Using Low Titer Group O Whole Blood in Emergencies

by Carter BloodCare Specialty Services

We are now distributing Low Titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB).

In 2018, AABB updated the standards to allow the use of LTOWB for massively bleeding patients of unknown ABO group. The 32nd Edition of the Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services (effective April 1, 2020) states the following:

  • 5.27.1 Recipients whose ABO group is not known or has not been confirmed shall receive group O Red Blood Cells or low-titer group O Whole Blood.

    • 5.27.1.1 If low-titer group O Whole Blood is used, the BB/TS shall define low-titer group O Whole Blood and shall have policies, processes and procedures for:

      1) The use of low-titer group O Whole Blood

      2) The maximum volume/units allowed per event.

LTOWB produced by Carter BloodCare will possess the listed attributes:

  • Collected in CPD anticoagulant/preservative solution

  • 21 day shelf life and stored at 1-6°C

  • Non-leukoreduced

  • Titers <200 are considered “low titer”

  • O positive volunteer donors

  • Non-returnable

  • Standing order required and 48 hour lead time to fill order

The applicable ISBT product code is E0023.