Blood Transfusion
The Blood Transfusion Department provides a range of tests, which are available over the five sites, New Cross, Russells Hall, Walsall Manor, Sandwell General and MMUH.
The Blood transfusion laboratories offer a 24 hour service for routine and urgent provision of blood and blood components.
We are able to offer a wide range of basic and complex investigations including:
- Blood grouping and red cell phenotyping
- Red cell antibody screening and antibody identification
- Foetal maternal haemorrhage screening and quantification
- Supply of red blood cell components (via serological crossmatch or electronic issue)
- Supply of platelet components
- Supply of plasma components
- Supply of batched blood products
Blood transfusion carries risk and good clinical practice requires that blood components should be prescribed only when the benefit to the patient is likely to outweigh the risks. Prescription of these components shall be in conjunction with the Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule (MSBOS) and individual trust transfusion policies.
The laboratories work to legally required standards as set out in the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations and assessed by Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The Blood Transfusion (BT) department is accredited by UKAS in conformance with ISO 15189:2022. The department is approved by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) as a Training Laboratory and all BT qualified biomedical scientists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The BT service conforms with the UK Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 and an annual compliance report is submitted for review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The Blood Transfusion laboratory is committed to providing a range of specialist services looking at the antigens and antibodies to the many different human blood group systems. BT can provide both standard and highly specialised blood and blood components to meet the diverse requirements of patients and will do so in a timely manner.
BT have a close relationship with hospital clinical colleagues providing education and competency assessment on a range of transfusion topics. The laboratory participates in all relevant Quality Assurance schemes.
General Information
All staff involved in taking blood group samples, authorising (prescribing), collection and administration of blood components and products must be familiar with the respective organisation’s Transfusion Policy. Staff must be trained, and competency assessed in accordance with the requirements set out in the National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC March 2016).
Request Form
It is essential that both paper copies and electronically generated request forms are carefully and fully completed (as shown below): adhesive identity labels may be used as long as this does not obscure any relevant information. It is vital to supply details of the number of units of blood/products to be prepared and the date and time that they are required.
Before making any request, it is essential that the patient’s alerts are reviewed on patient note for possible previous transfusion problems and/or special requirements e.g.: Irradiated components and indicate the presence of any antibodies and any other relevant information included on the request. It is the responsibility of the clinical team to check for the patient alerts referring to transfusion requirements or reactions or significant antibody.
For infants who are younger than four months old, the maternal details must also be included on the request.
Reservation of Unused Blood
Cross-matched blood will be withdrawn at 07:00 on the day after the blood components were originally requested for. After this time, it will be available to be prepared for other patients, and the onus is on the clinician to notify the Transfusion Laboratory if it is considered that the blood will be required after the initial requested period.
This is particularly relevant where a proposed operation is cancelled or postponed. Do not assume that the blood will still be available. A further cross match sample and request may be necessary if blood is again required after it has been withdrawn.
