Immunohematology Boot Camp: Clinically Insignificant High Incidence Antibodies (HTLA) (25EL-531)

Please note: AABB reserves the right to make updates to this program.

• Educational Track: Technical/Clinical
• Topics: Blood Donation & Collection, Patient Transfusion
• Intended Audience: Hospital Blood Banks, Immunohematology Reference Labs (IRL’s), Laboratory Staff, Managers/Supervisors, Medical Directors, Physicians, Residents/Fellows, Students (MD, MT, SBB), Technologists
• Teaching Level: Basic, Intermediate

• Director/Moderator: Beth Meyer, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CMSBB^CM, Supervisor, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, American Red Cross, Maryland Heights, MO
  Speaker: Janis R. Hamilton, MS, MLS(ASCP)SBB, Manager, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, American Red Cross, Detroit, MI

• Program Description

  Clinically insignificant high incidence antibodies, also known as high titer low avidity (HTLA) reacting antibodies, can be confusing and cause difficulty in antibody identification. This program will provide a lecture-based overview of the blood group antigens associated with these antibodies and the laboratory techniques that may be used to identify them. Case studies will also be presented to give practical tips to learners for managing this type of reactivity within a serologic investigation.

  Learning Objectives

  After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the antibody specificities that commonly display clinically insignificant high incidence antibody reactivity (HTLA-reacting antibodies) and describe the corresponding blood group antigen’s characteristics: Chido/Rodgers, Knops, Cost, JMH, Sda.
  • Discuss the serologic findings consistent with these antibodies and the investigational methods that may be used to identify them including enzyme and chemical red blood cell treatments, serum/plasma neutralizations, and titers.
  • Recognize patterns of reactivity for these antibodies and explain the next steps to take in serologic investigations by reviewing case studies.

  Registration

  Registration includes access to both the live and on-demand version of this eCast.

  If you are a facility interested in participating in this eCast, simply complete the Group Viewing registration form and AABB will provide detailed instructions to share with your team approximately one week prior to the live program (each team member to register for the program utilizing a promocode). For single viewers, simply click on the Register button below to register.

  Please note: registration for the live eCast will close 1 hour prior to the eCast start time. If you register after this time, you will receive access to the on-demand eCast when it is available.

  Single Viewer	Register
  Group Viewing	Register

  Continuing Education Credit

  This activity is eligible for one (1) continuing education credit/contact hour for Physicians, Nurses (including California-based nursing professionals through CBRN), California Lab Personnel, Florida Lab Personnel and General Participation credit. AABB reserves the right to reduce or increase the number of credits granted based on the final activity duration. For more information on each credit type please visit our Continuing Education Credits webpage.

  There is no financial support for this activity.

  

  In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) and CME Outfitters, LLC. CME Outfitters LLC. is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

  Physicians (ACCME): CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this live activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  Claiming Credit
  Live Activity - Upon completion of the live activity, you will receive instructions to complete your evaluation, which is necessary to claim credit and receive your certificate of attendance/completion (credit must be claimed by the date provided in the instructions). The evaluation can be found by logging into the AABB Education Platform.

  Enduring Activity - Once the enduring (on-demand) program is available, you will receive instructions to access the AABB Education Platform. Upon completion of viewing the enduring activity, you will need to complete the evaluation, which is necessary to claim credit and receive your certificate of completion (credit must be claimed by the date provided in the AABB Education Platform).

  Program & Credit Expiration Dates:

  • Live Activity Program Date: May 7, 2025; Credit Expiration Date: June 7, 2025
  • Enduring Activity Program Dates: May 7, 2025 – May 6, 2028; Credit Expiration Date: May 6, 2028

  Disclosure Declaration

  It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that the presence of such relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

  Disclosures for the planners of this event can be found here. Disclosures for the program faculty, peer reviewers, and CME Outfitters, LLC. personnel are provided at the beginning of the program.

  Faculty Biographies

  Beth Meyer is a supervisor in the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory for The American Red Cross in Maryland Heights, MO. She completed her undergraduate education at Missouri Western State University in 2009 and received her Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from University of Massachusetts – Lowell in 2013. She spent several years as a generalist MLS before developing an interest in blood banking. She joined The American Red Cross in 2015 as an IRL Technologist where she was involved in training new staff members before moving into management. She completed the Specialist in Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine Program from The American Red Cross and became SBB certified in 2023.

  
  

  Jan Hamilton is the Manager of the American Immunohematology Reference Laboratories (IRL) at the American Red Cross in Detroit and Lansing, Michigan. She is a member of the ISBT Immunohaematology Working Party, the AABB Selection of Abstracts Committee and is an Associate Editor of the journal Immunohematology. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she came to Michigan to pursue her Masters degree and SBB certification. She then began working at the American Red Cross -Detroit IRL where she has been for over 35 years. Jan has been chair of the AABB IRL Accreditation Program Unit and the ACSP Board of Registry Blood Bank Examination Committee. She co-authored the chapter “Identification of Antibodies to Red Cell Antigens” in the 18th and 19th editions of the AABB Technical Manual. She also is co-author of Antibody Identification: Art or Science? A Case Study Approach and Investigating Positive DAT Results: A Case Study Approach.