title: Errors in ABO labeling of deceased donor kidneys: case reports and approach to ensuring patient safety.
abstract: Patient safety in transplantation depends on accurate testing, transcription and transmission of the ABO types of the donor and recipient. Similar to 'near-miss' transfusion labeling errors, three cases of mislabeled ABO types on deceased donor kidney containers were recognized through a pretransplant verification process. Six steps to confirming the organ and ABO identification were developed to ensure safety of the patient and prevent liability for the transplant team and facility. In each case, rapid recognition and documentation of the error source, on site confirmation of the ABO type of the accompanying blood specimen, and full disclosure to the patient and family permitted safe transplantation and avoided the need to pursue a more conservative course that would have required discarding the organs. We advocate following these measures in determining whether to persevere with transplantation of a mislabeled organ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. amy.friedman@yale.edu
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000368:Aged; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000592:standards*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System