Transfusion Medicine Services for Health Professionals

Label and Component Information Kit

National Blood Management System

All barcodes on the National Blood Management System (NBMS) blood component release label are Codabar with the following characteristics:

  • Component codes: Start code "A0" plus 5-character numeric component code plus Stop Code "3B".
  • Blood group codes: Start code "D" plus 3-character numeric blood group code plus Stop Code "B".
    Label number: Start code "A" plus 7-character donation number plus Stop Code "A". See below for details of its use.
  • Donation number codes: Start code "D" plus 7-character donation number plus Stop Code "D".
  • Expiry date: Start code “A” plus 8-character date number (DDMMYYYY) plus Stop Code “A”. The eye readable portion also has the time (hh:mm) - this is not barcoded. This will be recorded as 23:59 for all components that have an expiry in days. The actual time of expiry (in hours and minutes) will be recorded for components that have an expiry measured in hours. The time of expiry is calculated either from the collection time or the preparation time, depending on the component. A list of components for which the time of expiry is calculated from the time of preparation is provided in the table below. The time of expiry for all other components is calculated from the time of collection.

Components for which time of expiry is calculated from time of preparation 
  • Irradiated red cells
  • Hyper concentrated components
  • Deglycerolised components
  • Red cells for intrauterine transfusion

The following information will be physically printed on the labels:

  • Label number. This is the same as the donation number but the start and stop codes are different, namely "A" and "A". This number is used by the NBMS to identify the on demand printed label and it is scanned into the system along with the donation number to ensure the label has been place on the correct pack. This number must always be the same as the donation number. Platelet pools have a unique donation number, linking back to the ABO identical donations in the pool.
  • Collection date in eye readable form only. Note that platelet pools will have the preparation date (not the collection date); however the expiry date will be calculated from the earliest collection date of the components in the pool.
  • Blood group. (ABO and Rh D) in text and barcode format.
  • Component name in text and barcode format § Component volume in mL - text only.
  • Storage temperature - text only.
  • Modifiers such as CMV, Low Anti-A/B and irradiation status - text only.
  • Phenotype results if applicable. Text only.

If Underlined = Tested once on this donation.

If NOT Underlined = Tested historically (NOT on this donation).

If BOLD = Phenotyping has been confirmed by testing on 2 occasions on 2 different donations.

Note: Phenotype results are advisory only. Red Cells negative for the corresponding antigen(s) should be selected when the patient has a clinically significant antibody or has a history of a clinically significant antibody. The selected red cells should be crossmatched by an IAT technique. (ANZSBT Guidelines for Pretransfusion Laboratory Practice 5th Edition 2007) The label will have the following additional information printed:

Main Bag Label

Pack label showing warnings

Examples of National Blood Management System labels

Red Cell label

Label showing phenotypes
Platelet Label

LABEL CODE DESCRIPTORS

Unique Identifiers


UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
Donation number (on pack) D D
Donation number (on label)A  A

Blood Group Codes

BLOOD GROUP CODES
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
O Rh POSITIVED510B
O Rh NEGATIVED950B
A Rh POSITIVED620B
A Rh NEGATIVED060B
B Rh POSITIVED730B
B Rh NEGATIVED170B
AB Rh POSITIVED840B
AB Rh NEGATIVED280B
Oh Rh POSITIVED520B
Oh Rh NEGATIVED960B

Components - Whole Blood

COMPONENTS - WHOLE BLOOD
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
FRESH WHOLE BLOOD LEUCODEPLETEDAO001563B

Components - Red Cells

COMPONENTS - RED CELLS
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
RED CELLS in SAG-M 1 of 4
Leucocyte depleted
AO343813B
RED CELLS in SAG-M 2 of 4
Leucocyte depleted
AO343823B
RED CELLS in SAG-M 3 of 4
Leucocyte depleted
AO343833B
RED CELLS in SAG-M 4 of 4
Leucocyte depleted
AO343843B
RED CELLS in SAG-M
Leucocyte depleted
AO043903B
RED CELLS 
Leucocyte Depleted Washed in SAG-M
 
AO048803B
RED CELLS
Deglycerolised
AO064003B

Components - Other Cellular

COMPONENTS - OTHER CELLULAR
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
PLATELETS
Apheresis Leucocyte Depleted
AO126103B
PLATELETS 1 of 2
Apheresis Leucocyte Depleted
AO126113B
PLATELETS 2 of 2
Apheresis Leucocyte Depleted
AO126123B

PLATELETS POOLED IN SSP+
Leucocyte depleted

AO12320  

PLATELETS Apheresis in SSP+
Leucocyte depleted

AO 12310  

PLATELETS 1 of 2 Apheresis in SSP+
Leucocyte depleted

AO 12311  

PLATELETS 2 of 2 in SSP+
Leucocyte depleted

AO 12312  
PLATELETS 1 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326413B
PLATELETS 2 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326423B
PLATELETS 3 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326433B
PLATELETS 4 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326443B
PLATELETS 1 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326453B
PLATELETS 2 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326463B
PLATELETS 3 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326473B
PLATELETS 4 of 4 Apheresis
Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted
AO326483B

Components - Clinical Plasma

COMPONENTS - CLINICAL PLASMA
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
CRYOPRECIPITATEAO101003B
CRYOPRECIPITATE
Apheresis
AO101103B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMAAO182003B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Apheresis
AO182103B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
1 of 2 Apheresis
AO182113B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
2 of 2 Apheresis
AO182123B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Paediatric 1 of 4
AO182413B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Paediatric 2 of 4
AO182423B

FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Paediatric 3 of 4

AO182433B
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Paediatric 4 of 4
AO182443B
CRYO-DEPLETED PLASMAAO184003B
CRYO-DEPLETED PLASMA
Apheresis
AO184103B

SERUM EYE DROPS                                                      
PROGESA Barcode
Start Code
Component Code
Stop Code
SERUM EYE DROPS in Saline Part 1 of 6AO200913B
SERUM EYE DROPS in Saline Part 2 of 6AO200923B
SERUM EYE DROPS in Saline Part 3 of 6AO200933B
SERUM EYE DROPS in Saline Part 4 of 6AO200943B
SERUM EYE DROPS in Saline Part 5 of 6AO200953B
SERUM EYE DROPS in Saline Part 6 of 6AO200963B

Modifiers

Modifier TextExplanation
IrradiatedThe component has been irradiated and the expiry has been reduced to 14 days post-irradiation.  The component will also have a RADSURE label to indicate that irradiation was performed.
Irradiated NEONATALThe component has been ordered for a neonatal transfusion and has been irradiated. The expiry has been reduced to 48 hours post-irradiation.  The component will also have a RADSURE label to indicate that irradiation was performed.
Hyper concentratedThe supernatant has been removed from the red cell component and the expiry reduced to 48 hours post-hyper concentration.
Hyper concentrated PlateletsThe supernatant has been removed from the platelet component and the expiry reduced to 6 hours post-hyper concentration.
DirectedA directed component is one that has been collected from a selected donor known to the patient, usually a close relative of the patient. The component is reserved for that patient. Such components are always irradiated. They will also have a blue label with the patient details attached.
Hyper concentrated/IrradiatedThe supernatant has been removed and the component has been irradiated. The expiry is reduced to 24 hours post-hyperconcentration/Irradiation.
Irradiated for IUTThe component has been ordered for an intrauterine transfusion and has been irradiated. The expiry is reduced to 24 hours post-irradiation.
For Intrauterine transfusionThe component has been ordered for an Intrauterine transfusion. Therefore the expiry has been reduced to 48 hours post-application of the modifier (eg. washing).
CMV NegativeThe originating donor sample/donation has been tested for CMV antibody and is negative.
Not NAT TestedDue to extenuating circumstances, (e.g, machine failure or specific clinical demand) this component has been released without nucleic acid technology (NAT) testing being performed. A disclaimer form will accompany these components.
Low Anti-TThe originating donor sample/donation has been tested and Anti-T was not detected.
IgA DeficientThe originating donor sample/donation has been tested and is IgA deficient.
Suitable for ResearchThe component is deemed unsuitable for clinical use, but may be used for research purposes. (Note that this will never be issued to a clinical customer for transfusion).
Secretor Plasma Le(b+)The component is from a Le (a-b+) donor and, as such, is suitable for absorption of Lewis antibodies. Suitable for transfusion.
Not for Neonatal useThe component has been deemed unsuitable for neonatal use due to the presence of red cell antibodies (low titre only).It should not be transfused to a neonate.
Phenotype ReserveThe originating donor sample/donation or previous testing of donor has had an extended phenotype performed and forms part of a panel of cells reserved for patients with antibodies or where antigen negative blood is otherwise specifically required.
Low Anti-A/BThe originating donor sample/donation has low levels of Anti A, B haemolysins.
Autol release - See disclaimerThis autologous component has tested positive for one or more viral markers but has been released upon request by the patient’s physician. A disclaimer form will accompany these components.