bselcer

In Quebec, Canada we follow the Circular of Information, recently updated by Héma-Québec (the manufacturer) in 2005 that states frozen plasma may be stored for 12 months at - 18 degrees celsius or colder for 12 months, or at 1-6 degrees celsius for 24 hours after thawing.

At my hospital, a large acute care teachng hospital in Montreal, Canada we chose to use the NCR (non carbon copy) of the medical prescription in order to obtain all blood or blood products from our Transfusion Service. This saves paper and avoids additional errors made by selecting an incorrect hospital card to stamp on a paper/label, etc. The (NCR) prescription is hand delivered/faxed to Transfusion Service. It is verified by the technologist, prepared and then issued to the Nurse/Nursing delegate. The transporter then returns to the clinical area with the product, the transfusion record and the NCR prescription. All 3 itmes are hand delivered directly to the transfuser. A verification of patient, product and medical order is done immediately at that time. Transfusion Service does not retain this NCR copy of the prescription. Bonnie Selcer- Transfusion Safety Nurse,Jewish General Hopital Montreal, Quebec

In Quebec, Canada we have provincial definitions for hypotensive and hypertensive transfusion reactions. Hypotensive Reaction: Systolic arterial pressure less than or equal to 80 mm Hg not explained by another cause. Hypertensive Reaction:Increase in systolic arterial pressure more than or equal to 30mm Hg and systolic arterial pressure more than or equal to 180 mm Hg when this is the only clinical sysmptom and there is no explaination by another cause.