Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

Other than in the most exceptionallife-threatening situations, bloodshould not be transfused unless it hasbeen obtained from appropriatelyselected donors, has been screenedfor TTIs and has been tested forcompatibility between the donor’s redcells and antibodies in the patient’splasma.All patients should be monitoredbefore, during and after transfusion.Prescribing blood andblood productsPrescribing decisions should be basedon national guidelines on the clinicaluse of blood, taking individual patientneeds into account. However,responsibility for the decision totransfuse must ultimately rest withindividual clinicians.The key principle of clinicaltransfusion practice is thattransfusion is only one part of thepatient’s management. The decisionto transfuse blood or blood productsshould always be based on a carefulassessment of clinical and laboratoryindications that transfusion isnecessary to save life or preventsignificant morbidity. It should also bebased on knowledge of the resourcesavailable for managing patients andthe safety of the blood and bloodproducts available.The extent to which blood is usedappropriately depends on a range offactors, such as the effectiveness ofprogrammes to reduce nutritionalanaemia and the availability ofintravenous replacement fluids. Manyof these factors are beyond theimmediate control of prescribers ofblood. However, it is theresponsibility of individual cliniciansto ensure that their own clinicaldecisions on transfusion areappropriate for their patient.Remember that, when used correctly,blood can be life-saving.Inappropriate use can endanger lifeand may cause a shortage of blood forother patients who require it. ▲127 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME