Bio


Dr. Mrigender Virk completed his residency in Anatomic & Clinical Pathology at Georgetown University before joining Stanford for his Transfusion Medicine Fellowship. After completion of the fellowship, Dr. Virk joined the Department of Pathology as a Clinical Assistant Professor for Transfusion Medicine.

Clinical Focus


  • Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
  • Transfusion Medicine

Academic Appointments


  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Pathology

Administrative Appointments


  • Director, Transfusion Medicine Laboratory, Stanford Health Care (2022 - Present)
  • Director, Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Program, Stanford University Medical Center (2021 - Present)

Professional Education


  • Board Certification: American Board of Pathology, Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine (2018)
  • Fellowship: Stanford University Department of Pathology (2018) CA
  • Board Certification, American Board of Pathology, Anatomic & Clinical Pathology (2017)
  • Residency: Medstar Georgetown University Hospital (2017) DC
  • Medical Education: St George's University School of Medicine Grenada West Indies (2013) NY West Indies

Graduate and Fellowship Programs


  • Transfusion Medicine (Fellowship Program)

All Publications


  • Serologic reactivity of unidentified specificity in antenatal testing and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: The BEST collaborative study. Transfusion Lu, W., Ziman, A., Yan, M. T., Waters, A., Virk, M. S., Tran, A., Tang, H., Shih, A. W., Scally, E., Raval, J. S., Pandey, S., Pagano, M. B., Shan, H., Moore, C., Morrison, D., Cormack, O., Fitzgerald, J., Duncan, J., Corean, J., Clarke, G., Yazer, M. 2023

    Abstract

    The clinical significance of serologic reactivity of unidentified specificity (SRUS) in pregnancy is not clear based on available literature. The aim of this study is to determine if SRUS is associated with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).Retrospective data were collected from eight institutions over an 11-year study period (2010-2020), when available (5/8 sites). The outcome of the pregnancies with SRUS-no, mild, moderate, or severe HDFN-was determined.SRUS was demonstrated in 589 pregnancies. After excluding those with incomplete data, a total of 284 pregnancies were included in the primary HDFN outcome analysis. SRUS was detected in 124 (44%) pregnancies in isolation, and none were affected by HDFN. Of 41 pregnancies with SRUS and ABO incompatibility, 37 (90%) were unaffected, and 4 (10%) were associated with mild HDFN. Of 98 pregnancies with SRUS and concurrent identifiable antibody reactivity(s), 80 (81%) were unaffected, and 19 (19%) were associated with mild to severe HDFN. There was 1 case of mild HDFN and 1 case of severe HDFN in the 21 pregnancies with SRUS, ABO incompatibility, and concurrent identifiable antibody reactivity(s), and 19 (90%) were unaffected by HDFN. Among all patients with repeat testing, newly identified alloantibodies or other antibodies were identified in 63 of 212 (30%) patients. Although most were not clinically significant, on occasion SRUS preceded clinically significant antibody(s) associated with HDFN (3%, 5/188).The antenatal serologic finding of SRUS in isolation is not associated with HDFN but may precede clinically significant antibodies.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/trf.17276

    View details for PubMedID 36815517

  • Transfusion Outcomes between Regular and Low Yield Pathogen Reduced Platelets across Different Patient Populations in a Single Institution Tang, M., Shu, E., Sussman, H., Virk, M., Pandey, S., Shan, H., Pham, T. WILEY. 2022: 268A
  • Validated transport conditions maintain the quality of washed red blood cells. Transfusion Baker, S. A., Wong, L. K., Wieland, R., Bulterys, P., Allard, L., Nguyen, L., Quach, T., Nguyen, A., Chaesuh, E., Cheng, P., Bowen, R., Virk, M. 2022; 62 (9): 1860-1870

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Washing red blood cell (RBC) units prior to transfusion is indicated for certain patients. In the United States, units stored at 1°C-6°C or transported at 1°C-10°C are available for issue up to 24h, if not used immediately. The washing procedure commonly utilizes room temperature saline resulting in units starting out above the allowed temperature range. This leads to wastage if units are issued and returned too quickly before having a chance to equilibrate in a transport cooler.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Here we performed an experimental study of washed RBC quality comparing "ideal" storage conditions in a blood bank refrigerator to a "real-world" simulation of unit transport, including holding in a transport cooler. Twelve RBC units were washed and allocated evenly into either condition.RESULTS: Measurements at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24h post-washing revealed that placement in a transport cooler was associated with higher unit temperature prior to 12h (p=.013) with a maximum difference of 9.3°C. Despite this difference, several measures of unit quality including extracellular potassium, pH, lactate, and free hemoglobin were indistinguishable between conditions (p=.382, .224, .286, .691, respectively). We selected half of the tested units from our irradiated inventory and confirmed increased potassium leak (p<.001) and accumulation of free hemoglobin (p=.012) in irradiated units.DISCUSSION: Washed units stored under approved transport conditions are acceptable to return to inventory up to 24h after washing and we provide a prediction interval-based temperature threshold for rejecting these units, permitting reduced waste.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/trf.17062

    View details for PubMedID 36084205

  • Transfusion outcomes between regular and low yield pathogen reduced platelets across different patient populations in a single institution. Transfusion Tang, M. S., Shu, E., Sussman, H., Virk, M., Pandey, S., Shan, H., Pham, T. 2022

    Abstract

    Pathogen reduction technology (PRT) effectively mitigates bacterial contamination in platelets but is more likely to produce low yield units. Although low dose transfusion using conventional platelets has not been associated with increased bleeding, these findings have not been reproduced with PRT-treated platelets.Platelet transfusions in a tertiary adult hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Comparisons were made between PRT-treated regular (PRT-PR) and low (PRT-PL) yield platelets. Outcomes examined included the number of platelets and RBCs transfused, transfusion-free interval, and corrected count increment (CCI). Subgroup analyses were also performed on hematology-oncology inpatients and outpatients, as well as non-hematology-oncology patients.Platelet utilization per patient remained mostly unchanged (mean 2.9-4.3 units per patient per month) even when the frequency of PRT-PL transfusion increased. Among 1402 patients examined, the number of platelets and RBCs transfused was not significantly different between patients first transfused with PRT-PR versus PRT-PL (mean number of platelet units = 2.8 vs. 3.1, p = 0.38; mean number of RBC units = 4.8 vs. 4.3, p = 0.93). Among 10,257 platelet transfusions examined, the transfusion-free interval (hazard ratio = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.10) and CCI (10.2 vs. 11.0, p = 0.70) were comparable between PRT-PR and PRT-PL units. Similar findings were observed in all subgroups, except for shortened transfusion-free intervals among hematology-oncology inpatients.PRT-PR and PRT-PL units may be used in an equivalent manner to maintain an adequate platelet inventory, since there was only a minor difference in time between transfusions.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/trf.17043

    View details for PubMedID 35924914

  • Multinational Analysis of Children Transfused With Pathogen Inactivated Platelets. Hospital pediatrics Delaney, M., Andrews, J., Virk, M., Barber, J. R., Bost, J. E., Baech, J., Feys, H. B. 2022; 12 (3): 311-316

    Abstract

    Pathogen inactivated (PI) platelets are a technological advancement in blood safety; however, the pediatric experience is not well characterized. We studied pediatric patients who received transfusions of PI platelets across several centers and countries to determine if transfusion reaction rates differed when compared with conventional platelets.This is a retrospective multisite study conducted during 2 time periods. The study period started at the time each site began using PI platelets on a widespread basis, and the control period was a similar timespan before PI introduction. Suspected acute transfusion reactions were compared.The study included 3839 pediatric patients who were 0 to 18 years of age who received >7930 platelet transfusions, in total, across 4 centers in 3 countries between 2013 and 2019. The age distribution of patients in the study and control period was not significantly different (P = .190). There was not a difference in the percentage of patients who had any type of transfusion reaction between the time periods (1.0% and 1.1%, P = .803). There were fewer patients with mild allergic reactions in the study period compared with the control period (0.2% and 0.7% of patients with reactions, respectively, P = .018).Pediatric patients have the same rate of acutely suspected transfusion reactions when receiving PI or conventional platelet transfusions. Subgroup analysis found fewer mild allergic reactions in the study period, which was contemporaneous to the addition of using platelet additive solution more broadly. Future studies of PI platelets should include children to better assess transfusion efficacy and hemostatic outcomes.

    View details for DOI 10.1542/hpeds.2021-006284

    View details for PubMedID 35169851

  • How do I implement pathogen-reduced platelets? Transfusion Pham, T. D., Kadi, W., Shu, E., Pandey, S., Sussmann, H., Shan, H., Virk, M. S. 2021

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Several risk mitigation steps have improved the safety of platelets in regard to bacterial contamination, but this continues to be a concern today. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance issued in December 2018 aims to further limit this risk. The guidance offers multiple pathways for compliance, and hospital blood banks will have to collaborate with blood donor centers to assess various factors before deciding which method is most appropriate for them.METHODS AND MATERIALS: Our institution considered several factors before moving forward with pathogen reduction technology. This included an assessment of platelet shelf-life, bacterial testing requirements, the efficacy of low-yield platelets, and managing a mixed platelet inventory. The decision to transition to pathogen-reduced platelets was associated with complex collection and processing limitations that resulted in either an increase in platelets that were over-concentrated or products with a low platelet yield.RESULTS: Through trials of various collection settings with unique target volumes and target platelet yields, our blood donor center was able to optimize the production. At the hospital end, this transition required a thorough review of low-yield platelet products and their clinical efficacy. Additionally, this implementation necessitated collaboration with clinical colleagues, comprehensive education, and training.CONCLUSIONS: Pathogen-reduced platelets would be the most efficient way for our institution to be compliant. This summary may serve as a roadmap for other institutions that are considering which FDA prescribed method to use and provide support for those that have decided on pathogen reduction technology but need to optimize their collections to best utilize low-yield products.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/trf.16744

    View details for PubMedID 34796968

  • Multinational Analysis of Transfusion Reactions in Children Transfused with Pathogen Inactivated Platelets Delaney, M., Barber, J. R., Andrews, J., Virk, M., Bost, J. E., Baech, J., Feys, H. B. WILEY. 2021: 8A-9A
  • Establishing a Satellite Transfusion Service Within an Academic Medical Center. American journal of clinical pathology Murphy, C. H., Lim, A. Y., Chua, L., Shan, H., Goodnough, L. T., Virk, M. S. 2020

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVES: Increasingly complex medical care requires specialized transfusion support close at hand. Hospital growth can necessitate expansion of blood bank services to new locations to ensure rapid delivery of blood products. We describe the opening of a new satellite transfusion service designed to serve the needs of a pediatric hospital.METHODS: Institutional transition teams and stakeholders collaborated to discuss options for providing blood at a new pediatric hospital. A staffed satellite transfusion service met the diverse needs of multiple services and was considered a compromise between a full new transfusion service and automated solutions.RESULTS: Initial challenges in establishing the laboratory included regulatory uncertainty and interactions between two hospitals' information technology services. Laboratory scientist staffing and actual use required adapting the satellite service to an emergency release-only model.CONCLUSIONS: A flexibly staffed satellite transfusion service met the most urgent needs of a pediatric hospital expansion. Review of implementation revealed potential process improvements for future expansions, including comprehensive routine and massive transfusion simulations. The challenges experienced in supplying staff and specialized blood products track with national trends. Other institutions may consider establishing a satellite transfusion service in the context of both increasingly sophisticated automated solutions and complex blood needs.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/ajcp/aqaa018

    View details for PubMedID 32157269

  • Optimizing O-negative RBC utilization using a data-driven approach. Transfusion Virk, M. S., Lancaster, D. n., Quach, T. n., Lim, A. n., Shu, E. n., Belanger, G. n., Pham, T. D. 2020

    Abstract

    O-negative red blood cells (ON-RBC) are a precious resource and the international blood banking community has become increasingly concerned with its inappropriate utilization. AABB recently made several recommendations to address the issue. Solutions must be multifaceted and involve donor centers, blood banks, and clinical departments. From the perspective of a hospital blood bank, it is difficult to rely solely on increased donor recruitment and ubiquitous blood typing of the entire in-patient population. We therefore focused on interventions within the blood bank to optimize inventory and policies to ensure appropriate ON-RBC utilization.Transfusion data over one year was examined for the rate of out-of-group/inappropriate ON-RBC. Furthermore, we assessed whether that rate was related to product life on the day of transfusion. We also examined our stock inventory levels and how excess inventory can contribute to inappropriate ON-RBC usage.The ON-RBC inventory level was decreased in order to reduce the rate of inappropriate transfusions while maintaining a safe level for optimal patient care. Compared to baseline, our intervention caused ON-RBCs to be transfused earlier in their shelf-life (9.27 vs. 11.15 days from expiration [DFE], p = 0.0012). This reduced the overall rate of inappropriate ON-RBC transfusions (67% vs. 54%, p = 0.0035), approximating 185 units of ON-RBC saved over the course of 6 months.A data-driven approach to optimize stock inventory levels is widely applicable; it can be adopted by numerous institutions to improve utilization and establish a benchmark for the broader blood banking community.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/trf.15713

    View details for PubMedID 32077488

  • Blood Donation During Pregnancy Due to Anti-Ku Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn LABORATORY MEDICINE Virk, M., Papakonstantino, K., Cai, W., Oh, D., Andrews, J. 2019; 50 (4): 421–25
  • Non-HLA Antibody-Mediated Rejection of Lung Transplant Masquerading Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury Yunce, M., Virk, M., Zhang, B. M., Mooney, K., Saleem, A., Shan, H. WILEY. 2019: 199A
  • Detection of Anti-ABO Antibodies by Flow-Based Assays Predicts Clinical Hemolysis in HSCT Patients Virk, M., Liu, H., Khoa Dang Nguyen, Chen, G., Tho Pham WILEY. 2019: 90A
  • A FLOW CYTOMETRY BASED ABO-BLOOD GROUP ANTIBODY ASSAY (FABO-AB) FOR PREDICTING HEMOLYSIS IN ABO-MISMATCHED BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION (BMT) Liu, H., Nguyen, K. D., Virk, M. S., Pham, T. D., Chen, G. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2019: 40
  • International assessment of massive transfusion protocol contents and indications for activation TRANSFUSION Thomasson, R. R., Yazer, M. H., Gorham, J. D., Dunbar, N. M., Adhikari, P., Apelseth, T., Bahr, M., Blain, H., Bohonek, M., Boral, L., Browne, I., Cheng, N., Cohn, C. S., Corkery, C., Crumlish, J., Cushing, M. M., Delaney, M., DeSimone, R. A., Downs, T., Drobena, G., Dunn, R., Elahie, A. L., Evans, C., Fachini, R., Fadeyi, E., Fang, A., Fenwick, A., Fitzgerald, J., Flanagan, P., Fomani, K., Fortune, A., Gault, L., Godbey, E. A., Gorlin, J. B., Grossman, B. J., Harm, S. K., Hayes, C., Hervig, T., Hess, J. R., Howatt, M., Hudgins, J., Inaba, K., Jackson, B., Jacobson, J., Jacquot, C., Jaeger, N. R., Karafin, M., Kehoe, L., King, F., Klompas, A., Knudson, C., Kutac, D., Kutner, J., Lally, K., Lee, E. S., Long, A., McCabe, J., McCullough, K., McGinnis, E., Mei, Z., Mo, Y., Morton, S., Munnangi, S., Murphy, M., Nadeem, U., Nahirniak, S., Novak, D. J., O'Brien, K., O'Donghaile, D., Pagano, M. B., Pai, M., Peters, J., Prokopchuk-Gauk, O., Raval, J. S., Roback, J. D., Robinson, S., Rollins-Raval, M. A., Schultz, M., Schwartz, J., Shih, A., Shiner, M., Sinha, R., Staves, J., Swanson, B. R., Tocchetti, R., Treml, A., Uhl, L., van Buskirk, C., Virk, M., Voights, M., Wade, J., Weinstein, R., Wellman, R., Wendel, S., Westleigh, R., Williams, S. M., Wool, G. D., Yamada, C., Hitomi Yokoyama, A., Zantomio, D., MTP Use Study Investigators, Biomed Excellence Safer Transfusio 2019; 59 (5): 1637–43

    Abstract

    Massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) provide blood products rapidly and in fixed amounts. MTPs are commonly used in trauma but may also be used in other clinical settings, although evidence to support fixed-ratio resuscitation in nontraumatic hemorrhage is lacking. The goals of this study were to describe the types and contents of available MTPs and the clinical indications for MTP activation.A survey was distributed to 353 transfusion medicine specialists to assess the types and contents of available MTPs. Survey participants were invited to provide the clinical indications for consecutive adult and pediatric MTP activations for at least 6 months during 2015 to 2017.There were 125 completed surveys (35% response rate) including three from children's specialty hospitals. Most hospitals that treated adult patients (90/122, 74%) utilized only one MTP for all adult bleeding emergencies, while one hospital had no MTP. Of the 31 hospitals that provided more than one adult MTP, 20 provided MTPs specific for obstetric bleeding cases. Of these, 50% (10/20) included at least one pool of cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrate in the first MTP round, compared with 14% (13/90) of the hospitals with one MTP (p = 0.0012). Fifty-seven hospitals provided the clinical indication for 4176 adult and 155 pediatric MTP activations. Although trauma was the single most common indication, the majority of adult (58%) and pediatric (65%) activations were for nontrauma indications.The majority of hospitals use a single MTP to manage massive hemorrhage. The majority of MTP activations were for nontrauma indications.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/trf.15149

    View details for Web of Science ID 000467578600005

    View details for PubMedID 30720872

  • Granulocyte Transfusions in a Cohort of Neutropenic Patients with Life-Threatening Infections and Hematologic Diseases AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY Ediriwickrema, A., Virk, M., Andrews, J. 2019: 3696
  • Severe Underestimation of Serum Na following IVIG Treatment. Laboratory medicine Virk, M. S., Dean, N. P., Wong, E. C. 2018; 49 (4): 372-376

    Abstract

    Current chemistry analyzers measure ion concentration using ion- selective electrodes; however, may differ in the specific technology at the bedside versus the central laboratory. Instruments utilized for point-of-care testing (POCT) at the bedside use direct ion-selective electrodes, whereas central-laboratory analyzers use indirect ion-selective electrodes. Under most circumstances, these instruments will deliver the same result; however, various substances can cause interferences in one or the other. An 18-year-old Hispanic woman with a history of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) presented at Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) with a severe headache and required intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. Because a discrepancy developed between her point-of-care and central-laboratory sodium values, another instrument was used to retest the central-laboratory plasma specimens. The results were more in agreement with those from the point-of-care instrument and revealed a unique interference in sodium measurement related to IVIG use.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/labmed/lmy025

    View details for PubMedID 29897485

  • ABO Antibody Detection with Biolayer Interferometry Virk, M., Khoa Nguyen, Khosravi, M., Miller, E., Tho Pham WILEY. 2018: 145A
  • Rh Immunoprophylaxis for Women With a Serologic Weak D Phenotype. Laboratory medicine Virk, M., Sandler, S. G. 2015; 46 (3): 190-4

    Abstract

    It is standard practice for pregnant RhD-negative women who have not already formed anti-D to receive antepartum Rh immunoprophylaxis and, if they deliver an RhD-positive neonate, to receive postpartum Rh immunoprophylaxis. An estimated 0.6% to 1.0% of white women have red blood cells that express a serologic weak D phenotype. Of these women, approximately 80% will have a weak D type 1, 2, or 3 that could be managed safely as RhD-positive. Surveys of laboratory practice reveal a lack of standards for interpreting the RhD type for women with a serologic weak D and for determining their need for Rh immunoprophylaxis. RhD genotyping is recommended to determine the molecular basis of serologic weak D phenotypes in pregnant women as a basis for determining their candidacy for Rh immunoprophylaxis.

    View details for DOI 10.1309/LMUNUP4FJTUX2GCD

    View details for PubMedID 26199257