Haematology 14 - Blood Transfusion 1 & 2 Flashcards
(95 cards)
What is the importance of RhD negative RBC?
What happens if you give RhD+ blood to RhD- people?
These are safe to give to everyone but are often in short supply
If you give RhD+ blood to RhD- patients doesn’t cause an acute disaster but can induce the formation of anti-D antibodies
Next time person is transfused it must be with RhD- blood because if you give Rhd+ blood again it will cause haemolytic disease
What does a group and screen consist of?
Group: blood group testing using forward and reverse group- Test patient’s ABO and RhD group
Screen: screening the patient’s plasma for potential antibodies against RBC that will be transfused
Recall 2 ways in which patients’ blood group is tested
- Forward group (to figure out which antigens are on patient’s RBC): Using anti-A,B, D and O reagents against the patient’s red blood cells
- Also use ‘reverse group’ - known A and B group RBCs against the patient’s plasma. If patient is positive for anti-A, it means they are B-positive (hence “reverse”).
Describe the process of antibody testing of blood
- Use 2 or 3 reagent red blood cells containing all the important RBC antigens between them
- Then incubate the patient’s plasma using the indirect antiglobulin technique
*if there are visible agglutination/clumps forming then antibodies are present in patient’s plasma

What are the two types of cross match?
1) Electronic cross-match:
Compatibility determined by IT system rather than manually. Done in emergency situations
2) Serological cross match (see picture)
a) Full cross match - uses IAT
b) immediate spin - quicker technique - used in emergencies

What is the purpose of ‘immediate spin’ blood testing?
Used in emergencies only
Incubation for just 5 minutes
Determines ABO compatibility only
What are the 3 pillars of patient blood management?
- Optomise haematopoiesis- treatment of anaemia
- Reduce bleeding (eg stop anti-platelt drugs, cell-salvage techniques)
- Harness and optomise physiological tolerance of anaemia
For which blood products is D compatibility required?
Red cells and platelets (but not FFP or cryoprecipitate)
*for all they need to be ABO compatible
*also for FFP and crypprecipiatte you don’t need to do cross match

Who is the universal donor for platelet transfusions?
Group A!!
Not group O like for RBC!
What is the storage temperature of red cells, platelets, FFP and cryoprecipitate?
Red cells: 4 degrees C (fridge)
Platelets: 20 degrees C (room temperature) >>> more likely to be contaminated
FFP: 4 degrees C once thawed
Cryoprecipitate: Room temp once thawed
Red cells and FFP: fridge
Platelets and cryoprecipitate: room temperature
What is the storage length of red cells, platelets, FFP and cryoprecipitate?
Red cells: 35 days
Platelets: 7 days
FFP: 24 hours
Cryoprecipitate: 4 hours

What is the transfusion rate of red cells, platelets, FFP and cryoprecipitate?
Red cells: 1 unit over 2-3 hours
Platelets: 1 unit over 20-30 mins
FFP: 1 unit over 20-30 mins
Cryoprecipitate: 1 unit over 20-30 mins

What is the trigger for transfusion in these situations?
1) major blood loss: >30% blood volume lost
2) peri-operative: Hb<70 or 80 depending on comorbidities
3) post chemo: hb <80
**also consider symptomatic anaemia- IHD, breathless, ECG changes

How much does 1 unit of RBC transfusion equate to in g/L in the average 70.80 kg man?
1 unit = 10g/L
How much blood loss counts as ‘major’?
>30% blood volume lost
When are platelets contra-indicated?
-
Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP)
- unfractionated heparin rather than LWMH
-
Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia and thrombosis (HiTT)
- Platelets block up the microcirculation so giving platelets will aggravate this
Giving platelets gives the condition worse
What are the indications for FFP transfusion?
1) Massive transfusion
2) Liver disease - only if PT<1.5
3) Single coagulation factor deficiencies eg factor V
4) TTP - to replace ADAMS enzyme (special type of FFP)
5) DIC in the presence of bleeding and other abnormal features
: all the coagulation factors and platelets are removed from the cell intaoperative/post operative cell salvage blood so need to give FFP

What does cryoprecipitate contain?

In which situations can you get your own blood?
Intraoperative or perioperative cell salvage
but NOT for pre-operative autologous deposit as no net benefit- also not done in the UL
: all the coagulation factors and platelets are removed from the intraopeative and post operative cell salvage blood so need to give FFP
Cell salvage is useful in people with RARE blood groups and Jehovah’s witnesses
In what type of surgery is post-operative cell salvage most often done?
Knee surgery
- Collect blood that is lost post-operatively into a wound drain
- Mainly done for orthopaedic operations (e.g. knee surgery)
What are the steps of intra-operative cell salvage?
Centrifuge, filter, wash before re-infusing blood
*ie collect blood lost during operation and give it back to pt
What special blood reuquirements do pregnant women have?
CMV neg
What special blood reuquirements do highly immunocompromised patients have?
patients cannot destroy incoming donor lymphocytes
Blood needs to be irradiated in order to avoid fatal transfusion associated graft v s host disease
**irradiation is different to leukodepletion (blood is leukodepleted by default)
What special blood requirements do patients who have had severe allergic reactions in the past to transfusion have?
Washed cells (RBC and platelets)
also seen in IgA deficient patients
















