Two units of emergency O Rh D Negative blood are held in the blood issues fridge in Pathology. When required they should be taken in the cool box provided. They must be returned to the blood bank immediately if they are not used. It is essential to complete the labels on these units of blood and return them to the Blood Transfusion Department if the blood is used, in order to complete the audit trail. The Blood Transfusion department MUST be informed when they are taken so that they can be replaced.
The Blood Transfusion Department is served by the National Blood Service Centre at Southampton. There is a daily routine delivery of blood and blood products. The orders have to be placed by 09.30am on the date of delivery. Urgent deliveries will be made at any time by BTS if we run short of blood, however these will be generate an additional charge. If blood is required urgently it can be requested blood by “blue light” and it will be with us within 45 minutes. Orders for platelets should be in the laboratory by 09.30am each day so that the Transfusion Department can plan their workload effectively.
For more details on blood transfusion in clinical practice see “Standards in Blood Transfusion Practice”, a copy of this document is held on each ward area.
