Blood transfusion team

Dr E O’Donovan
Consultant Lead Blood Transfusion		 x2198
Mrs Rashmi Rook
Lead Biomedical Scientist		 x6461
Mr Simon Goodwin
Specialist Practitioner in Transfusion		 x6489
Requests for Blood Products and Results Laboratory
 		 x6460 / x6459

 

Specimen bottle

Pink top 6ml EDTA venous blood for following tests:

  • Group & Screen
  • Crossmatching Antenatal group, screening and antibody quantitation/ titres
  • Kleihauer test
  • HLA typing
  • HFEG typing

Request forms

Blood bank specific request forms must be used for requesting tests.

Forms must be fully completed including the requesting area, clinician, contact details, and signature.

Clinical details / surgical procedure must be provided.

Any special blood requirements must be provided and the lab informed by telephone.

Cross matching

If you wish to convert a group and screen to a cross match, please phone the laboratory on ext 6459 during core hours  (09:00- 20:00 Mon-Fri). Outside of these hours please bleep 554.

Allow one clear working day for elective cross-matching.  Cross-matched blood is routinely returned to stock at 08:00hrs two days after the date required.

Group & screen samples are kept for 7 days from date of collection, however the issue of red cells against a G&S sample is dependent on recent transfusion history (see table 1 below)

Patient Whole blood (EDTA) sample stored 2-8°C
Transfused or pregnant in last 3 months                       Up to 3 days *
NOT transfused or pregnant in last 3 months                        Up to 7 days
* time between sample being taken and  subsequent transfusion

 

Unconscious patient in Emergency Department

Request and specimen bottle must have an NHS or MRN number along with the gender, and approximate age of the patient.

Other blood products

Blood Product Comments
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA (FFP)
  • Blood group specific
  • Allow 30 min for FFP to be defrosted in laboratory.
  • FFP should never be used in the treatment of hypovolaemia or nutritional support.
  • FFP may be used to correct a disturbance in haemostasis having first identified it by performing laboratory coagulation investigations (for example in DIC, massive transfusion, liver disease etc) . A request for FFP should be discussed with the blood bank or consultant haematologist to assure appropriate use
CRYOPRECIPITATE
  • Allow 30 min for defrosting.
  • Cryoprecipitate is used primarily to restore greatly reduced fibrinogen levels
PLATELETS
  • Routine orders during the day should  be telephoned to the laboratory x 6459 by 10:00 am for delivery that day.
  • In an emergency platelets are usually available within 3 hours.
  • This product is not stocked on site.
  • Platelets are stored between 22 to 24oC and  must NOT be placed into a fridge as this destroys platelet activity.
HUMAN ALBUMIN SOLUTIONS(HAS)
  • 20% 100ml solution available for named patients
  • 4.5% 500ml solution available for named patients
Anti-D IMMUNOGLOBULIN
  • Following doses stocked:  250IU , 500IU and 1500IU
  • 1500IU used for 28 week RAADP clinics
  • See BCSH guidelines for recommended dose and testing requirements prior to administration
BERIPLEX
  •  Only Stroke or Haematology Consultants can approve Beriplex.
  •  For mixing product see Link :       Administering Beriplex
  • Always give Beriplex as a bolus infusion, give at rate 2½-3 minutes per 500IU (10ml)
NOVOSEVEN Only available via Haematology Consultant approval

 

Tests

TEST Specimen bottle/ sample Min Vol Results Available (TAT) Comments & Factors affecting results
Group & screen Pink top 6ml EDTA 6ml 4hrs Samples may take longer to process if antibody investigation is required
Routine Crossmatch Pink top 6ml EDTA 6ml 4hrs If patient has special blood requirements this may take up to 3 days.
Group compatible, un-crossmatched blood Pink top 6ml EDTA 6ml 20 minutes  
Antenatal G&S Pink top 6ml EDTA 6ml 24hrs Blood grouping and antibody screening should be undertaken on all pregnant women atbooking and again at 28 weeks gestation.If a hospital number is not available provide first line of patients address on both the Request Form and Sample
HLA typing disease association (ie B27, HFEG) Pink top 6ml EDTA 6ml Referred test : 21 days Referred testing, performed by the NHSBT
HLA Typing for Transplantation Pink top 6ml EDTA 6ml Referred test : 21 days Referred testing, performed by the NHSBT
Platelet & Granulocyte serology Contact lab Contact lab Referred test:14  days Referred testing, performed by the NHSBT. Please consult with the Blood Transfusion Dept./Haematology Consultant before submission
Kleihauer Test Pink top 6ml EDTA 5ml 24hrs  
Baby Group & DAT Pink top 2ml EDTA 1ml 4hrs  
DAT Pink top 6ml EDTA 2ml 6hrs