Lec 10 1

• What is one of the cornerstones of transfusion safety?

  Informed consent
• Why is informed consent important in transfusion?

  Patients must be educated about the risks and benefits of transfusion, as well as alternatives.
• What must be provided to consider consent informed?

  A description of the risks, benefits, and viable treatment alternatives in comprehensible language.
• What rights do patients have regarding transfusion consent?

  Patients have the right to ask questions and to accept or refuse transfusion.
• Who must give consent if a patient is incapacitated?

  The legal medical next of kin.
• What must the legal next of kin be educated about before giving consent?

  They must be educated about the transfusion process and any religious or other beliefs that may affect consent.
• Who is responsible for ordering blood components for transfusion?

  Physicians or other authorized health professionals.
• What should be considered when ordering blood components?

  Orders should ensure sufficient time for complete testing and include clinical information and patient history.
• What must be indicated on the blood component order?

  The name of the physician placing the order.
• What is the minimum requirement for patient identification on a transfusion request?

  There must be at least two independent patient identifiers.
• What can result from transfusing incompatible red blood cells?

  A hemolytic transfusion reaction that may be life-threatening.
• What is the first critical step in ensuring positive patient and sample identification?

  Specimen collection.
• How can patient identification be done during specimen collection?

  Using eye-readable or machine-readable information or a combination of both.
• Why is patient history important when transfusing red blood cells?

  It provides information on previous pretransfusion testing results.
• What are the minimum required components of the immunohematology test known as type and screen (T & S)?

  Three tests that must be performed.
• What are reflex tests in the context of pretransfusion testing?

  Tests automatically performed due to inconclusive or unexpected results found during mandatory testing.
• What is compatibility testing also known as?

  Crossmatch.
• How is the ABO group of a neonate determined?

  Only by the forward typing.
• What is the policy many facilities have regarding transfusion to neonates?

  To transfuse only group O red blood cells to reduce the risk of transfusion reactions.
• How long must each RBC unit tested be retained by the laboratory after transfusion?

  For a minimum of 7 days.
• What is the critical pretransfusion test for platelet transfusion?

  ABO typing.
• What is the concern regarding plasma products in transfusion?

  Only minor ABO compatibility is of concern because these products contain no cells and therefore no ABH antigens.
• What is generally true about the administration of fractionated products?

  It does not necessitate pretransfusion testing.
• What are the pretransfusion tests for recipients?

  • ABO typing/grouping
  • Rh(D) typing
  • Antibody screening and identification
  • Crossmatching
  • DAT/direct antiglobulin testing
• What is the solid phase technique in transfusion testing?

  It is a method used in pretransfusion testing, but specific details are not provided in the material.