1. Verify physician order for type and crossmatch.

2. Place patient labels on large red top tube Patient label includes patient name and hospital ID#.

3. Use a ballpoint pen and press hard when writing: patient name, ID#, date specimen collected, and initials of person collecting specimen.

3. Blood samples, which are missing any of this information, are rejected. A new sample will then need to be drawn and properly labeled.

4. Identify the patient using at least 2 forms of identification, ex., hospital identification bracelet, MAS data, asking the patient to state his/her name. Or the new picture hospital card. Sign blood product request form indicating you verified patient Identification.

4. The major cause of acute transfusion-related death is error in identification. Patient identification is the most important step in the transfusion procedure.

5. Collect blood specimen in large red top tube. If venipuncture required, use 20 gauge needle or larger for adults and a 22 or 23 gauge needle for children.

5. To prevent hemolysis of the blood sample, a 22 gauge needle or larger should be used to obtain the blood sample. The minimum sample volume needed is 8 ml. Will have to draw one tube for each two units.

6. Keep in mind the expiration dates of crosmatches for most hospitals.

7. Check physician’s order to determine:

1. 1. product to be administered
   2. number of units or volume to be administered
   3. date to be administered
   4. special processing
   5. duration of infusion
   6. pre-medication orders, if indicated

7. .

6. Allow 30 – 60 minutes for oral medications, 10 minutes for IV medications to become effective.

8. For whole blood, red blood cells or granulocytes, verify in the computer or with the blood bank.results of:

1. 1. blood grouping
   2. Rh type
   3. number of units crossmatched
   4. number of units set up

9. Verify informed consent has been obtained and signed in the past year, except for emergency transfusions.

9. Consent required for ALL blood products.

10. Ensure the inpatient is wearing hospital ID bracelet.

10. Required for ALL blood products.

11. Establish or verify patency of peripheral or central venous access device.

11. When infusion pump is used, 20 gauge needle or larger is recommended to prevent lysis of red blood cells. 23-gauge needlecan be used for transfusing pediatric patients.

12. Obtain and record patient’s baseline vital signs.

12. Febrile patients destroy cells rapidly. If febrile, notify physician to decide if transfusion can wait or if patient should receive acetaminophen as a pre- medication.

13. When the patient is ready to be transfused, take pick up slip to blood bank to obtain blood.

13. There should be a four hour time lapse between completing infusion of Amphotericin and beginning transfusion of granulocytes or vice versa. It is advisable that all other blood products be separated from Amphotericin by two hours. Blood products must be hung within 30 minutes of leaving the Blood Bank refrigerator. The Blood Bank will usually only release one blood product at a time. However, with physician phone call multiple units may be issued during an emergency. Blood products MUST NEVER be placed in the refrigerator on the patient care unit.

14. Check the appearance of unit for presence of clots, clumps or abnormal cloudiness, and integrity of seals.

14. If appearance is suspicious, return it to Blood Bank, as it may not be appropriate for infusion.

15. Two qualified health professionals trained in blood administration procedures compare:

1. Blood product received on the unit to product requested in the medical order.
2. Blood type and Rh type recorded in computer with the container bag and container label ensuring that they are either identical or compatible.

3. The blood product number on the blood container with the product number on the blood container tag.

4. Compare the expiration date and time, if present, on the blood container label to the current date and time.

2. 2. All three records must correspond exactly.
   3. All identification attached to the container must remain attached until the transfusion has been terminated.

16. Immediately before the transfusion, in the presence of the recipient, two qualified health professionals identify the patient using at least 2 forms of identification:

1. Verify the patient’s name and medical record number on the blood unit with the information on the recipient’s identification bracelet and the information recorded in the patient record.
2. Ask the patient to state his/her name.
3. Verify the information on the patient wristband and blood unit.

16. The major cause of acute transfusion-related death is error in identification. Proper patient and unit identification is one of the most important steps in the transfusion process. If any discrepancy is noted, notify Blood Bank at once and return the blood product until the discrepancy is resolved.

3. Identify patients with patient hospital ID band or hospital label and ask the patient to state their name. Correlate this information with blood component’s tag.

17. .

1. Prime the administration set with the blood product or 0.9% Sodium Chloride.
2. Add a three-way stopcock onto the end of the blood administration set. Have 0.9% Sodium Chloride solution and IV tubing unopened and available in room for emergency use or attached to stopcock.
3. If a leukocyte-depletion filter is indicated, follow the manufacturer’s and blood Bank instructions for set up.

17. .

1. Use of other IV solutions damages blood components.
2. During a reaction, 0.9% Sodium Chloride may be administered through the stopcock without infusing the additional blood product in the tubing
3. Leukocyte depletion filter may be used to prevent repeat febrile reactions, decrease the risk of CMV transmission, and decrease the risk of alloimmunization. Do not flush filter with saline. Leukocyte depletion filters are not to be used when administering granulocytes.

18. Connect the blood administration set to the IV extension set either directly or through the intermittent infusion cap via needleless system.

19. For adults:

1. Adjust the rate of flow to 2-5 cc/min during the first five minutes of platelets or plasma infusions or 2cc/min for the first 15 minutes for whole blood, RBC, or granulocytes. Patient should be observed closely for the first 15 minutes.

For pediatric patients:

2. Adjust the rate of flow to transfuse 5% of the total volume ordered in the first five minutes of platelet or plasma infusion or in the first 15 minutes of whole blood, RBC’s or granulocyte infusion. Remain with the patient for the first 15 minutes after the start of the infusion.

19. .

1. A volumetric infusion pump may be used to administer blood products.
   Symptoms of an immediate adverse reaction are usually manifested during infusion of the initial 50 cc. If an incompatible transfusion is terminated early, acute renal necrosis and death may be prevented.
2. For pediatric patients, volume of blood products (excluding granulocytes) to be transfused should be ordered based on the child’s weight, i.e. 10 - 15 ml/kg.

20. At the end of the first 15 minutes, obtain and record TPR and BP. If vital signs are within normal range and the patient has no signs/symptoms of an adverse reaction, change the rate to infuse the unit within the time period specified in the physician’s order.

20. The desirable rate of infusion depends upon patient’s blood volume, cardiac status, and hemodynamic condition. Suggested rates for adults are:

1. PRBCs: 100-230 cc/hr
2. Granulocytes: 75-100 cc/hr
3. Plasma/platelets: 200 – 300 cc/hr

The volume of a plateletpheresis bag varies from 120 cc to 400 cc. The entire platelet product should be given within one hour, if possible.

21. Continue to monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of adverse reaction during transfusion and 1 hour post- transfusion. If patient experiences a transfusion reaction while transfusion is in progress, immediately stop the transfusion. Maintain patency of line with normal saline and notify MD.

21. .

1. 1. Adverse transfusion reactions can occur anytime during or after the transfusion.
   2. For treatment of adverse transfusion reactions: see Clinical Pathology and Transfusion Medicine Guide "Adverse Reactions to Transfusions".

22. Complete transfusion as ordered not to exceed four hours. Tubing sets can be used for second unit of blood if used within four hours.

22. Increased possibility of contamination and decreased viability of cells if prolonged.

23. At the conclusion of a blood product transfusion in which no adverse reaction occurred:

1. Obtain 10 - 60 minute post transfusion CBC for post-count as indicated.
2. Flush the blood administration set with 0.9% Sodium Chloride until the tubing is clear.
3. Obtain and record vital signs.
4. Disconnect and discard the empty blood product container in a contamination red bag.

23. Do not flush leukocyte filters with saline.