Australian Red Cross Blood Service

Monitor the patient's vital signs before, during and after the transfusion.

Monitor the patient’s vital signs (pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and temperature):

• at the start of transfusion

• at least 15 minutes thereafter, and

• at the end of the transfusion. 

Closely observe the patient for the first 15 minutes as life-threatening reactions may occur even with only a small volume of blood is transfused.

Discontinue the transfusion if an adverse reaction occurs and initiate appropriate therapy without delay.

Do not resume transfusion without a thorough clinical review.

Immediately report all significant adverse reactions of transfusion, including possible bacterial contamination of a blood component or suspected disease transmission, to the transfusing facility’s laboratory or blood bank and the Blood Service.

In the case of a transfusion reaction, retain the remainder of any implicated blood components for further investigation.