Karen Rodberg is director for the Red Cross Regional Immunohematology Reference Lab at the Betty Bazar Blood Services Center in Pomona, CA. Rodberg has worked for Red Cross biomedical services for 36 years. Photos by Mimi Teller/American Red Cross
By Mike Tierney/American Red Cross
Longevity is a thing at the American Red Cross reference laboratory inside the Betty Bazar Blood Services Center in Pomona, California.
Its director, Karen Rodberg, has been employed by the Red Cross for 36 years in biomedical services; some collections of rare blood cells have been stored there for about as long.
The work conducted at the lab and 44 others around the country ranks among the lesser-known contributions under the Red Cross banner but also the most impactful. Types of blood compatible in those coping with certain diseases are kept for when transfusions are required — for as long as a few decades after it is drawn.
The spotlight shines on the labs once annually — on Rare Disease Day, the final day of February.
The intention is to raise awareness of the critical need for blood for people with serious conditions such as sickle cell disease. The National Institute of Health estimates there are a total of 7,000 different diseases.
The efforts of Rodberg and her crew are focused on rare blood antigens. Antigens are protein molecules on the surface of red blood cells; less than one percent of the population might be missing an antigen which can be the cause of a disease and sometimes a rare one.
A small percentage of the population may lack a singluar antigen in their blood which can be the cause of a rare disease. Rodburg maintains a collection of blood specimens missing antigens — when someone with unique blood needs a transfusion, the lab can create antibodies from a matching sample.
When such a blood sample is brought into the lab, Rodberg and her crew freeze droplets of the cells in liquid nitrogen and sock them away indefinitely. Once frozen in vials, she noted, the result looks like Dippin’ Dots — which, hopefully, staffers do not confuse with their lunch dessert. If a transfusion is necessitated for someone with the missing antigen, the lab can create an antibody from the sample that allows a recipient to receive the blood required to improve their health and sometimes to stay alive.
When frozen in liquid nitrogen, red blood cell droplets can last forever.
Rodberg equates the process to solving a puzzle, which has helped maintain interest throughout her career.
“I like the challenge,” Rodberg said “It requires you to integrate knowledge. This kind of work [involves] brain input.”
Rodberg draws special satisfaction in the lab’s endeavors for sickle cell patients — most of whom are of African descent, which reduces the pool of potential donors. Many sickle cell patients must obtain transfusions as often as monthly. Due to demand, too often supplies of matching blood donations are not available for those in need. For this reason, the Red Cross urges members of the Black community to make regular blood donations.
“Sickle cell patients tend to be the biggest challenge for us because of the frequency of transfusions they might need in their lifetime,” Rodberg said, citing the 2020 census that determined 12% of the U.S. population is Black. The donor base from the Black community is just 4% of the total.
The Pomona lab runs reports on samples taken from blood donors who identify as African American or mixed race with the intent of expanding the group of donors so the Red Cross can meet the demand. Donors with blood that can match those with rare diseases get a note added to their records that indicates a sample of their blood will be sent to the lab instead of the general inventory, according to Rodberg.
Blood on hand for up to a quarter-century has been used successfully. Rodberg recalled a recent case in which blood that had been frozen in 1984 would have been summoned for a patient if they required surgery.
This year, Rare Disease Day falls on Feb. 29 — leap day. It’s a day when sufferers of rare diseases who require transfusions can figuratively leap for joy over the support from Rodberg and her colleagues.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la.
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