N
InsightHorizon Digest

Are platelets irradiated

Author

John Parsons

Updated on March 27, 2026

Red cell and platelet transfusions are not routinely irradiated and need to be irradiated ‘on demand’ for patients at risk of TA-GvHD. It is important that you remind your medical team of your need for irradiated blood

Why are platelets irradiated?

Irradiating blood components prevents the donor white cells replicating and mounting an immune response against a vulnerable patient causing transfusion-associated-graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD).

When does blood need to be irradiated?

As described in the Technical Manual (20th Edition) and Circular of Information (October 2017), cellular blood components are irradiated prior to transfusion to prevent the proliferation of viable T lymphocytes which are the immediate cause of Transfusion Associated-Graft Versus Host Disease (TA-GVHD).

Who requires irradiated blood?

  • Infants (particularly premature) up to 4, 6, or 12 months depending on institutional policy.
  • Intrauterine transfusion* and/or neonatal exchange transfusion recipients.
  • Congenital immunodeficiency disorders of cellular immunity (i.e., SCID, DiGeorge)*

How long are irradiated platelets good for?

Packs irradiated within 14 days of collection expire 28 days after collection. Packs irradiated more than 14 days after collection expire either 5 days after irradiation OR at original expiry of pack, whichever comes first.

Can platelets be transfused?

Platelets are commonly transfused to patients with low platelet counts or patients with platelet dysfunction who are bleeding or at high risk of bleeding. All platelet components are leucodepleted and irradiated prior to release to the hospital.

What is meant by the term irradiated?

Definition of irradiation 1 : exposure to radiation (such as X-rays or alpha particles) 2 : the application of radiation (such as X-rays or gamma rays) for therapeutic purposes or for sterilization (as of food) also : partial or complete sterilization by irradiation.

Why is blood irradiation done?

Irradiation (or pathogen inactivation) of blood products is performed to abrogate the risk of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD), a rare and almost universally fatal complication of blood transfusion with no successful treatment options.

Why do some patients need irradiated blood?

Why is blood irradiated? Irradiated blood is used to prevent a very rare but serious complication of blood transfusions called ‘transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease‘ (TA-GvHD). This is when donor white blood cells attack your own tissues.

Why do chemo patients need irradiated blood?

To prevent this, some centers irradiate (treat with radiation) blood components for patients receiving intensive chemotherapy, undergoing stem cell transplant or who are considered to have impaired immune system. Irradiation prevents white cells from attacking.

Article first time published on

What are apheresis platelets?

Apheresis platelets are collected from a single donor by using an apheresis machine with an integrated leucoreduction system (removing ≥ 99% white cells). The machine draws blood from the donor, isolates the platelets and some plasma by centrifugation and returns the remaining blood back to the donor.

Do AML patients need irradiated blood products?

Blood products must be irradiated to prevent transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (GVHD).

Do sickle cell patients need irradiated?

Impact of Universal Irradiation on Chronic Transfusion for Sickle Cell Disease. Blood (2020) 136 (Supplement 1): 22–23. Introduction: Irradiation of blood products is necessary to prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) for patients at risk of this fatal transfusion complication.

Do CLL patients need irradiated blood?

If you’ve been treated with fludarabine or bendamustine and you then need a blood transfusion, you’ll need to receive blood that has been treated with radiation (irradiated blood). This kills any white cells in the blood going into you and protects you against a very rare type of transfusion reaction.

What happens when a patient who requires irradiated blood products receives non irradiated products?

Irradiated or non-irradiated transfusions have many risks involved including elevated potassium levels and graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD). Irradiated blood is able to destroy the leukocytes responsible for TA-GVHD, but it adversely causes elevated extracellular potassium due to hemolysis of the RBC’s.

How does irradiation prevent GVHD?

Gamma irradiation of blood products has been the mainstay of TA-GVHD prevention. Dose of 2500 cGy is required to completely inactivate T cells. Irradiation damage red cells membrane and the red celis units can not be storage for long time after irradiation. High potassium levels is the mainly change in red cells units.

What is an example of irradiation?

Irradiation refers to the exposure of a substance to radiation from a variety different sources. … Some examples of ionizing radiation include electronics, visible and infrared light, microwaves, and electromagnetic waves (e.g., radio waves, power, and electronic receivers).

What is irradiation medical?

(ih-RAY-dee-AY-shun) The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

What is difference between radiation and irradiation?

In terms of explanation, it can be said that Radiation is the number of photons that are being emitted by a single source. Irradiation, on the other hand, is one where the radiation is falling on the surface is being calculated.

Do platelets have to be type specific?

Platelets are not as type specific as red blood cells, meaning that most patients can accept platelets from donors with any blood type, regardless of the patient’s blood type. … All donated blood and blood components makes a huge difference for patients in need.

Is platelet transfusion same as blood transfusion?

A unit of platelets is defined as the amount that can be separated from one unit of whole blood. Unlike red blood cells, platelets do not have a blood type (see “Blood types” in Getting a Blood Transfusion), so patients can usually get platelets from any qualified donor.

How do you transfuse platelets?

A platelet transfusion is when you are given platelets from carefully screened donors. Sometimes this is called a platelet infusion. You will be given platelets by a drip into one of your veins. This increases the number of platelets in your blood.

What is the difference between irradiated and non irradiated blood?

Conclusion: Irradiated blood is associated with a greater rise in extracellular potassium compared to non-irradiated but when an irradiated blood washing protocol is implemented prior to transfusion, there is not a significant rise in extracellular potassium.

Do lymphoma patients need irradiated blood?

People treated for Hodgkin lymphoma are recommended to have irradiated blood if they ever need a blood transfusion in the future. Irradiating the blood (treating it with X-rays) prevents any donor white blood cells from dividing.

Which is the most common transfusion transmitted infection?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to the best known of the transfusion transmitted diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What is irradiation process?

Irradiation is the process by which an object is exposed to radiation. … Most frequently the term refers to ionizing radiation, and to a level of radiation that will serve a specific purpose, rather than radiation exposure to normal levels of background radiation.

Why are red cells washed?

Abstract: Red blood cells (RBCs) are washed for a variety of reasons such as to remove excess potassium, cytokines, and other allergen proteins from the supernatant and/or to mitigate the effects of the storage lesion.

Is all blood Leukoreduced?

As of 2008, most developed nations have adopted universal leukoreduction of transfusions (defined as the routine application of this blood-processing step to all units of whole blood, red blood cells, and platelets prior to storage) with the notable exception of the United States.

How long can you live with AML without treatment?

Overall survival for AML Without treatment, survival is usually measured in days to weeks. With current treatment regimens, 65%–70% of people with AML reach a complete remission (which means that leukemia cells cannot be seen in the bone marrow) after induction therapy.

How low do platelets have to be for transfusion?

There is reasonable consensus that for patients who are bleeding, septic, or hemodynamically unstable, the threshold for transfusion should be raised to 15,000-20,000/µL. Patients with life-threatening bleeding in the chest or head are usually transfused at higher platelet count thresholds (30,000-50,000/µL).

How long does it take for platelets to increase after transfusion?

Significant increases in posttransfusion platelet increments were associated with prior splenectomy at both 1 and 18 to 24 hours after transfusion. Older patient age was also associated with increased platelet increments but only at 1 hour after transfusion.