Clinical Laboratory

BLOOD BANK
1) CORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF PATIENT
Correct Identification of the Intended Recipient and Labeling of Sample at the Time of Blood Collection.
	a.	The intended recipient must be positively identified. Identify the potential recipient by open-ended questions and check information in bracelet. The recipient should be identified by full name and hospital or ID number.
	b.	Samples must be individually identified by a label bearing the recipient's full name and hospital or ID number. To avoid mixing-up of samples, handle one request at a time. Label the sample at bedside and attach it to the blood/blood components request form before leaving the patient.

2) SUFFICIENT INFORMATION IN REQUEST FORM

Sufficient information must be included in the Request Form

The request form must contain sufficient information for positive identification of the recipient.

The person who draws the blood must be traceable.
The person who draws the blood should sign the request form at the space provided and accountable for sampling error.

The blood/blood components request form should specify the nature and amount of blood/blood components required and indicate the degree of urgency.

Previous blood/blood components request forms, if available, should accompany the present request. If blood group is known please indicated.

4) TYPE OF SAMPLE FOR COMPATIBILITY TEST

The sample should be adequate and be safely packaged.

Sample must be sent to laboratory without delay

The serological findings must be valid at the time of transfusion. For patients who have received transfusion or have been pregnant in the preceding 3 months, or if the history is unavailable, the sample for compatibility test should be obtained within 3 days of the scheduled transfusion.

Request

Type of sample

Whole blood or Packed Red Cell

Buffy Coat or Washed Red Cell

Adult : 4ml clotted blood in plain tube

and 2ml EDTA blood

Infant : 2ml clotted blood in plain tube

and 1 ml EDTA blood

Platelet concentrate, Fresh Frozen Plasma

or Cryoprecipitate

2ml clotted blood in plain tube

and 2ml EDTA blood

5) REJECTION OF SAMPLE

The Blood Bank will not accept sample, which shows discrepancy in labeling between the form and the blood sample.

The blood Bank will not accept unlabelled or wrongly labelled blood sample.

6) TURNAROUND TIME and UNMATCHED BLOOD

The Pre-transfusion test procedure takes around 1.5 to 2 hours for the initial request.

Unmatched blood is issued only by request of the clinicians.
The clinicians should sign on the form at the space specified. The clinicians will be informed about the compatibility test result once the test is complete.

Cross-matching for elective operation should be sent one day prior to date of operation. Request should reach the Blood Bank before 4:00pm on weekdays and 12:00 noon on Saturday.

7) RESERVATION OF BLOOD UNIT

Assigned whole blood or packed red cells normally will be hold for 3 days for each single request. Reservation of blood may be extended only after giving proper notification to the hospital BLOOD BANK.

8) RETURN OF BLOOD UNIT

Blood or blood component taken to ward but not for immediate use should be returned to BLOOD BANK instantly. Under all circumstances, keep all blood products in correct storage temperature. (e.g. Packed cells 4oC, Platelet concentrate 20 - 24oC, etc)

9) AVAILABLE BLOOD PRODUCTS

The Hong Kong Red Cross supplies the following blood products for clinical use:

TYPE OF PRODUCTS	REMARKS/ INDICATION
Packed Red Cells	General Use approx. 230 - 360 ml (HCT 0.40 - 0.54)
Whole Blood	For patient with > 25% loss of blood volume, 395 + 24 ml
Fresh Whole Blood	In small volume for paediatric use
Leukocyte-poor Red Cells	Severe & recurrent febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions
Washed Red Cells	Plasma depletion, IgA deficiency, PNH
Platelet Concentrate	Store at 20 - 24^oC Short shelf life (5-days)
Buffy Coat	Store at 20 - 24^oC Use within 24 hrs
Fresh Frozen Plasma	Treatment/Prophylaxis of bleeding episodes
Cryoprecipitate	Treatment of Factor deficiency & Bleeding tendency
CMV-seronegative Blood Components	Low-weight neonates (<1.2 kg) Seronegative transplant recipients
Irradiated Blood Components	Transplant recipients Congenital immunodeficiency syndromes

10) SPECIAL REQUEST

For multi-mini-packed cells or irradiated blood request, special arrangement with Red Cross will take one working day to complete the process. Therefore request will not be satisfied on the same day.

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