Irradiated packed red blood cells are used to:
A) decrease bleeding when there is a deficiency or abnormal function of platelets
B) decrease the risk of febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction
C) reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease
D) treat the neutropenic patient who is septic and unresponsive to antimicrobials and who has chance of marrow recovery

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Irradiated packed red blood cells are used to reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease, which can occur when immunocompromised patients receive blood transfusions containing viable T lymphocytes that attack the host's tissues. It is not used to decrease bleeding due to platelet deficiency or abnormal function (which would require platelet transfusions), or to treat septic, neutropenic patients (which would require antibiotics and potentially growth factors). It also does not reduce the risk of febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions, which are caused by recipient antibodies reacting with donor leukocytes or plasma proteins.

Irradiated Packed Red Blood Cells Are Used To