Abstract: The instant application is to compositions, kits and methods to determine if a person in need of a blood transfusion is at-risk for TRALI. The invention includes embodiments of methods for testing the priming activity of a blood component or serum or plasma from a patient sustaining TRALI or the priming status of neutrophils of a patient at risk for TRALI by exposing the neutrophils to samples or priming agents, and measuring the respiratory burst in response to an activating agent. The respiratory burst may then be compared to a pre-determined value to find if the patient has abnormally high respiratory burst or the plasma or serum samples have priming activity. The present invention also contemplates kits designed to measure respiratory burst, and compositions/reagents to be used in same.