SA Health

For the menu below, use line-by-line navigation to access expanded sub-menus. The Tab key navigates through main menu items only.

Transfusion practice

BloodSafe has developed a set of resources to provide clinicians with information on recommended transfusion practices.

Consent

Consent is a process – not a piece of paper. Use a competent interpreter when the patient is not fluent in English.

Give written information and use diagrams where appropriate.

Explain to your patient:

• cause/likelihood of bleeding/low blood count (including any uncertainty)
• nature of the proposed transfusion therapy – what is involved?
• benefits expected?
• risks – common and rare but serious?
• alternatives – including the risk of doing nothing?

Ask your patient:

• is there anything else you would like to know?
• is there anything you do not understand?

Refer to your hospital/health service policy for documentation requirements and when/if consent is required.

More information

For more information about transfusion risks and information to help with informed consent, see:

• Lifeblood’s risk estimates for transfusion-transmittable infections
• Lifeblood’s relative risk of transfusion fact sheet
• BloodSafe’s blood transfusion information fact sheets (available in 18 languages)
• BloodSafe’s paediatric transfusion information resources (select 'children and transfusion')

Prescribing of blood and blood components

Quick reference guides on red cell transfusion for:

• Medical patients (PDF 622KB)
• Surgical/perioperative patients (PDF 331KB)

When patients are transfused, a medical records sticker (PDF 104KB) needs to go into the patient's notes. These stickers prompt to help record the clinical indication for red cell transfusion.

Administration of blood and blood components

• Sunrise EMR How-to guide — to assist with double independent checking and documentation in Sunrise EMR immediately prior to transfusion.
• Transfusion pre-administration double independent check — a short checklist to assist with double independent checking at the patient's side immediately prior to transfusion.
• A how to video: Double Independent Check for Blood Products using Sunrise
• The Blood Book: Australian Blood Administration Handbook - A bedside resource to assist with correct transfusion administration practice.
• ANZSBT guidelines for the administration of blood components - Australian and New Zealand guidelines for the administration of blood components.
• For reporting of transfusion adverse events, use the SA Pathology form

Internationally-standardised format of donation numbers on blood packs (ISBT 128)

Resources to support the transition to the ISBT 128 format of donation numbers on blood packs by SA Pathology to support SA Health Hospitals.

Collecting specimens

Resources to help with correct patient identification:

Label before you leave

• poster for SA Health employees — Label before you leave (PDF 535KB)
• screensaver for SA Health employees — Label before you leave (PNG 1.5MB)
• poster for patients — Label before you leave (PDF 561KB)
• screensaver for patients — Label before you leave (PNG 1.9MB)

Videos

• pre-transfusion sample collection and labelling using Sunrise EMR ;video
• ordering pathology samples and preparing for collection video
• patient identity check and sample labelling video

Emergency Use of Group O Red Cells

Group O RhD negative red blood cells (RBC) have traditionally been used for all emergency transfusions, resulting in demand that often exceeds available supply. A recently released National Statement recommends the use of O RhD positive red cells for males over the age of 18 and females over the age of 50 for emergency transfusion.

To assist with this change a number of resources are available, including a:

• Fact Sheet, and a flow chart for the emergency use of group O red cells
• FAQs that provide guidance for specific patient groups
• PowerPoint Presentation that can be adapted and used for educational sessions in your organisation
• National Statement for the Emergency Use of Group O Red Cells.

Cryoprecipitate

One therapeutic adult dose of cryoprecipitate is now 4 packs, instead of the previous 5 packs. Changes to the collection and processing of plasma collection by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood have resulted in increased fibrinogen content per pack. Cryoprecipitate Clinical Update

Fibrinogen Concentrate

Videos

• reconstituting Fibrinogen Concentrate (Riastapp) — the 2 Person / 1 Bag Technique video
• introduction of Fibrinogen Concentrate across nominated regional sites in South Australia video

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) product administration guidelines

Administration guidelines for:

• Flebogamma 5% (PDF 51KB)
• Flebogamma 10% (PDF 51KB)
• Gamunex 10% (PDF 95KB)
• Intragam 10% (PDF 212KB)
• Kiovig 10% (PDF 51KB)
• Octagam 10% (PDF 56KB)
• Privigen and Privigen AU 10% (PDF 51KB)

Paediatric transfusion information kit

A Paediatric transfusion information kit has produced to help explain what will happen and why transfusions are needed for children. The kit is available on the Blood transfusions page, or for printed copies contact BloodSafe.

The paediatric transfusion information kit was produced collaboratively by:

• BloodSafe
• the Australian Red Cross Blood Service
• the New Zealand Blood Service
• the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion.

The kit was originally created by the National Health Service in the UK and has been adapted for Australia and New Zealand.

Related information

You can search through to find related information.

BloodSafe BloodSafe Program - coordinates a safety and quality for blood transfusion practice to improve patient outcomes and ensure our blood supply

On this page

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge and respect Aboriginal peoples as the state's first peoples and nations, and recognise Aboriginal peoples as Traditional Owners and occupants of land and waters in South Australia.

• © 2024 SA Health (CC) BY-NC-ND
• Privacy
• Terms of use
• ABN 97 643 356 590

© 2024 SA Health. ABN 97 643 356 590.

1. Use of the information and data contained within this site or these pages is at your sole risk.
2. If you rely on the information on this site you are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency or completeness.
3. This site includes links to other websites operated by community, business and government.
4. These linked websites will have their own terms and conditions of use and you should familiarise yourself with these.
5. All linked websites are linked 'as is' and the Government of South Australia:
   • does not sponsor, endorse or necessarily approve of any material on websites linked from or to this Site;
   • does not make any warranties or representations regarding the quality, accuracy, merchantability or fitness for purpose of any material on websites linked from or to this Site;
   • does not make any warranties or representations that material on other websites to which this site is linked does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any person anywhere in the world; and
   • does not authorise the infringement of any intellectual property rights contained in material in other websites by linking this site to those other websites.
6. If you use automatic language translation services in connection with this site you do so at your own risk.
7. The information and data on this site is subject to change without notice. The Government of South Australia may revise this disclaimer at any time by updating this posting.
8. The Government of South Australia, its agents, instrumentalities, officers and employees:
   • make no representations, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information and data contained on this site
   • make no representations, express or implied, as to the accuracy or usefulness of any translation of the information on this site or any linked website into another language
   • make no representations as to the availability of the site and the availability of websites linked from or to the site
   • accept no liability however arising for any loss resulting from the use of the site and any information and data or reliance placed on it (including translated information and data)
   • make no representations, either expressed or implied, as to the suitability of the said information and data for any particular purpose
   • accepts no liability for any interference with or damage to a user's computer, software or data occurring in connection with or relating to this Site or its use or any website linked to this site
   • do not represent or warrant that applications or payments initiated through this site will in fact be received or made to the intended recipient. Users are advised to confirm the application or payment by other means.

Last updated: 09 сент. 2024