Performance of hospital blood transfusion committees in Tehran [2005-2006]

Hospital blood transfusion committees supervise blood transfusion in hospitals. These committees could save time and cost by prevention of blood loss. This study was conducted to assess the performance of hospital blood transfusion committees in Tehran in 2005-2006. In this retrospective study, 46 reports from 13 hospitals [9 community and 4 private] being sent to Tehran Blood Transfusion Center in 2005-2006 were assessed. All reports were assessed from the perspective of duties entrusted by Iranian Ministry of Health. These duties were classified as [1] report of blood transfusion complications, [2] statistical report of blood transfusions, [3] statistical report of blood orders from different wards of hospitals, [4] report of blood transfusion indications, [5] report of educational programs, and [6] assessment of personnel problems and equipment of blood banks. Report of blood transfusion complications [77%] and report of blood transfusion indications [23%] were the most and the least reported duties, respectively. The most and the least relative frequencies for all hospitals, community, and private hospitals were 23%-77%, 33%-78% and 0%-75%, respectively. Committee reports in community hospitals were better than private ones, though the difference was not statistically significant [p>0.05]. Cross match to transfusion ratio was considerable only in one hospital [3.05]. This study showed that reports of hospital blood transfusion committees in Tehran in 2005-2006 are in a relatively poor condition. This condition in private hospitals was worse than community ones. More focus on reports of blood transfusion indications seems to be necessary. Since cross match to transfusion ratio is an important performance indicator for hospitals, it should receive a higher level of attention of hospital committees

[Preparation of fetal calf serum alternatives and their effects on growth and secretion of hybridoma cell lines]

Providing fetal calf serum [FCS] alternatives as cell culture supplements is an important field of research to compensate for the FCS supply shortage.This study focused on preparation of fetal calf serum alternatives and their effects on growth and secretion of hybridoma cell lines.Outdated human platelet units undergo extraction for its growth factors to be obtained. Human AB blood group plasma was also converted to serum and its growth effect was compared to FCS, hypoxanthine-thymidine [HT] and RPMI1640 as cell culture media and supplement. Cell growth indices were preliminary counting of cells, confluency as surface area of plates filled with cells, and titration of monoclonal anti-A and anti-B blood group antibodies collected from cultured mouse hybridoma cells. Statistical analysis including one sample t-test, logarithmic multiple regression curve fit, and factor analysis was done by SPSS v12 software. The four nutritional supplements of [1] human serum AB [AB], [2] human platelet extract [PLT], [3] equal mixture of AB and PLT [ABP], and [4] fetal calf serum as cell culture were examined on mouse hybridoma anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibody producer cell lines for cell growth indices and compared with the same indices on RPMI1640 media. The growth-stimulating effects in descending order of values were [1] ABP5%, [2] FCS10%, [3] ABP10%, [4] AB5%, [5] AB10%, [6] PLT5%, [7] ABP20%, [8] PLT10%, [9] PLT20%, and [10]HT; but AB20% inhibited growth of mentioned hybridoma cell lines. The titer of anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibodies produced by cultured hybridoma on 5 and 10 percent concentration of AB, PLT and ABP compared to FCS5-10% at descending order were [1] PLT5%, [2] PLT10%, ABP5%, ABP10%, AB10%, and [3] AB5%. In general FCS had the following effects on curves of cell growth: [1] the highest increase on slope of multiplication [ascending] phase, [2] the highest increase on slope of death [descending] phase, and [3] the lowest duration of stationary phase. Then, FCS can be appropriate for growth of cells at initial low cell count. Human serum AB, human platelet extract, and equal mixture of both at optimum concentrations [these supplements at high concentrations killed cells] compared to FCS showed [1] decreased slope of multiplication phase, [2] decreased slope of death phase, and [3] increased duration of stationary phase. Thus, AB and PLT may be suitable for continuous cell culture systems in which cell survival during longer times is required. Factor analysis was introduced as a model to evaluate kinetics of cell growth at different supplements

Preparation of heme control for cellulose acetate electrophoresis

To avoid laboratory errors in the detection of hemoglobinopathies, a control sample containing hemoglobin [Hb] A,F,S or C should run with each set of samples.The aim of this project was to prepare a lyophilized heme control for the cellulose acetate electrophoresis.After lysing the red blood cells, the hemolysate was centrifuged at 25000 rpm. The clear red supernatant was diluted with drabkin reagent to 20-30 gr/L and Hb was converted to cyanomethemoglobin. After adding sucrose and preservatives, the hemolysate was passed through milipore filter [0.45 ?m] and then aliqouted and lyophilized.In this project three heme control samples were prepared. The first sample contains Hbs A,F,D or G the second one contains Hbs A,S, and the third contains Hb A,F. Although the amount of potassium cyanide used is 10 times less than other methods, the stability is more than 6 months at 4oC; moreover, and the electrophoretic patterns have good resolution and the obtained CV and SD show good reproducibility.The preparation method in this project is simple, reliable, cost effective and in comparison with other methods has less amount of potassium cyanide; therefore, it is safe for the laboratory staff

Anti Hepatitis E Virus Seropositivity in a Group of Blood Donors

Type E hepatitis is caused by an unclassified virus producing acute self-limited hepatitis in different parts of the world. In order to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus seropositivity in Tehran blood donors, a cross' sectional study was performed by the enzyme immunoassay method from 2003 to 2004 in a group of 90 blood donors. We noticed that 7 cases [7.8%] were anti-HEV Ab positive. This figure correlates with the prevalence ratio of endemic parts. There was no association between seropositivity and sex. The commonest age group was 40-49 years. We conclude that Iran can be considered as an endemic area for type E hepatitis [prevalence>5%], and type E hepatitis is more common in Iran than Israel and Turkey, but less common than Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan; therefore, it should be regarded in the differential diagnosis of acute hepatitis