Adherence to a strict specimen-labeling policy decreases the incidence of erroneous blood grouping of blood bank specimens.
BACKGROUND
To assess the effectiveness of a system of preventing incompatible blood transfusions resulting from the misidentification of patient specimens, a prospective analysis of all blood samples submitted to a laboratory was performed.


METHODS
Incorrectly labeled specimens (rejected samples) were tested for ABO and Rh type, and routine antibody screens were performed. Test results were compared to historic patient data or patient data obtained from subsequently submitted (correctly) labeled specimens. For comparison, all discrepant serologic results from appropriately labeled samples were also recorded.


RESULTS
Specimens that failed to meet the criteria for specimen acceptance were 40 times more likely to have a blood grouping discrepancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Strict adherence to the labeling requirements results in a significant decrease in erroneous blood grouping. This would accordingly diminish the likelihood of transfusing out-of-group blood components.
Lumadue
J A
JA
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Boyd
J S
JS
Ness
P M
PM
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood; D001771:Blood Banks; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000097:blood; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000592:standards*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood; D013048:Specimen Handling
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System