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Collection of pretransfusion blood samples

Avoiding errors of incompatibility is essential for patient safety. Pretransfusion sampling and compatibility testing should ensure that the correct type of blood component is given to the recipient.

You must collect blood samples for pretransfusion compatibility testing according to local standard operating procedures. 

Recommended procedure

  • Follow your hospital policy on pretransfusion sample collection, which should detail who can collect samples for pretransfusion testing

  • Only bleed one patient at a time to minimise the risk of error

  • You must label the sample immediately after adding the blood, before leaving the patient

  • Never prelabel sample tubes

  • You must label the sample tubes with the following:

    • patient’s surname and given name in full

    • unique patient identification number and/or date of birth

    • date and time of collection

    • signature or initials of the collector

  • It is strongly recommended that you do not use addressograph labels, which must comply with all label requirements (as above) if you use them

  • As the blood sample collector, you must sign both the request form and the sample label to verify patient identification

    • Check identity by asking the patient to state and spell his or her name, and check the wrist band

    • Check that the request form and sample match the patient and wrist band

  • Your hospital blood bank must have policies for dealing with inadequately completed request forms, inadequately labelled samples and discrepancies of information on the request form and sample

  • Your hospital blood bank must verify the patient’s ABO and Rh(D) group (and antibody screen if available) against previous patient records

    • Any discrepancies should be resolved before blood components are issued

  • Your hospital blood bank must have a policy for documenting telephone requests

  • Blood grouping or crossmatching requests should be refused if the request form or blood sample identification is incomplete or incorrect

References

  1. British Committee for Standards in Haematology. The administration of blood and blood components and the management of transfused patients. Transfusion Medicine 1999;9:227–238.
  2. Australasian Society of Blood Transfusion. Guidelines for pretransfusion laboratory practice. Australia, NSW, 2000.
Updated on 10 September 2010