Honig CL, Bove JR. Transfusion-associated fatalities: review of Bureau of Biologics reports1976-1978. Transfusion 1980;20(6):653-61.
Abstract
Review of the 70 transfusion-associated fatalities reported to the Bureau
of Biologics (BOB) between 1976 and 1978 revealed 44 acute hemolytic
reactions, two delayed hemolytic reactions, five fatalities associated
with acute respiratory failure, two cases of bacterial contamination, one
graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR), ten cases of hepatitis, and six
fatalities not associated with transfusion. Thirty-eight of 44 acute
hemolytic reactions were due to ABO incompatibility. Clerical confusion
was the cause of 33 of 37 cases in which error could be defined.
