Study Start Date: 07/01/2015
Study End Date: 10/01/2015

Canine Blood Typing and Compatibility of Transfused Dogs.

Assuring blood compatibility is critical for safe and efficacious transfusions. New information regarding the DEA 1 system indicates that dogs can be DEA 1 -ve or weakly, moderately to strongly DEA 1 +ve. Furthermore, the Dal antigen is lacking in more than just a few Dalmatians and also in some Dobermans, Beagles and other breeds. Finally, new red cell antigens are being discovered. DEA 1 and Dal typing of donors and patients should improve blood compatibility and reduce transfusion reactions. Dogs do not have naturally occurring alloantibodies, but they can develop them one to several weeks following blood transfusions. While in the past cumbersome and hard-to-interpret assays were used, new in-clinic kit assays have become available to detect alloantibodies. We will compare the standard gel column with a gel tube and a chromatographic strip test, and based upon panel red cells also attempt to define the specificity of the alloantibody against known types.

Study Design:
Cross-sectional study

Sample Size:
100 dogs that have undergone blood transfusions

Inclusion Criteria:

• Previously transfused dogs with or without a history of signs of a hemolytic transfusion reaction or incompatible crossmatch.
• The transfusions can have occurred at any point in time.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Dogs that have not had any transfusions

Study Controls:
None

Samples:
2–4 mls of EDTA-treated blood and whole blood or serum from dogs that have previously undergone a transfusion. The costs of testing will be borne by the investigators. If access to the blood donor is available, we will also test the blood of the donors (using similarly prepared samples).

Costs/Reimbursments:
No cost for the analysis. Contact the investigators about shipping costs of samples.

Full Disclosure Information:
The study is funded by a grant from University of Pennsylvania.
The investigator does not have a conflict of interest.
The study will be published if results are negative.
The study will not be reported on VIN.
The authors will acknowledge VIN if the study is published and VIN contributed to case recruitment.