low-titer group O+ whole blood

Low-titer group O+ whole blood (LTOWB) is a transfusion product consisting of unseparated, cold-stored human donor blood from individuals with type O positive (O+) blood and low levels of anti-A and anti-B antibodies. It contains all major components of circulating human blood—red cells, platelets, and plasma—in a single unit. The "low-titer" designation refers to the reduced concentration of naturally occurring anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the plasma portion (commonly defined as less than 1:200 or similar thresholds), which minimizes the risk of hemolytic reactions when transfused into recipients with different ABO types. LTOWB is primarily used for rapid resuscitation in trauma or massive hemorrhage situations where time is critical and crossmatching may not be feasible. Its mechanism is to restore circulating volume, oxygen-carrying capacity, coagulation factors, and platelets simultaneously—addressing both shock and coagulopathy in bleeding patients[1][4][5][6]. The use of RhD-positive units is common due to supply constraints; while this can theoretically cause alloimmunization in RhD-negative recipients (especially females of childbearing age), the risk is considered acceptable in life-threatening emergencies[7].

Other names

low titer O positive whole bloodLTOWBlow titer group O whole bloodlow titer type O whole blood