Ordering of Blood Products
Note: The majority of transfusion errors are of a clerical nature.
- The same care and consideration must be taken with ordering blood transfusion as for the prescription of a dangerous drug.
- Blood must be ordered on the appropriate blood transfusion request form which must be completed as printed. No forms are acceptable unless they show the full particulars of the patient including surname, first names and patient identification number or date of birth which should be obtained from the identification bracelet. For group and hold or cross-match, send 6 mL blood in EDTA tube (pink top).
- A sample of the patient's blood must accompany the requisition form. All samples must be labelled by ballpoint pen or ink as soon as they are taken, at the patient's bedside with details from the patient's wristband and must be word and letter perfect. The sample must be signed. Self-adhesive labels are not acceptable on samples for compatibility testing.
- Orders for non-urgent transfusion must reach the Blood Bank during normal laboratory hours, and in any case at least two hours before the blood is needed. Please state when the blood is needed.
- Blood is issued on demand within Christchurch and Christchurch Women's Hospitals and by request at other CDHB hospitals.
- A Christchurch audit revealed that 25% of patients were transfused to an excessively high haemoglobin level. If the haemoglobin is >110 g/L, a transfusion is rarely justified.
- In an adult, 1 unit of blood will raise the haemoglobin by 10 g/L.
See Request for Blood Components or Products form
Topic Code: 5098
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