A Method for Processing Whole Blood for Heterologous Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusion for Use in a Green-Winged Macaw (Ara chloropterus)

Abstract

An 11-year-old male green-winged macaw (Ara chloropterus) diagnosed with severe anemia required a packed red blood cell transfusion rather than whole blood based on crossmatching results. Crossmatching performed with a harlequin macaw (Ara ararauna x Ara chloropterus) revealed a compatible major crossmatch and incompatible minor crossmatch. Whole blood was collected from the donor macaw and, using readily available clinical supplies and low-speed centrifugation, processed into packed red blood cells for transfusion. The patient showed a rapid recovery and normalization of hematocrit 2 weeks post-transfusion. This report demonstrates the importance of performing crossmatching and a method for packed red blood cell processing and administration in critical avian patients.