The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) aims to educate and create awareness about best transfusion practice, for blood users, through a series of transfusion education poster campaigns that it runs throughout the year. The poster campaigns promote pre-transfusion bedside checks, correct sample labelling and completion of the blood request, reducing blood wastage, reporting of adverse transfusion reactions, look-back investigations, and cost saving tips. The posters are available both electronically and in print.
Blood users can conveniently receive the electronic version of the posters, at their fingertips, when they subscribe to the sms campaigns here; a handy tool for those on the go.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities can display the print version of the posters, to keep best transfusion practice top of mind for blood users. Ideal location points for the posters are: wards that use blood and blood products, doctor’s tearooms and corridors. Printed laminated copies of the posters with complimentary snapper frames for ease of installation, are available on request here.
How to perform a pre-transfusion bedside check
• Two staff members must be present – one reads the information out aloud and the other checks it is correct.
• Start by asking the patient ‘what is your name?’
• Check that the patient’s name, surname and date of birth are the same on the issue document, product and folder.
• Check that the patient’s blood group is the same on the product and issue document.
• Check the expiry time of the product.
• Inspect the product for clots and leaks.
• Make sure that pre-transfusion vital signs are taken before the transfusion starts (ie. pulse, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate).
Please return unused red cell concentrates to the blood bank:
• Within 24 hours from the time issued.
• Provided the unit remains attached to the hamper rod with the cable tie.
• The storage temperature is between 2 ºC – 10 ºC.
Top tip: Only cut the cable tie attaching the product to the hamper rod just before it is used.
Principles to consider before transfusing your patient:
• Consider clinical symptoms, not haemoglobin triggers alone.
• Don’t give red cells for iron deficiency anaemia without hemodynamic instability.
• Give single red cell transfusions for non-bleeding patients.
• Reassess your patient before ordering additional units of blood.
• Avoid excessive blood sampling.
• Make sure patient information on the form and blood sample match exactly.
• Write the information legibly or use a patient sticker.
• Make sure the doctor’s name and contact number are written on the form in the event there is a complication.
• Always include the date and time when the crossmatch blood sample was taken, along with who took the sample – the sample must be less than 48 hours old.
In the event of a suspected reaction:
• Stop the transfusion immediately.
• Call for assistance and notify the patient’s doctor.
• Keep venous access open for the patient with normal saline using a new drip set.
• Manage the specific reaction (eg. allergic reaction, fever, dyspnoea).
• Check that the correct blood product was transfused to the patient by verifying their identity and comparing this to the details on the product.
• Once the patient has been stabilised, notify the blood bank.
• Return all used and un-used blood products, including the giving sets, to the blood bank along with two post-transfusion EDTA patient samples.
• Complete the doctor’s report supplied by the blood bank or available here.
Help us find answers to transfusion-transmissible infection cases by participating in look back investigations.
Cost saving tips for ordering blood products:
• Only order blood products when absolutely necessary.
• Save on blood bank after-hours service fees by ordering non-urgent blood products between 08:00 – 18:00.
• Don’t cut the cable tie attaching the product to the hamper rod until just before the product is transfused.
• Return unused blood to blood bank provided specific requirements are met.
For more information about WCBS transfusion education poster campaigns, contact Hayley Alie, Hospital Liaison Officer (hayleya@wcbs.org,za).