Guidelines for the administration of blood products – ANZSBT

Best Practices for Blood Product Administration: Guidelines and Recommendations

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide comprehensive guidance on the proper storage, collection, transport, and safe administration of blood products, as well as the management of patients undergoing transfusion. This valuable resource is intended to inform jurisdictional and health service policies and procedures, serving as a reference for best practices.

To facilitate easy access to relevant tools and guidelines, we have embedded links throughout the document. Additionally, a bibliography is provided at the end for further reading and research.

It is essential to consider these guidelines in conjunction with the 2016 Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) Guidelines for Transfusion and Immunohaematology Laboratory Practice, as well as the 2017 National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) Requirements for Transfusion Laboratory Practice (refer to Section 1.1).

Scope of the Document:

• Decision-making process for transfusion
• Ensuring consent for blood products
• Prescription protocols for blood products
• Procedures for requesting blood products and collecting pretransfusion samples
• Proper storage, collection, and transport of blood products
• Safe and efficient administration of blood products
• Handling special transfusion circumstances
• Managing adverse events related to transfusion
• Implementing clinical governance practices

These guidelines serve as a crucial resource for healthcare professionals involved in the administration of blood products, ensuring the highest standards of care and patient safety.