Safe transfusion practice requires a final patient identity check to be undertaken at the patient's bedside immediately before commencing the administration of the blood component. This is vital to ensure the right blood is given to the right patient.
Transfusions should only be administered where advanced life support measures are available including oxygen, adrenaline and equipment.
Standard universal precautions should be followed.
Recommended Procedure
- Hospitals must have a written policy for the administration of blood components which should include identification of the staff responsible for different aspects of the procedure.
- Prior to issue and transfusion, components must be inspected visually. The bag/pack is intact- check for pack damage (e.g. cracks or pinholes), tampering or other suggestion that the unit is not suitable for transfusion. If there is any evidence of haemolysis, clot formation, abnormal coloration or a significant colour change in the blood bag as compared with the tubing segments (for red cell components), pack damage (e.g. cracks or pinholes), If the unit is not suitable for transfusion, it must not be transfused and should be returned to the issuing blood bank or ARCBS for further evaluation.
- Transfusion shall not commence until the following has been checked and found to be correct by appropriate staff at the patient’s bedside:
- Patient’s surname, given name, medical record number or date of birth on both the patient’s identification band and the laboratory issue label and the blood product prescription are all identical
- The donation or batch number, blood group and component type against the patient blood group, if applicable and the laboratory issue label are all identical
- Statement of compatibility, if applicable
- Expiry date of the unit has not been exceeded
- Expiry date of the crossmatch has not been exceeded, if applicable.