Crossing over of autologous and directed donor blood.

There is a considerable interest in the possibility of crossing over autologous and directed donor blood to other patients. The practicality and safety of this approach depends on the possibility of disease transmission in these groups versus those of the usual homologous donors. A review of the current literature as to the incidence of infectious disease markers shows that the total number of donors studied is rather small, and the results are not too clear. Some studies maintain crossing over is strictly unacceptable; others feel it is safe. The safest approach at this time is to repeat the studies in one's own laboratory and derive the risks and statistics in the local population.