Unit of blood for transfusionneutrophil (polymorph) white blood cell Red Blood Cells Red Blood Cellsneutrophil (polymorph) white blood cellUnit of blood for transfusion


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Telephone Numbers

 Laboratory extension  49290
 External direct line  0121 311 0982
 Dr Matthew Lumley (Consultant Lead for Transfusion)    47196 or via switchboard
 Jenny Meredith (Blood Bank Manager)    49290/49213
 Antoinette Turner (Transfusion  Practitioner)    Bleep 8415
 Jayne Khorsandi (Transfusion Practitioner)  Bleep 6078

 

24 Hour Service

The Department operates a 24 hr service, 7 days a week.
To ensure that immediate attention is given to emergency requests, particularly crossmatches, doctors must phone the laboratory to ensure that staff are aware of the priority. It is the responsibility of the requesting doctor to ensure the sample is sent to the Department.

Core Hours (08:30 - 17:30 Monday to Friday) telephone Ext 49290/49213

Out of hours bleep 8779

 

Samples

Samples for Group and Crossmatch should be sent in 6ml (pink cap) bottles.
All samples for blood transfusion must be properly identified. Samples should be dated and signed by the person taking the blood.

The following information is therefore essential:

  • Surname
  • Forename
  • Date of Birth
  • Hospital Number
  • Gender
In accordance with National Guidelines, samples will be rejected 
unless full patient data is handwritten on the sample tube label.

All unlabelled and inadequately labelled samples will be immediately discarded to protect the patient.
Please do not ask Blood Bank staff if sample labelling can be altered.

For proper identification of patients for blood transfusion in extreme emergencies only, 'unknown male' or 'unknown female' and a unique Hospital case number should be used when the patient's identity is not known.

 

Completion of request forms

General Guidance on completing request form can be found on Haematology page.

Blood bank requests require additional information, please complete as stated below.

 

Blood bank requests In-patient GP patient
Category Circle if patient is NHS, Cat 2 or Private Patient
Previous transfusion Circle either yes or no.
Previous pregnancy Circle either yes or no.
Date required Write in the date the test or product is required for.
Time required Write in the time the test or product is required for.
Group and save Tick the box if a group is required
Blood number of units Write in the number of units of blood required
Other products Write in any other products required in abbreviated or in full e.g. Fresh frozen plasma or FFP.
Special requirements Write in any special requirements e.g. CMV negative products.
Blood group Write the patient’s blood group (when known) in space provided.
Known antibodies Write in the space provided if the patient has any known antibodies.
Haemoglobin Write in box provided the most recent haemoglobin where known.

 

 

 

Transfusion in Extreme Emergency

In the event of extreme emergency, please telephone the Blood Bank Biomedical Scientist to determine how quickly matched blood can be provided.
If transfusion must be given immediately, without matching, 2 units of Group O Rh Negative blood are normally kept at each of the following locations: -

          Ground floor Theatre - Reception
          Maternity - Labour Ward
          Pathology - Blood Bank

It is imperative that the Blood Bank Biomedical Scientist be notified if 
any emergency Group O Rh Negative blood is used.


Warning - uncrossmatched 'O' Negative blood may cause a reaction 
in patients with anomalous red cell antibodies.

Appropriate blood product usage

Please refer to the guidelines on the front of the request form


Other (non Red Cell) Blood Products

20% human albumin solutions can be obtained from the laboratory on submission of a transfusion request form.

All requests for 4.5% albumin will be referred to a Consultant Haematologist.

For Platelets and Plasma products (e.g. FFP and Cryoprecipitate), please contact the Duty Consultant Haematologist for advice.

 

Routine Tests

Test Specimen/Volume TubeCap Performed/Reported
Antenatal blood group and antibody screen 2x6ml EDTA 

Referred to NBS
Antibody screen
(non-ante natal cases)		 1 x 6 ml EDTA

Daily
Blood Group  1 x 6 ml EDTA

Daily
Coombs Test 1 x 4.5 ml EDTA

Daily
Cross Match * 1 x 6 ml EDTA

Daily
Cold agglutinins.
(Maintain sample at 37c )		 1 x red tube 

As required
HLA B27 1 x 4.5 ml EDTA

Monday - Friday
Platelet Antibodies - as required Contact Blood bank for exact sample requirement.
* 24 hours notice is desirable for elective cases. Note that if blood is required for 9.00 am, the sample should be received in the laboratory before 3.00 pm on the previous day. 

 

Kleihauer Tests

For >20wk ante natal women who have a bleeding incident during pregnancy :

Test Specimen/Volume TubeCap Performed/Reported
Kleihauer (Hb F) 4ml EDTA

Daily

Post Natal check for Rhesus Negative mothers :

Test Specimen/Volume TubeCap Performed/Reported
Kleihauer (Hb F) 4 ml clotted from Baby (cord)

Daily
 6 ml EDTA From Mother

 

Prophylactic anti-D will be issued if appropriate

Specimen Transport and Storage

Specimen should not be subjected to excessive heat or cold. All samples should be sent as soon as possible after collection.

 

 

 

Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule (MSBOS)

All transfusion requirements for operations will be supplied in accordance with the current Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule (MSBOS). If the operation may require more units of blood than usual please inform Blood Bank, or write "Difficult Case" on the request form.

                           MSBOS General Surgery

Cholecystectomy G&S
Splenectomy  G&S
Splenectomy for ITP/AIHA 4
Laparotomy G&S
Liver Biopsy G&S
Vagotomy G&S
Gastrotomy, ileostomy, colostomy G&S
Oesophageal dilation G&S
Hiatus hernia G&S
Partial Gastrectomy G&S
 Mastectomy G&S
Thyroidectomy G&S
Pancreatectomy - partial / Whipple 4
Rectum - pouch: resection / excision etc 2
Intra-abdominal - colectomy etc 2

                           MSBOS Vascular Surgery

Amputation of leg G&S
Femoral endarterectomy G&S
Carotid endarterectomy G&S
 Femoral-popliteal bypass G&S
Axillo-femoral bypass 2
Aorto-femoral bypass 2
Bifemoral bypass 4
Aorto-iliac bypass 2
Aorto-iliac endartectomy 2
Infra-renal aortic aneurysm 4
Thoracic or thoraco-abdominal aneurysm 4-6
Ruptured aneurysm 10 (Variable)

 

                           MSBOS NeuroSurgery

Disc surgery G&S
Laminectomy G&S

 

                           MSBOS Orthopaedics
Arthroplasty 2
Nailing fractured neck of femur G&S
Spinal fusion G&S
 Laminectomy  G&S
Internal fixation of femur 2
Internal fixation - tibia or ankle G&S
Changing hip prosthesis (THR) G&S or 2
Dynamic hip screw (DHS) 2
Revision of THR 2
Revision of TKR 2

 

                          

 

 

                            MSBOS Urology

Cystectomy  4
Cystectomy and urethrectomy  6
Nephrectomy 2
Open prostatectomy (RPP) 2
TURP G&S
TUR bladder tumour G&S

 

                          MSBOS Obstetrics & Gynaecology

LSCS G&S
EPRC / D & C G&S
Hydatitiform mole 2
Placenta Praevia / retained placenta 2 (variable)
APH / PPH 2 (variable)
Hysterectomy: abdominal or vaginal - simple G&S
Werthelm's operation 4
 Pelvic exenteration 6
Vulvectomy (radical) 2
Myomectomy G&S or 2
Oophrectomy (radical) 4
Termination of pregnancy G&S