Effects of Antibodies to White Blood Cells on Platelet Transfusion Patients

This study will determine if transfusion of platelets containing HLA antibodies (certain antibodies to white blood cells) are more likely to cause transfusion reactions than transfusion of platelets that do not contain HLA antibodies. People 18 years of age or older who donate platelets at the NIH Clinical Center may be eligible for this study. An extra tube of blood (about one teaspoon) is obtained from participating donors at the time of their donation at the NIH Platelet Center. The blood plasma in the extra tube is tested for HLA antibodies and antibodies to certain white blood cells called granulocytes. The research sample is assigned a code number for identification and sent to the HLA Laboratory in the Department of Transfusion Medicine.