Last update:
05-Aug-2017

Blood transfusion is one of the most common practices performed during hospitalization all over the world. It is a clinical process of sequential procedures that should lead to transfusion of the right blood component-unit to the right patient, at the right moment, under the right conditions and according to appropriate guidelines. The basic steps of the blood transfusion process are the following: (a) Making the decision for transfusion, according to the patient's condition, (b) completion of the transfusion request form, (c) obtaining a blood sample from the patient for pretransfusion testing, (d) pretransfusion testing in the blood bank laboratory of the appropriate blood componentunit, (e) transfer of the blood component-unit to the clinical department and administration to the patient under appropriate monitoring, (f ) clinical and laboratory evaluation of the result of the transfusion, and (g) hemovigilance. The implementation of patient blood management (PBM) programs aims at optimization of the clinical outcome, by using restrictive blood transfusion policy.

Key words: Blood components, Hemovigilance, Transfusion, Transfusion safety, Transfusion therapy utilization.