Blood product irradiation is the exposure of cellular blood components, such as red blood cells, platelets and granulocytes, to gamma or X-ray radiation before transfusion, done to inactivate residual donor T-lymphocytes and prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, a rare but usually fatal complication in susceptible recipients. Guidance calls for a minimum dose of 25 grays delivered to every part of the unit, with no part receiving more than 50 grays, and gamma and X-ray irradiation are considered equivalent for this purpose; it is recommended for products given to immunocompromised recipients, for intrauterine transfusion and for directed donations from blood relatives, among other at-risk groups.
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