How can the transfusion service laboratory increase transfusion safety for patients requiring irradiated blood components?
The transfusion service laboratory should take a leadership role by initiating multiple communication mechanisms, such as:
- liaising with transplant programs asking to be notified about patients requiring irradiated blood
- liaising with physicians and nurses asking to be notified when fludarabine and other purine analogues are prescribed
- liaising with pharmacists asking to be notified when fludarabine and other purine analogues are prescribed
- sending letters to the patient's physician and the patient explaining the need for special products and asking the patientto show a wallet card that accompanies the letter
- developing special forms (e.g., "Request for Special Blood Products") that other healthcare professionals can use to make communication of transfusion needs clearer
- flagging laboratory patient records (paper and electronic) with special transfusion needs
- providing in-service educational sessions to key departments and professionals
