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Collecting Blood from the Austin Blood Bank Print
Collecting blood from Austin Blood Bank Collecting blood from remote blood fridges

Removing the wrong patient's blood from the Blood Bank refrigerator is a major source of error in transfusing the wrong blood to a patient. Clear communication between clinical staff and Blood Bank staff is essential in ensuring the safety of the blood issued for transfusion

Blood issued from Blood Bank is intended for immediate use. Blood for administration should not be collected unless the patient is ready for transfusion. This includes:

  • Patient has patent IV access
  • Administration order is available
  • Patient clinical status is deemed suitable for transfusion
  • Patient consents to blood transfusion

 

Collecting Blood from the Austin Blood Bank

Staff must present the following documentation when collecting blood from the Austin Blood Bank:

  • The Blood Transfusion Form M109.0 or
  • Compatibility and Administration Record D1.1 (issued with the first unit of blood)

Only one (1) unit of blood component will be issued at any one time with the exception of:

  1. Operating Theatre, and
  2. Actively bleeding patients

 

Collecting Blood from Remote Blood Fridges

The Austin Operating Suite has a remote blood fridge that holds crossmatched red blood cells and FFP for a patient in theatre.

The Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (HRH) has 2 remote blood fridges that hold crossmatched red blood cells that has been prepared by the Austin Blood Bank for a patient at HRH. These fridges are located in:

  • Ward 12 Flanders Wing, and
  • The Surgery Centre

There is no on-site blood bank at the HRH therefore the HRH blood fridges each hold 2 units of un-crossmatched O negative red blood cells for emergency transfusion.

Access to remote blood fridges is restricted to authorised personnel; nursing and medical. Processes need to be followed in order to safely access and issue blood from the blood fridge.

Once blood is issued from blood bank or the remote blood fridge, and if for any reason the blood transfusion cannot commence within 30 minutes, the unit/s must be returned to Blood Bank or the remote blood fridge without delay. Blood that has been out of refrigeration for over 30 minutes, cannot be re-issued to the patient. Instead, the blood will be discarded upon return to Blood Bank.

 

Policy Links

Accessing Blood from the Heidelberg Repatriation (HRH) Blood Fridges

Accessing Blood from the Austin Operating Suite Blood Fridge

Collection of Blood Components and Blood Products from the Austin Blood Bank (Austin Hoapital)

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Disclaimer

The information and guidelines presented on this website has been prepared primarily for use by staff of Austin Health. The information is based on current medical knowledge and practice as at the date of publication. The information is intended as a general guide only and is not intended to set out a standard of medical care or to be used as a substitute for professional advice as the individual circumstances of each patient will vary.

While care has been taken in the preparation of these materials we make no representation that the materials are complete or free from errors. Austin Health accepts no liability for loss or injury flowing from the use or misuse of these materials.

Austin Health provides links on this site that lead to resources located on servers maintained by third parties over whom the Austin Health has no control. Austin Health makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information or content in such sites.
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