Frequency of ABO recipient typing prior to FFP transfusion.

[ABIDer]

I am trying to determine the frequency that other transfusion services perform ABO testing on their recipients prior to FFP transfusion?  Do you perform a new type if more than 3 days have elapsed?  What about with a new admission?  If the patient has at least two previous blood types, do you still do another one prior to transfusing that patient even though it's a new admission?  Thanks in advance for your comments.

[David Saikin]

one blood type/admission.

[R1R2]

Once every 12 months.

[Liz0316]

_{As long as we have 2 types on file, no we do not perform another ABO/Rh for FFP transfusions or platelets.}

_{We have a lot of out patients who come for just platelets, and we have chronic (out) patients that get FFP prior to procedures.}

_{Obviously, if we feel blood may be needed we get the specimen. We get lots of "hold" tubes!}

_Liz

[pbaker]

one blood type per admission

[Abdulhameed Al-Attas]

Yes, I vote for one blood type/admission.
 

[AMcCord]

Ditto......one blood type per admission.

[jayinsat]

One blood type per admission.  We've had our admitting department mis-register a patient leading to a transfusion of incompatible FFP. 

[Andersli]

We do a blood type each admission for inpatients.  For our recurring outpatients that are getting therapeutic plasma exchanges we do the blood type each month with the new monthly admission. 

[Dr. Pepper]

1 type/admission for FFp and platelets

[bxcall1]

When we collect pre-transfusion blood the patient is banded with a unique BB ID number. As long as the patient has this uniquely numbered armband and we have a type from a specimen with that number we will transfuse plasma products, either FFP of platelets.

[AMcCord]

When we collect pre-transfusion blood the patient is banded with a unique BB ID number. As long as the patient has this uniquely numbered armband and we have a type from a specimen with that number we will transfuse plasma products, either FFP of platelets.

Actually this is exactly what we do.

[jojo808]

Recheck bloodtype every admission

[mla]

We also perform one type per admission.  Our one exception is for Outpatient Oncology when the patient is coming in frequently for platelets.

[ABIDer]

_{Thank you all very much for your replies.  This has helped, greatly.  I was leaning towards the "new type/admission" process, initially,  and it looks like that's what many of you are doing.  We have a patient population who have been known to swap identifications which is why I don't feel comfortable relying on historical typings.}

[Dansket]

We follow the same policy as well.

[Sandy L]

We require one blood type on the current admission

[donellda]

I believe in one type per admission although my former employer says one type per every 6 months. I believe there is always a chance of fraud or error if you don't do every admission.

[tbostock]

We do one every 3 days, our BB LIS requires it even for FFP.  But if I had my way it would be once per admission.