Nearly two decades using the check-type to prevent ABO incompatible transfusions: one institution's experience.
To detect miscollected (wrong blood in tube [WBIT]) samples, our institution requires a second independently drawn sample (check-type [CT]) on previously untyped, non-group O patients who are likely to require transfusion. During the 17-year period addressed by this report, 94 WBIT errors were detected: 57% by comparison with a historic blood type, 7% by the CT, and 35% by other means. The CT averted 5 potential ABO-incompatible transfusions. Our corrected WBIT error rate is 1 in 3,713 for verified samples tested between 2000 and 2003, the period for which actual number of CTs performed was available. The estimated rate of WBIT for the 17-year period is 1 in 2,262 samples. ABO-incompatible transfusions due to WBIT-type errors are avoided by comparison of current blood type results with a historic type, and the CT is an effective way to create a historic type.
Figueroa
Priscila I
PI
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Transfusion, Medicine, the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Ziman
Alyssa
A
Wheeler
Christine
C
Gornbein
Jeffrey
J
Monson
Michael
M
Calhoun
Loni
L
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System