Our ambition is to monitor and evaluate the variability within our donor base.

Donor Infectious Disease Epidemiology

• Contribute to public health policy by tracking the incidence, prevalence and/or progression infectious dieases in a healthy donor population

Key Findings

• A comprehensive estimation of the level of circulating SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Irish blood donors.
• Publications:
  • The changing profile of SARS-CoV-2 serology in Irish blood donors. Dermot Coyne, Dearbhla Butler, Adrienne Meehan, Evan Keogh, Pádraig Williams, Alex Carterson, Tor Hervig, Niamh O'Flaherty, Allison Waters .  Glob Epidemiol. 2023 Dec;5:100108
  • Confirmed circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Irish blood donors prior to first national notification of infection. Dearbhla Butler, Dermot Coyne, Louise Pomeroy, Pádraig Williams, Paul Holder, Alex Carterson, Stephen Field, Allison Waters, Niamh O'Flaherty. J Clin Virol. 2022; 146: 105045
• Key contributor to the National Serosurveillance Programme (NSP) | Seroepidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland

• Evidence is provided for recommending a selective HTLV donor screening algorithm in Ireland that is accompanied by a robust framework for continued surveillance of leucodepletion failure rate.
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus in Irish blood donors: Impact on future testing strategy. Pádraig Williams, Niamh O'Flaherty, Stephen Field, Allison Waters. Transfusion. 2022 Jul 13. 

HLA Associations with Disease Presentation and Progression

• To compare the distribution of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genotypes in patients with healthy Irish Donors

Key findings 

• There is an association between specific HLA genotypes and the risk of pseudotumour development around hip resurfacings. Specifically, the two 'at risk' alleles (DQB1*05:03:01 and DRB1*14:54:01) may hold clinical value in preoperative screening and prospective surgical decision-making.
  • Identification of protective and 'at risk' HLA genotypes for the development of pseudotumours around metal-on-metal hip resurfacings. Sheridan GA, Hanlon M, Welch-Phillips A, Spratt K, Hagan R, O'Byrne JM, Kenny PJ, Kurmis AP, Masri BA, Garbuz DS, Hurson CJ.  Bone Jt Open. 2023 Mar 14;4(3):182-187.

Donor Blood Antigen Profiling

• Ireland's population is increasing and becoming more diverse, this has potential implications for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to provide ‘best-matched’ blood for the optimal care of patients
• Determine the distribution of ABO, RH and other clinically significant blood group antigen systems in Irish donorsand compare with those required for transfusion in various patient groups

Key-Findings

• 14.24% of the first-time donors were born outside Ireland. Significant differences were detected in the ABO and Rh phenotype distribution between Irish born donors and those born outside Ireland.
  • A snapshot of ABO, RH, and JK blood group systems in modern Ireland. Anne Browne, Anthony Kinsella, Moira Keogh, Kieran Morris, Stephen Field. Health Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 12;4(2):e292.

• The genotype at the ABO blood group locus plays a critical role in modulating the platelet expresser phenotype, which may influence primary haemostasis though several different pathways.
  • Expresser phenotype determines ABO(H) blood group antigen loading on platelets and von Willebrand factor. Diarmaid O'Donghaile, Vincent Jenkins, Rachel McGrath, Lisa Preston, Stephen Field, Soracha Ward, Jamie M O'Sullivan, James S O'Donnell. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 27;10(1):18366.

On-going Research

• Continued monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 serological profile in blood donors to support public health surveillance and vaccinations programmes.
• Estimation of Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence and seroconversion rates in an Irish donors.
• Molecular epidemiology of Hepatitis E virus in Irish blood donors.
• Association of HLA type with ANCA Vasculitis
• Link between paediatric chronic illness and HLA types
• Enhanced donor antigen matching for patients at risk of alloimmunisation