Transfusion medicine handbook

3. Guide to Good Transfusion Practice

3.1 Clinical Governance

A quality management system is needed wherever transfusion therapy is practised. In this context ‘quality’ includes adequate documentation of both the transfusion process and its outcomes.

All institutions that transfuse blood components and fractionated products should develop and maintain local policies and procedures that reflect best national and international transfusion practice. Local policies and procedures should include guidance on:

• Informed consent.
• Requesting blood components and fractionated products.
• Collection of blood samples for pretransfusion compatibility testing.
• Collection of blood components and fractionated products from the hospital blood bank or other sites.
• Delivery of blood components and fractionated products to where the transfusion is to be given.
• Administration of blood components and fractionated products.
• Care and monitoring of patients receiving a transfusion.
• Documentation of transfusion.
• Management and reporting of adverse events.
• Staff responsibilities and the mandated training required for these procedures.