Practical methods to improve transfusion safety by using novel blood unit and patient identification systems.
Human error is a leading cause of transfusion-associated death. Many of these events are associated with a failure to comply with established unit-recipient identification protocols. Although several dedicated systems designed to minimize this problem are currently available, none of them have been sufficiently challenged by the various conditions that exist in diverse clinical settings. However, data available for computer-based recognition procedures and for a disposable blood bag combination lock, which precludes access to the blood before it is properly identified, are encouraging.
Wenz
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B
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
Mercuriali
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F
AuBuchon
J P
JP
D001771:Blood Banks / Q000458:organization & administration; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003199:Computer Systems; D006801:Humans; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014481:United States