A computer-assisted transfusion management system and changed transfusion practices contribute to appropriate management of blood components.
BACKGROUND
ABO-incompatible blood transfusions attributable to inadequate identification (ID) of the patient or the blood unit are among the most serious of transfusion hazards. It has been unclear whether a computer-assisted transfusion management system connected to a bar code ID system could contribute to the appropriate management of blood components, as well as to the prevention of mistransfusions.


METHODS
A transfusion management system has been developed that links the hospital information system, a bar code patient-blood unit ID system, and an automated device for pretransfusion testing. The guidelines for issuing blood components from the transfusion service were also changed. The appropriateness of blood management was evaluated by monitoring the time to initiate transfusion after issuing a blood unit from the transfusion service (time after issuing [TAI]) and by calculating the number of units issued and subsequently returned, as well as the rate of date-expired red cell (RBC) components.


RESULTS
From July 2002 to December 2006, a total of 49,974 blood components were transfused without a single mistransfusion. The monitoring of TAI and the notice to use the issued blood immediately had the effect of shortening TAI in the inpatient ward. The number of issued and subsequently returned RBC components, as well as the rate of date-expired RBC components, decreased significantly after the introduction of the system.


CONCLUSIONS
A computer-assisted transfusion management system and changing transfusion practices appear useful in preventing mistransfusions and in contributing to the appropriate management of blood components.
Ohsaka
Akimichi
A
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Stem Cell Regulation, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ohsaka@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Abe
Katsumi
K
Ohsawa
Toshiya
T
Miyake
Noriko
N
Sugita
Shio
S
Tojima
Ikuko
I
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D003199:Computer Systems; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011786:Quality Control; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System