Basingstoke and north hampshire hospital pathology user handbook

Blood Transfusion Section

Roger Chant Transfusion Specialist Practitioner Ext 4756

Dr Sylwia Simpson Lead Consultant For Transfusion Ext 3296

Transfusion laboratory Ext 3290
The Blood Transfusion Issue Blood Bank is located on B Floor in the Pathology Department. There is a locked door via the reception area. The code for this door will be found at each ward station. All blood issued for transfusion, Emergency O Rh D Negative Blood, Fresh Frozen Plasma and Cryo Precipitate will be found in this Blood Bank. Platelets need to be stored at room temperature and so will be found on the bench next to the Blood Bank Register.

Blood and Blood Component Traceability

From November 2005, the EU Directives have made it essential for all Trusts to be able to trace blood and blood component transfusions from vein to vein, ie donor to recipient.

In this Trust the requirement is met by use of the Blood Transfusion Report which staff involved MUST complete and sign. Each unit must be checked at the bedside and report signed that the patient has received the unit of blood with the date and time of start and finish. All the essential observations must be documented on this sheet and the bottom copy returned to the Transfusion Department when the transfusion is complete. Failure to complete and record this information makes the Trust liable in criminal law.

Please ensure that this confirmation of all blood and blood components transfused is recorded and the bottom sheet returned to the Transfusion Department immediately after the transfusion.

Grouping and Crossmatching

The laboratory has a fully automated analyser for processing Blood Group and Antibody Screens, on Trust Patients and antenatal requests. Crossmatches for operations are only performed according to the blood order schedule (see “Indications of blood transfusion requests”) otherwise the sample is held for a Group and Save. Deviations from the blood order schedule must be accompanied by a valid reason on the request form. Patients scheduled for major operations should have a group and screen sample taken at the pre-operative assessment clinic for testing, the request for crossmatch may then be taken on admission (usually the day before the operation) unless otherwise stated on the report. Failure to take a group and screen sample at pre-operative assessment may cause a delay in providing compatible blood to cover the operation, if the patient has atypical antibodies.

Emergency crossmatches are performed as soon as the sample is received in the laboratory. It is essential to phone the laboratory when an emergency crossmatch is required.