(2) The administration set should be cleared of air before venipuncture.
Venipuncture can be performed with a needle attached to a syringe or attached directly
to the blood administration set. Red blood cells or WB should be administered using a
needle of 19 gauge or larger. Other blood products such as platelets, cryoprecipitate,
fresh-frozen plasma, and albumin can be administered through smaller needles.
(3) For pediatric patients, blood is often infused through a 23-gauge, thin
wall, scalp vein needle. Because the RBCs may run slowly through a small needle, the
unit may be divided in the blood bank. One part can be released for transfusion and the
remainder of the unit stored in the blood bank. This prevents prolonged exposure of the
RBCs to room temperature.
e. Issuing the Blood Product.
(1) The venipuncture should be started before, or at the time, the blood
component is being obtained from the blood bank. Thus, the blood component can be
infused immediately after it has arrived at the nursing station, minimizing the chance of
improper storage after the component leaves the blood bank.
(2) When the blood component is released from the blood bank the
technologist should:
(a) Compare the ABO, Rh type, and unit number on the component
labels with the same information on the compatibility or recipient tag.
(b) Compare the product name with the blood request form to be
certain the component being released is the same as that ordered by the physician.
(c)
Record the name of the Individual to whom the component was
released.
(d) Carry out the steps as in paragraph 3-7a and b above.
f. Starting the Transfusion and Infusion Solutions.
(1) Blood products, except platelets and thawed cryoprecipitate or fresh-
frozen plasma, should be stored in a regulated blood bank refrigerator until immediately
before transfusion. Do not place blood components in the ward refrigerator or near a
cold window since freezing and thawing will cause RBC hemolysis. If the transfusion
cannot be started shortly after the blood arrives at the nursing station, it should be
returned to the blood bank for storage. Since it is impossible to monitor the temperature
of the blood while it is outside the blood bank and to be sure that the blood has not
reached a temperature higher than 10C, it is customary to establish a time limit
MD0846
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