Improved Adverse Transfusion Reactions Reporting
The reporting of adverse transfusion reactions by clinicians forms a vital part of the haemovigilance surveillance system. Transfusions have risks, so this information is needed for the blood services in South Africa to carefully monitor how to improve patient safety.
Suspected adverse transfusion reactions are investigated by the designated Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) Blood Bank and Immunohaematology Laboratories, then classified according to international haemovigilance definitions that are summarised and reported in the annual haemovigilance reports. The individual transfusion reports have traditionally been posted to the hospital for filing in the patient’s record, but this system has been revised to meet POPIA standards. The clinician completing the formal doctor’s report is now asked to include their email address, which the final document is sent to. WCBS will also record the outcome of the transfusion reaction investigation in the Blood Bank database, which was not done previously. For patients with complicated reactions (e.g. transfusion associated circulatory overload, transfusion related acute lung injury, repeated allergic reactions), an instruction will be made in the patient’s record for Blood Bank staff to notify the clinician ordering subsequent or future blood products for that patient.
For more information about adverse transfusion reaction reporting, please contact Dr Caroline Hilton – Lead Medical Consultant (caroline@wcbs.org.za).
