IMPROVEMENT IN TRANSFUSION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES USING A NETWORK COMPUTER-ASSISTED BLOOD TRANSFUSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ABO-incompatible blood transfusion attributable to inadequate identification of the patient or blood unit remains the most common serious hazard of transfusion. A final bedside check to insure that the blood unit is intended for the patient is a prerequisite to the prevention of incorrect blood transfusions. We have developed a network computer-assisted blood transfusion management system, which connects with a novel barcoded patient-blood unit identification system and automated device for pretransfusion testing. This system permits a decrease in the number of manual procedures in the multiple steps of the transfusion process, and the monitoring of the bedside verification process in real-time at the transfusion laboratory. Since the initial implementation of this blood transfusion management system (July 2002), more than 17, 000 blood components (approximately 70, 000 units) have been transfused without mistransfusion. Further changes to transfusion practices, especially in the guidelines for blood component issuance for surgical operations, have resulted in a decrease in the date-expired rate and use of red cell components. This network computer-assisted blood transfusion management system may be useful for the prevention of incorrect blood transfusion attributable to human error and for the appropriate use of blood components, when used in conjunction with the patient-blood unit identification system.