Irradiation prevents TA-GHVD, a lethal transfusion complication. But does it really do what you think it does?

NOTE: Continuing Education credit for this episode has expired. See below for details.

Dr. Chris Tormey

Dr. Chris Tormey

Transfusion-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) is a notoriously deadly but thankfully rare transfusion complication. Blood banks have used irradiation of cellular blood products for decades to prevent TA-GVHD, but clinicians and laboratorians still sometimes misunderstand what irradiation does and does not do.

Irradiation Made Simple

Dr. Chris Tormey, co-author of an incredibly helpful 2018 article in Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine on this topic, is my guest on today’s interview (I’m not kidding about it being a great article! See the reference below because you really need this one). Chris details the past, present, and future of blood product irradiation in this practical and timely interview. Learners will benefit from the “exam-worthy” details, and even “seasoned pros” will be reminded of important facts about irradiation to improve what you do today!

Dr. Chris Tormey

Dr. Chris Tormey

Transfusion-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) is a notoriously deadly but thankfully rare transfusion complication. Blood banks have used irradiation of cellular blood products for decades to prevent TA-GVHD, but clinicians and laboratorians still sometimes misunderstand what irradiation does and does not do.

Irradiation Made Simple

Dr. Chris Tormey, co-author of an incredibly helpful 2018 article in Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine on this topic, is my guest on today’s interview (I’m not kidding about it being a great article! See the reference below because you really need this one). Chris details the past, present, and future of blood product irradiation in this practical and timely interview. Learners will benefit from the “exam-worthy” details, and even “seasoned pros” will be reminded of important facts about irradiation to improve what you do today!

About My Guest:

Chris Tormey, MD, is a pathologist who is board-certified in Clinical Pathology as well as Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Yale University in New Haven, CT. He serves as Medical Director of Transfusion Services at both Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT and VA Connecticut Healthcare in West Haven, CT; he also provides clinical pathology and laboratory hematology services at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Dr. Tormey is the Director of the Transfusion Medicine fellowship program at Yale, and teaches students, residents, and fellows at the Yale School of Medicine.

Chris has several investigative interests, including alloimmunization to non-ABO antigens in the settings of transfusion or pregnancy. He is widely published, and has won several awards for his research and teaching efforts. In 2014, the American Society for Clinical Pathology named him to the prestigious “40 under Forty” list of outstanding young leaders in pathology.

Dr. Tormey is a graduate of New York Medical College and trained in Clinical Pathology and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine at Yale.

Continuing Education Expired

This podcast episode offered continuing education credit for two years from its release date, but is no longer eligible for such credit.

To find Blood Bank Guy Essentials Podcast episodes with active continuing education opportunities, Click here or visit Transfusion News Continuing Education on Wiley Health Learning.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed on this episode are those of my guest and I alone, and do not reflect those of the organizations with which either of us is affiliated. Neither Dr. Tormey nor I have any relevant financial disclosures.

Image courtesy of LifeStream Blood Bank, San Bernardino, CA.

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Music Credit

Music for this episode includes “Cuando te invade el temor” and “Reflejo,” both by Mar Virtual via the Free Music Archive. Click the image below for permissions and license details.
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