Table 1

Advantages of universal leukocyte reduction

Reduction in transfusion reactions; HLA alloimmunization; and CMV, HTLV-I, EBV, HHV-6 and HHV-8 transmission

Improved RBC quality

Reduction in parasite and prion transmission, bacterial sepsis, and acute lung injury

May decrease postoperative abdominal infection, morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery, and multisystem organ failure

Avoids errors, decreases workload, and simplifies blood bank inventory

No need for a filter, saving time and education

Reproduced with permission from [1]. ^© 2001, American Society of Clinical Pathologists. CMV, cytomegalovirus; EBV, Epstein–Barr virus; HHV, human herpesvirus; HTLV, human T-cell leukemia virus; RBC, red blood cell.

Shapiro Critical Care 2004 8(Suppl 2):S27   doi:10.1186/cc2453