Reactions to Transfusions of Banked Blood

The blood bank at the New Haven Hospital was established in 1940. After two years of operation, a study of the incidence of transfusion reactions is undertaken. During this two-year period (from July 1, 1940, to July 1, 1942) 3388 transfusions of banked blood were given. Numerous studies of the incidence of reactions in stored whole blood transfusions have appeared in the literature. Reactions have been noted in from 2 per cent to 20 per cent of the number of transfusions given, the majority of the figures ranging from S to 12 per cent. Cameron reported an incidence of 7.4 per cent in a thousand transfusions. Riddell, in 100 transfusions, noted reactibns in eleven. Belk's review of 400 transfusions noted an incidence rate of 11.8 per cent. Diggs and Keith reported 2140 transfusions, 8.1 per cent of which had reactions. DeGowan and Hardin noted a reaction incidence of 4.8 per cent in 2128 transfusions. Jewesburg, in England, noted reactions in 19.8 per cent of 389 transfusions. Wiener reported an incidence of chills and fever in 2 to 3 per cent, and, in 1940, Lundy and his co-workers at the Mayo Clinic studied 3723 transfusions with a reaction incidence of 9.32 per cent.