each blood group (A, B and O) had 20 samples. The anti-A/B(IgM)antibody levels were recorded from the AP donor (Group II) and from the AP units for both groups. The reduction in the anti-A/B(IgM) antibody levels in the APs suspended in the PAS for each blood group was determined. Results The median anti-A titres in blood Groups B (p = 0.009) and O (p = 0.005) was significantly lower in Group II. However, the difference in anti-B levels was not significant in the blood groups A (p = 0.057) and O (p = 0.205). The median level of reduction in IgM antibody titres across donor samples and the PAS-stored platelets was two-fold. The regression showed a level of reduction in antibody titres which can be explained by baseline donor antibody titres in blood groups A and B compared to blood group O. Conclusion The medianABO antibody titres were lower in APs suspended in PAS than in plasma. Addition of the PAS significantly lowered the IgM antibody titres by twofold, compared to plasma.