Since 2008 approximately 1 transfusion request per month has been received where the sample has been taken from the wrong patient. This could have resulted in 12 fatal transfusion reactions annually, through ABO incompatibility. Therefore to improve transfusion safety a second transfusion sample, taken at a different time, is required to confirm the ABO group before any blood components are issued for the first time. This practice is recommended by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology.
For the majority of patients the 2 transfusion samples relates to a current sample and a historic sample (this can be from days, months or years ago). Therefore the one sample taken on admission is the only one required to issue blood components. To see if a patient has a historic blood group look on EPR.
Therefore all patients do not need 2 transfusion samples to be taken every time before blood components are issued. Staff should continue to take 1 transfusion sample, whether for a Group and antibody screen or Crossmatch. If 2 transfusion samples are taken from a patient at the same time i.e. at the same phlebotomy episode, only one of them will be processed, as this practice does not improve transfusion safety.
If a Crossmatch request is received, or if a Group and Save is converted into Crossmatch, the Transfusion Laboratory will inform the clinical area if a second transfusion sample is required to confirm the patient’s blood group.
For newly admitted patients who require blood components immediately the Transfusion Laboratory should be contacted on ext 7697 or bleep 298 and they will inform clinical staff if 1 or 2 transfusion samples are required.