Quality control of blood components: selection of laboratory testing methods

Abstract

The blood components transfusion is a significant component of therapy for blood loss, anemia, and surgical operations. One of the main tasks of blood service institutions is the procurement of high-quality transfusion media, the effectiveness of which directly depends on the functioning of the safety system. The implementation of this direction of work is impossible without laboratory testing of the donor biomaterial, a prerequisite for which is the standardization of procedures to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of the results. The aim of this study is to analyze the existing methods for determining hematological parameters and assess their suitability for quality control of blood components. Material and methods. The samples of erythrocyte-containing blood components, fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrate, as well as reference buffer solutions for pH measurement have been tested. To determine the number of blood cells, conductometry with hydrodynamic focusing, counting in the Goryaev chamber and laser flow cytofluorimetry, were used. The pH indicator was measured by potentiometry. The content of general and free hemoglobin was assessed by photometric, hemiglobincyanide and SLS method. The hematocrit value was determined on a hematological analyzer and by centrifugation in hematocrit capillaries. The activity of factor VIII was checked by the clotting method. Results and discussion. The generalized results of the metrological assessment and a comparative analysis of the listed laboratory methods, taking into account their sensitivity and precision have been presented. Conclusions. A list of recommended methods for quality control of blood components is formed, for each of which an assigned convergence characteristic is established.

Keywords

• quality control
• blood components
• safety indicators
• metrological assessment.