Immediately the sample has been taken, it must be hand-written, legibly and accurately, in ball point pen to avoid smudging by the person taking the blood at the site of collection. The sample tubes should never be pre-labelled.
Please note: Addressograph labels MUST NOT be used to label the sample.
All samples MUST be labelled with the following information:
- Full Name i.e. Surname & First name (click here if the patient is unknown).
- Patient identification number (Please note that if a Hospital unit number is present this must be given priority).
- Date of Birth
- Ward/Location.
- Date and time of sample collection
- Signature of person taking the specimen.
- “High Risk” sticker if appropriate.
Sample Requirements
| Test required | Sample required | Sample bottle |
|---|---|---|
| Group and screen (Adult) | 4.9 ml of EDTA blood | Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Group and screen (Adult) Antibodies present | 2x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood | 2x Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Group and DAT (Baby) | 0.5 ml EDTA blood (minimum) | Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Group & Screen + Cross match | 4.9 ml of EDTA blood | Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Kleihauer (During pregnancy) | 1 x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood (Blue Top) AND 1x 4.0mL of EDTA blood (Red Top | 1 x Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) 1 x Full blood count tube (red top) |
| Kleihauer (At delivery) | (Maternal Samples) 1 x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood (Blue Top) AND 1x 4.0mL of EDTA blood (Red Top) (Baby Sample) A minimum of 0.5 ml EDTA blood/cord blood (Baby) | 1 x Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) 1 x Full blood count tube (red top) 1 x Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Fetal Rh D Screening Test | 1 x 7.5 ml of EDTA blood | 1 x Blood Transfusion tube (7.5 ml capacity - blue top) |
| Direct Antiglobulin Test | A minimum of 0.5 ml EDTA blood | Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Cross match for patient with antibodies or positive DAT | 2 x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood | 2 x Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Cold Agglutinins | 1 x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood. Sample must be kept warm and taken immediately to blood bank. The sample must be kept at 37ºC until it is separated. | 1 x Blood Transfusion tube (blue top) |
| Crossmatch for patient with no transfusion History | 1 x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood + 1x 4.9 ml EDTA ‘CHECK GROUP’ Please see web page – 2 sample rule. | 1 x 4.9 ml of EDTA blood (blue top) 1x 4.9 ml EDTA ‘CHECK GROUP’ (blue top check group) ONLY AVAILABLE FROM BLOOD BANK |
| Other NHSBT referral Tests | Full details of sample requirements are listed on the reverse of NHSBT request forms. Please contact the Laboratory if none are available or advice is required. | |
Suitably trained and competency assessed Phlebotomists, Healthcare Assistants, Nursing and Medical staff may collect samples for pre-transfusion testing. However, they must comply fully with appropriate Trust policies which are included in the ‘Trust Phlebotomy Training Package’. A copy of this policy is also given to all staff completing the course. Inadequate patient identification or sample labelling may lead to fatal ABO incompatible transfusions.
All staff responsible for pre-transfusion sample collection must undergo additional recorded yearly reassessments.
The sample required is 4.9mls of blood in a blue EDTA Sarstedt Blood Transfusion bottle (NHS supply number KCM 131). Minimum blood required for processing is 2ml. Paediatric samples must also be collected in the same tube, a minimum of 0.5 ml is required.
Inadequate, clotted and haemolysed samples will not be tested as they prevent accurate interpretation of results. Also, blood specimens must NOT be obtained from the tubing of an IV set or from a vein in which an IV solution is flowing.