Release Date: Mar 2019
CC: PC, MK
Celina Montemayor, MD, PhD
Staff Clinician, National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center Department of Transfusion Medicine, Bethesda, MD
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Discuss the general methodology of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and its intersection with the fields of Bioinformatics and Big Data Science.
- Discern the advantages and limitations of using genotyping strategies to predict blood group antigens, and compare NGS to other available genotyping platforms in this setting.
- Discuss the literature on prediction of RBC and platelet phenotypes from NGS, recent progress in the research setting, and future directions.
Who should attend? Practicing Pathologists, Residents, Doctoral Scientists, Pathologists’ Assistants, Laboratory Managers, Bench Supervisors, Bench Technologists & Technicians
Description:
Accurate typing of blood product donor and transfusion recipient red blood cell (RBC) antigens is crucial for transfusion safety and clinical efficacy. Traditionally, blood typing has been accomplished by serology. However, various genotyping methods to predict RBC antigens have proven advantageous in various clinical scenarios--for example, in recently transfused patients. In recent years, a growing number of publications have documented the value of using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for this purpose in Transfusion Medicine. This session will provide an overview of the basic principles underlying NGS technology, and its interaction with the Bioinformatics and Big Data Science fields. Participants will also review the genetic basis of blood groups, and the advantages and limitations of different genotyping strategies in the Blood Bank, with emphasis on NGS technology. The main literature on NGS for blood group antigen predictions will be reviewed, along with a brief overview of current research efforts and future directions in this field.