LabQ Clinical Exercise 16: Transfusion Medicine: A Recent Death: Cause of Death: Possible TRALI

Afroza Ahammed, CLS, MLS (ASCP)CM, SBB^CM 

Clinical Laboratory  

Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center 

Santa Clara, California 

Primary Audience:

Phlebotomists, Laboratory Technologists, Laboratory Directors

Secondary Audience:

Pathologists, Clinical Scientists (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants, Residents, and Students

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to: 

·        define transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI); 

·        describe the symptoms and diagnostic criteria (medical and laboratory) for TRALI; 

·        explain the role of leukocyte antigens and antibodies in TRALI; 

·        describe measures that should be taken to mitigate the risk of TRALI; and 

·        explain what should be done when this type of transfusion reaction is suspected.