Patients
Patients Main PageEmergency CareOutpatient CareDoctors Taking PatientsBefore, During and After Your StayYour Role in Patient SafetyClient & Family Centred CarePatient NoticesTop Patient Searches
Related Patient Links
Visitors
Visitors Main PageVisiting HoursContact / Locate a PatientSpecialized WardsVisitor Accommodations​​Top Visitor Searches
Related Visitor Links
Locations & Services
Find a LocationFind a Service​​Top Location Searches
Top Service Searches
About the Region
About the Region Main PageBudgetVision, Mission, and ValuesOur PlanPolicies and ProceduresHand HygieneTop About the Region Searches
​​Health Region News
Join Our Team
Join Our Team Main PageCareer OpportunitiesPhysician OpportunitiesPrograms and IncentivesCareer ExplorationNursing in Saskatoon Health RegionVolunteers​​​​​Top Join Our Team Searches.
Physicians
Physicians Main PagePractitioner Staff AffairsWhat's Up Doc - LoginRegion News - LoginResources - LoginMeet Our New PhysiciansMeet Our Physician LeadersMedical DepartmentsResidents
Locations & Services
Find:  Locations | Services
Health Practitioners and the Laboratory
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine HomeTest and Services CatalogueTransfusion Medicine Product CataloguePolicy and ProcedureJob AidsSpecimen Collection and TransportRequisitionsAntibiogramsCytogenetics and Related Medical Genetics EssentialsMicrobiology EssentialsTransfusion EssentialsReference RangesLaboratory SuppliesAcute Care SCM GuidelinesContact InformationPhysician Access to Patient Results
eHR ViewerFor Physicians - SCM
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Product Catalogue

​Red Blood Cells (RBC)

Transfusion Medicine

​Alternate Product Names
  • ​RBC
  • Red Cells
  • PRBC
  • Packed cells
​Indications
  • ​Support of RBC oxygen carrying capacity in acute or chronic blood loss
    • Typical hemoglobin threshold for transfusion in a clinically stable patient is 70 g/L in adults and pediatric patients, 80-100 g/L in neonates
    • Symptomatic anemia and the underlying patient clinical condition may dictate the need for transfusion with hemoglobin thresholds higher than those listed
  • RBC replacement in exchange transfusion
​Resource Information

More Information:

Size/Volume Available
  • ~250 - 350 mL
  • Volume indicated on unit
​Availability
​RBC​RUH​SCH​SPH
​Humboldt
​Crossmatched​Yes​Yes​Yes​Yes
​Uncrossmatched O Negative
​Yes​Yes​Yes​Yes
  • Transfuse-only SHR sites: Crossmatched RBC for transfusion are supplied from Saskatoon upon request
  • Northern Saskatchewan referred in sites: Crossmatched RBC for transfusion are supplied from Saskatoon upon request for reference laboratory (complex testing site) investigation
Pretransfusion Testing Requirements
  • ​Group and Screen on current hospital admission
    • Required every 96 hours
      • In Saskatoon this may be extended during the current hospital admission if patient has not been transfused or pregnant in the last 3 months
      • Contact Transfusion Medicine for confirmation
    • Neonate:
      • Infants less than 4 months of age require one group and screen, during initial hospital admission
      • Contact Transfusion Medicine for confirmation
    • Pre-admission clinic testing may be valid up to 28 days providing that the patient has not been transfused or pregnant in the last 3 months
    • Contact Transfusion Medicine for confirmation
Forms Required

​Saskatoon/Humboldt:

Transfuse-only SHR sites or referred in specimens:

Ordering
Saskatoon/Humboldt:
  • Indicate number of units required in numerals
    • Pediatric/neonatal transfusion: indicate volume of RBC required in mL until volume equals that of an average RBC unit; then order whole unit(s) of RBC
  • Indicate any special requirements if applicable
  • If a patient pre-transfusion Group and Screen specimen needs to be collected, attach the Blood Product Request Form to the Test Request Form and send it together to Transfusion Medicine
Transfuse-only SHR sites or referred in specimens:
​Notes
  • ​Uncrossmatched blood may be requested in life threatening/emergent circumstances
    • Patient identification must be presented to Transfusion Medicine on a Blood Product Request Form prior to the issue of uncrossmatched blood
    • The physician must document and sign that the use of uncrossmatched blood was necessary in the patient’s chart
  • If patient presents with an Antibody Card please photocopy it and forward it along with the test request form
  • Healthcare professionals should not send for product pick-up prior to confirming that patient informed consent for transfusion has been obtained and that an intravenous line is in place for blood infusion
  • Information about approved transfusion of Crossmatched Incompatible RBC  information can be found on the Laboratory Services Manual
  • RBC must not be stored in refrigerators outside the Transfusion Medicine Laboratory
  • Transfusion of RBC must be completed within 4 hours of unit release from the Transfusion Medicine Laboratory
  • Untransfused RBC may be accepted back into inventory only if returned to the Transfusion Medicine Laboratory within 60 minutes of issue
​Administration

 

​If you choose to print this information, it is valid only on date of print.

Laboratory Controlled Document LSM-65 v4
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 22, 2018 |
Questions or feedback about this page?