Blood Products Flashcards
What are blood products?
Any part of the blood which is collected from a donor for use in a blood transfusion
Why should blood product prescription be seriously considered?
Transfusion reactions are common
Blood products are scarce
When do NICE guidelines recommend transfusion of blood products?
If Hb <70g/L, or is between 70-90 and the patient is symptomatic
What blood grouping systems are there?
Rhesus D
ABO
What does Rhesus D test for?
Presence/Absence of Rhesus D surface antigens
What percentage of the population is Rhesus +ve?
85%
What percentage of the population is Rhesus -ve?
15%
What happens if a Rh -ve patient is given Rh+ve blood?
They will produce antibodies to Rh +ve, which will not normally be an issue for the patient
When is giving Rh+ve blood to a Rh-ve patient a concern?
If a woman of childbearing age - If she carries a Rh+ve baby, she will have produced antibodies to Rh+ve which will cross the placenta, causing Haemolytic disease of the Newborn
When is it acceptable to give a Rh-ve patient Rh+ve blood?
If they are male and it is an emergency
What does ABO testing test for?
Presence of A+/- B surface antigens on RBCs
What happens if there is an ABO mismatch between the patient and the donor blood?
Antibodies will be produced against the donor blood
Why is O-ve blood considered universal donor blood?
It has no surface antigens of any kind so will not trigger an immune response
Why can patients with AB+ve blood receive any blood?
Their blood contains all surface antigens, so the new blood will not trigger an immune response.
What does Group and Save test for?
Determines the blood group of the patient and screens for any atypical antibodies
