Does leukocytosis get transferred through blood transfusions?

NO: All transfusions are now leukoreduced which means they undergo a process that removes essentially all wbc's. Therefore, an increased WBC situation cannot be transferred through blood transfusions.

No: Leukocytosis means an elevated white blood cell count. Such a finding most often suggests inflammation or infection. The most usual form of blood transfusion involves giving packed red blood cells. That in & of itself would not cause a leukocytosis. In addition, modern blood banking & transfusion practices ensure sterility of the blood product.

No: Many areas of the country have switched to transfusing only leukoreduced products to patients. That means after the donation, the blood cells are passed though a filter called a leukoreduction filter which removes most of the white cells before the red cell units are transfused to patients. This decreases the number of adverse reactions and eliminates transfusing CMV infection.