Wednesday, September 17, 2025 / 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Topic: 2025 BBANYS Annual Meeting Winning Posters
This session will feature our three (3) abstract poster winners from our 2025 BBANYS Annual Meeting. They will present their abstracts and be available for a discussion. We hope to see you there and celebrate our members' great scholarly work.
Poster Title:
A High-Sensitivity Flow Cytometry-Based Assay for Enhanced Detection of RBC Alloantibodies
Presenter:
Annie Qiu
Research Associate
Columbia University Medical Center
Department of Pathology and Cell Biology
Brief Bio:
Annie Qiu is a research associate in the Lab of Transfusion Biology at Columbia University Medical Center. She earned her BS in Biology from Emory University, where she studied tyrosine kinase signaling pathways in pediatric leukemia in Dr. Douglas Graham’s lab. At Columbia, as a research technician under Dr. Krystalyn Hudson, she investigated alloimmunization following red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Now working with Dr. Eldad Hod and Dr. Lisa Eisler as a clinical research coordinator, Annie leads studies on iron deficiency and RBC transfusions. Her work integrates her laboratory expertise with clinical research experience, with a focus on improving transfusion safety and advancing patient care.
Abstract:
Routine agglutination-based assays detect only ~30% of induced red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies, missing low-titer or evanescent antibodies and posing risks such as hemolytic disease, transfusion reactions, and transplant incompatibility. We developed a multiplex flow cytometry assay designed to improve sensitivity and reproducibility for detecting RBC alloantibodies. Compared with standard agglutination, the flow assay detected a positive sample to a 1:1600 dilution versus 1:128, with distinct cell populations and no signal interference. Reference ranges from 41 healthy controls defined positivity as mean fluorescence intensity >3 SD above the control mean, reproducible across several days. This assay reliably distinguishes between negative, intermediate-, and high-titer samples, offering improved detection of low-titer and evanescent antibodies. By capturing responses that may otherwise go undetected, it has the potential to enhance transfusion safety and inform patient management, though future studies should assess whether increased sensitivity justifies the added complexity and cost of implementation.
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Poster Title:
Multimodal Multidisciplinary Approach Reduces Red Blood Cell Transfusion Rates in Labor and Delivery
Presenter:
Ding Wen Wu, MD, PhD
- Clinical Professor of Pathology
NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Chief, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
NYU Langone Health – Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
- Medical Director, Clinical Laboratory
NYU Langone Health – Steinberg Ambulatory Care Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Medical Director, Clinical Laboratory
NYU Langone Health- Perlmutter Cancer Center -Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
- Medical Director, Blood Bank
SBH Health, Bronx, NY
Brief Bio:
Ding Wen Wu, MD, PhD is a Clinical Professor of Pathology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and the Medical Director for Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at NYU Langone Hospital- Brooklyn, in New York, US. She also holds several other positions at NYU Langone Health. In addition, she is the Medical Director of Blood Bank for SBH Health System, Bronx, New York.
Abstract:
At NYU Langone Brooklyn’s Labor and Delivery unit, a multimodal, multidisciplinary strategy was implemented to reduce red blood cell (RBC) transfusion rates. This included standardized care protocols, risk assessments, and rapid escalation systems. A retrospective study from 2022 to 2024 showed a significant drop in double-unit transfusion orders (from 32% to 19%) and overall RBC transfusion rates (from 20.7 to 14.5 units per 1,000 patient days), due to improved coordination and adherence to protocols. The findings highlight the effectiveness of collaborative approaches in enhancing obstetric care and minimizing transfusion-related risks.
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Poster Title:
Clinical Appropriateness of Von Willebrand Factor Testing in an Academic Medical Center
Presenter:
Bianca Santonastaso
Laboratory Supervisor
Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Laboratory
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Rochester Medical Center
Brief Bio:
Bianca Santonastaso is the laboratory supervisor of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Laboratory at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Rochester. In her role, she has both led and contributed to projects involving the assessment of blood products, transfusion needs, and special coagulation laboratory instrument evaluations for FDA-approval. Her work connects clinical and educational domains as well, encompassing responsibilities in the clinical laboratory, general education, and focused involvement with special coagulation.
Abstract:
To evaluate the utilization of von Willebrand factor (vWF) testing in an academic medical center, a retrospective analysis of 254 laboratory results was conducted. Patients’ clinical symptoms, medical history, surgical history, family history, and abnormal laboratory test panels were collected to determine the clinical appropriateness of the test at time of testing. Of the 254 patients included in this study, 200 exhibited normal or elevated levels of vWF antigen at the time of testing. The significant proportion of normal and elevated results indicates a potential area of overutilization of this test. This study aims to identify these areas of overuse so that future strategies are developed to maximize efficiency for both physicians and patients.
Pricing:
- Members: FREE (Registration is required.)
- Non-Members: $45
To receive member pricing, be sure to sign in.
View our calendar of upcoming events, including monthly webinars through December in our Fall Webinar Series, and our quarterly journal club!
www.bbanys.org/events
