title: Blood transfusion: risks and benefits.
abstract: This article describes the basic science involved in the provision of a blood transfusion service. Apart from the life-saving properties of blood transfusion following acute blood loss, much modern surgery could not be contemplated without the availability of safe and compatible blood for transfusion. In addition there are many medical conditions whose therapy depends on blood products.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D018579:Patient Selection; D065227:Transfusion Reaction