Download blood samples required - Evelina London Children`s Hospital

Blood samples required before
blood transfusion for Children
This information sheet is intended as a supplement to the Parent’s guide ‘Children
receiving a blood transfusion’ produced by the NHS Blood and Transplant Authority.
The aim of this information sheet is to help answer some of the questions you may have
about blood samples taken before a transfusion.
If you have any questions and concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to a doctor or
nurse caring for you or your child.
Why are two records of blood group required?
We want blood transfusions to be as safe as possible for our patients. To ensure that the right
(compatible) blood is transfused, two records of a patient’s blood group are required before
products for transfusion can be issued to reduce the risk of a patient receiving the wrong blood
group. This ‘double check’ helps ensure that the correct patient has been identified.
What if there is no record of blood group?
If we have a record of the patient’s blood group only one blood sample will usually be required.
If we do not already have a record of a patient’s blood group, two blood samples will be
needed on two separate occasions to confirm the correct blood group. Two different members
of staff should take the samples.
If the blood samples are being taken in the outpatients department this will mean will mean a
wait of 30 minutes for between the 1st and the 2nd sample can be taken.
We are not able to use blood samples that have been taken at a different hospital.
What about in an emergency?
In an emergency it may not be possible for a patient to give two samples. In this circumstance
blood will be issued on only one blood test, but only Group O blood will be issued in this
situation. Group O blood can generally be given to people with any blood group.
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Further information
Pharmacy medicines helpline
For information about any medicines that you have been prescribed at Guy's and St Thomas'
hospitals, you can speak to the staff caring for you or call our helpline.
t: 020 7188 8748 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) – To make comments or raise concerns about the
Trust’s services, please contact PALS. Ask a member of staff to direct you to the PALS office or:
t: 020 7188 8801 at St Thomas’ t: 020 7188 8803 at Guy’s e: [email protected]
Knowledge & Information Centre (KIC) – For more information about health conditions, support
groups and local services, or to search the internet and send emails, please visit the KIC on the
Ground Floor, North Wing, St Thomas’ Hospital.
t: 020 7188 3416
Language support services – If you need an interpreter or information about your care in a
different language or format, please get in touch using the following contact details.
t: 020 7188 8815 fax: 020 7188 5953
NHS Direct – Offers health information and advice from specially trained nurses over the phone 24
hours a day.
t: 0845 4647 w: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
NHS Choices – Provides online information and guidance on all aspects of health and healthcare,
to help you make choices about your health.
w: www.nhs.uk
Become a member of your local hospitals, and help shape our future
Membership is free and it is completely up to you how much you get involved. To become a
member of our Foundation Trust, you need to be 18 years of age or over, live in Lambeth,
Southwark, Lewisham, Wandsworth or Westminster or have been a patient at either hospital in
the last five years.
To join, please call 0848 143 4017, email [email protected] or visit
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT
Switchboard: 020 7188 7188 www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk
© 2013 GUY’S AND ST THOMAS’ NHS FOUNDATION TRUST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Review by: March 2013