Correct procedure for checking blood components for administration
November 25, 2021
The transfusion practitioners would like to clarify the correct procedure for checking blood components for administration as there is a lack of clarity especially with the unit numbers not visible on Unity.
The unit number on Unity has never been part of the checking procedure for the administration of blood components and therefore it’s lack of visibility should not be a reason to delay a transfusion.
The correct checking procedure is as follows:
Patient checks:
- Ask the patient to confirm their full name and date of birth
- Check this matches on their wristband
- Check the patient’s full name, date of birth and hospital number match exactly on their wristband, prescription and the compatibility tag that is attached to the bag.
Blood bag checks:
- Check the blood bag for clots, leaks, damage or discolouration
- Check the expiry date
- Are the donor blood group and patient blood group compatible?
- Check the unit number on the compatibility tag match the number on the bag
- Check for any special requirements (Bloor Warmer/Irradiated/CMV neg)
Note: Remember this requires two independent checks.
Sampling for blood transfusion: When requesting blood for transfusion, please ensure that two samples for cross match are sent initially to verify the patient’s blood group on the new laboratory database. Subsequent requests for bloods will require only one sample. These samples should be taken either by 2 separate people or 30 minutes apart. This will help to enable rapid provision of cross matched blood. Please contact Blood Bank for any queries: 0121 507 4251 (City) or 0121 507 3110 (Sandwell).
There is lots of helpful information such as an administration checking procedure video and blood transfusion bedside checklists available on the blood transfusion pages on Connect.
Please contact the transfusion practitioner team for any further advice or guidance by emailing swbh.bloodtransfusion@nhs.net or calling ext. 2494.