Use of blood and blood products

Timing of sample collection

If a patient has had past exposure to blood or blood products from another individual they may have produced alloantibodies directed against any of the (incompatible) blood group antigens with which they originally came into contact. It is essential that should an individual have been in receipt of blood in the past that a sample be taken prior to any further administration of blood or blood products.

Please consider the following guidance for timing of sample collection in relation to any previous transfusions: -

	Sample to be taken no more than:
Patient transfused or pregnant within last three months	72 hours before transfusion
Patient NOT transfused and NOT pregnant within last three months	7days before transfusion

 

Blood, Blood components and Blood products

Contact the laboratory for any of the following blood transfusion stock by telephone (Ext.: 7894 or bleep 234 during the Out of Hours /On Call period: 8pm to 9am.)  Please check the guidance (above) as to the validity of existing transfusion samples, alternatively laboratory staff will advise you if further transfusion samples are required.

Blood component/ product	Sample(s) required	Special instructions
Red cells	Current ABO and Rh (D) Group and Antibody Screen required	Red Cells transfusion must be commenced a maximum of 30 minutes after withdrawal from the Blood Issue Fridge.
Platelets	ABO and Rh (D) Group required	Must be used immediately Do NOT store at 4°C
Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)	ABO and Rh (D) Group required	Must be used immediately or within 24 hours of thawing if stored at 4°C. Must be used immediately or within 4 hours of thawing if stored at room temperature.
Cryoprecipitate	ABO and Rh (D) Group required	Must be used immediately or within 4 hours of thawing when stored at room temperature   Do not store at 4°C
20% Human Albumin solution (HAS)	Order using pink Blood Transfusion test request form (no sample required)	These are medicinal products and can only be prescribed on a named patient basis.  Any products not used cannot be given to another patient and MUST be returned to the Transfusion Laboratory. Available in 100mL volumes
4.5% Human Albumin solution (HAS)	Order using pink Blood Transfusion test request form (no sample required)	These are medicinal products and can only be prescribed on a named patient basis.  Any products not used cannot be given to another patient and MUST be returned to the Transfusion Laboratory. Available in 50mL, 100mL and 500mL volumes
Recombinant activated Factor VII	MUST be authorised by the Consultant Haematologist	These are medicinal products and can only be prescribed on a named patient basis.  Any products not used cannot be given to another patient and MUST be returned to the Transfusion Laboratory.
Octaplex	MUST be authorised by the Consultant Haematologist	These are medicinal products and can only be prescribed on a named patient basis.  Any products not used cannot be given to another patient and MUST be returned to the Transfusion Laboratory.