Blood Institute Prohibits Women As Plasma Donors

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The <a href="http://www.obi.org/" target="_blank">Oklahoma Blood Institute</a> is prohibiting women from donating plasma. Institute officials say plasma from women could cause a

Tuesday, December 18th 2007, 8:20 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Blood Institute is prohibiting women from donating plasma. Institute officials say plasma from women could cause a rare but potentially deadly complication in patients who receive the plasma.

Plasma from women may contain what's called "white-cell antibodies" that could cause a "transfusion related acute lung injury," or TRALI. TRALI can cause life-threatening breathing problems and there have been eight reported cases in Oklahoma this year but no deaths.

Females can produce the "white-cell antibodies" if they've been pregnant, had blood transfusions or an organ or tissue transplant.

Doctors say the women who produce the anitbodies are not at risk only those who receive plasma.

Women are still encouraged to donate whole blood, platelets and red blood cells.