UK Transfusion Laboratory Collaborative: Recommended minimum standards for hospital transfusion laboratories

Guidelines for pre‐transfusion compatibility procedures in blood transfusion laboratories

“…These guidelines are formulated from expert opinion and based on the requirements of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (BSQR, ), and the recommendations of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA, ), Guidelines for Blood Transfusion Services in the UK (UK Blood Transfusion Services, ), the UK Transfusion Laboratory Collaborative (Chaffe et al ., ), and data from UK NEQAS (BTLP) (Knowles et al ., ; UK NEQAS ANNUAL REPORTS) and the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) haemovigilance scheme annual reports (SHOT, ). Where evidence exists to support new and potentially contentious recommendations, this is referenced in the text.…”

When and why is blood crossmatched?

“…The need for a patient‐focused transfusion service of high quality, whatever the time of day, is well recognized, and the UK Transfusion Laboratory Collaborative has set out recommendations on staffing, technology, training and competence to achieve the minimum standards of proficiency and practice. These standards include the recommendations that staffing levels and skill mix will be match the workload and case mix during all work periods [3]. Analysis of the organizational questionnaire from the 34 participating laboratories shows that the majority of laboratories were staffed outside core hours by only one biomedical scientist (Fig.…”

The minimum requirements for red cell serological testing

“…In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK Competent Authority for blood safety, has issued guidance that all eligibility criteria for electronic issue must be assessed and controlled through computer algorithms to prevent its inappropriate use [7]. Furthermore, the UK Transfusion Laboratory Collaborative has recommended that EI should only be undertaken where full automation is used [8].…”