Whole Blood Products for MTPs

[S River]

Our hospital is going to start the use of low titer Whole Blood for MTP cases. My question is for hospitals that are using Whole Blood products, what is your process for crossmatching the units? Do you prepare a washed suspension with only pack cell from the whole blood unit segment?

[LIMPER55]

How did you get a supplier to support you?

Ours says no way!

[Dansket]

Yes, Major crossmatch only, no minor crossmatch.  We don't make a washed cell suspension, just dilute to n% with saline.

[jayinsat]

We are evaluating this as well.  It will be an emergency release product only meaning no pre-transfusion testing.  If our patients have a current Type and Screen or have already been transfused, they will not receive whole blood.  We will stock O pos Low Titer whole blood that will be given to Adult men and woman >50, only for hemorrhagic shock.  We do not receive traumas at our facility.  

Currently, our EMS ambulances and helicopters stock the O pos Low Titer whole blood and administer it en-route.  They do not do any pre-transfusion testing.  Our trauma centers are the same.  Whole blood is issued as emergency issue only without pre-transfusion testing.  Post-transfusion monitoring for hemolysis is done per AABB recommendation.

[S River]

jayinsat, we are going to be using this the same way. Only for emergency issue at the Trauma Center. O pos low titer whole blood to be given to adult men or women >50. Thank you for your response.