Would anyone be willing to send me their procedure on transfusing sickle cell patients? We are a VA hospital and the likelyhood of us ever getting a sickle cell patient is almost 0% but since we are CAP and AABB we really do need to have a procedure. We've always been able to get away without it but it is usually questioned. It would just be easier to have a procedure than have to explain the US Military policy on not accepting people with sickle.

Thanks

Heather

We do not routinely transfuse patients that we know are sickle patients. We do however have a policy for special transfusion requirements that states once special needs are communicated with the BB we will enter a marker in the history as a future reference. THis includes irradiated, CMV, and sickle. THis covers the AABB requirement that a policy include Hemoglobin S.

Sorry I could not attach the policy.

:peaceman:

According to our procedure we give Hgb S neg units along with C,E,K neg units. We have a large population of sickled cell individuals in this area. Most indiv. who are sickle are neg for C,E,K antigens, and so to prevent future antibody creation and having to resort to rare donor cells we implemented that into our procedures.

If you actually have a policy that your hospital NEVER accepts sickle patients (or any other patient requiring sickle negative blood), I would think that would be sufficient. You just need it to be written into your policy. If, however, you treat family members of military personnel who COULD have sickle (or a condition requiring sickle negative blood), then you need a procedure for the use of sickle negative blood. You could have a short section in your selection of blood for transfusion procedure that states when sickle negative blood might be required and how you would ensure that it is obtained.