Would anyone please share how they label blood collected with the cell saver? In looking at the AABB Standards for Perioperative Autologous Blood Collection and Administration (I have the 3rd edition, I know the 4th is the current one)--standard 5.1.6.2.3 "Labeling should conform to all FDA regulations, including bar code labeling as applicable. Each unit should be labeled "For Autologous Use Only" and "Donor Untested, " if applicable...."

I'm asking on behalf of the person in our surgery area that works with our program which is not currently, nor seeking AABB Accreditation, but simply using the standards as a good-practice guideline. I know they currently hand-write a label. Should they be using barcoded labels instead? What information is on your label? Is it hand-written or barcoded?

Thank You!

Terri

I'm not very familiarly with that area of the FDA Regulations, but wouldn't it make a difference whether the peri-operatively-collected unit is immediately reinfused or if the unit is brought to the Blood Bank/Transfusion Service for storage?

I recently was reviewing the Peri-op Stds and came across something that said the barcode labels are only required for units like hemodilution units that might be stored somewhere away from the patient before being infused. Cell saver units must be labeled with ID, expir., "for auto use only", etc. but hand-labeled is okay. We use a label with spaces for the required info plus OR adds the patient ID label. If you capture all the required items listed in the Stds, you don't have to worry about the barcode.

Thanks-I was hoping they wouldn't need to use a barcode. I know that all of the units collected here stay with the patient and are not stored for future use.

Terri,

We label all blood units whether sequestered during acute normovolemic hemodilution or from salvage shed blood as in cell saver units in the same manner as bank blood units with a patient label, blood band number, handwritten time of collection, expiration, volume, personnel, day, date, source and autologous. You can't make any mistakes this way in identification of blood and intended recipient.

Mark Lucas, MPS, CCP

Perfusionist

Blood Management Consultant