Most of us remember learning that there are three kinds of cells in your blood—red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelets that prompt clotting when needed, and white blood cells that fight off infections. Ironically, when white blood cells, or leukocytes, are transfused in whole blood, they can cause adverse reactions such as fever and chills.

White blood cells can be removed from blood products, however, through a process called leukoreduction. In 1998, members of the Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC), an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recommended that the agency mandate leukoreduction in all blood centers. BPAC makes recommendations to the FDA and does not set policies for the agency. Soon after this recommendation, the American Red Cross launched a leukoreduction initiative based on studies demonstrating the ability of the process to make blood transfusions safer, with a goal of leukoreducing all blood products.

While the FDA has not yet made leukoreduction a requirement, the American Red Cross has taken a leading role in implementing this procedure because they believe it is important. More than 70 percent of American Red Cross red blood cell components currently undergo prestorage leukoreduction, a filtering process that is done soon after blood is donated.

Although it is possible to remove white blood cells as blood is being transfused, several studies have shown that prestorage leukoreduction, or leukocyte removal very soon after donation, is most effective. The American Red Cross is committed to providing the safest blood supply possible and continues to remove white cells from donor blood before it is stored and sent to hospitals across the country.

Blood Safety