Transfusion Reactions (Online CE Course)

(based on 822 customer ratings)

Author: Erin Tretter, MBA, MT(ASCP)
Reviewer: Barbara Cebulski, MS, MLS(ASCP)

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What are the risks associated with blood transfusion? As a laboratory professional involved in blood preparation for transfusion, do you know what steps you can take to minimize those risks? If a patient starts to exhibit various symptoms during or after a transfusion, would you know how to interpret those symptoms and what actions to take to prevent harm to the patient? These are all important questions that are asked and answered by our new course, Transfusion Reactions. This course covers important types of transfusion reactions, including acute hemolytic transfusion reactions, transfusion-related acute lung injury, and transfusion-associated graft versus host disease. If you are a part of the health care team that is involved in the processing and administration of blood products, this course will reinforce those policies and procedures that you may already know, but are important to review. This course will update your knowledge about the various types of reactions that occur and their associated symptoms. Even though you may not be involved in the clinical part of the transfusion process, it is important to understand the big picture to recognize how important your job is to ensure patient transfusion safety.

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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 1.5 hour(s)

Approved through 7/31/2024

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - General (Blood Banking / Immunohematology): 1.5 hour(s)

Approved through 7/31/2024

Objectives

Define transfusion reaction.
Identify the risks of transfusions.
Compare and contrast immediate hemolytic transfusion reactions and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions.
List and define the types of nonhemolytic transfusion reactions.
List the laboratory findings associated with hemolytic and nonhemolytic transfusion reactions.
Discuss the definition, pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, therapies, prevention, and clinical work-up of hemolytic and nonhemolytic transfusion reactions.
List the antibodies associated with hemolytic transfusion reactions.
List the steps and procedures to follow in a laboratory investigation of a transfusion reaction.

Customer Ratings

(based on 822 customer ratings)

Course Outline

Click on the links below to preview selected pages from this course.

Adverse Effects of Blood Transfusions

Transfusion Reactions: Introduction

Blood Component Transfusion Risks

Risks Associated with Transfusion
Categories of Transfusion Reactions
Transfusion Reactions Associated with Blood Products

Immediate Immunologic Transfusion Reactions

In Vivo Red Cell Destruction

Immune Hemolysis

Causes of Immune Hemolysis
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
Initial Transfusion Reaction Investigation
Additional Testing
Management and Prevention
An acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (AHTR) may be caused by which of the following? (Choose all that apply)

Febrile Transfusion Reactions

Febrile Nonhemolytic Transfusion Reactions: Definition, Manifestation, and Prevalence
True or false. Leukocyte-reduced blood components are associated with the development of febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR).
A febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR) is characterized by which of the following symptoms?

Allergic Transfusion Reaction

Definition, Manifestations, and Prevalence of Allergic Reactions Related to Transfusion
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
True or False. Premedication with antihistamines may prevent an allergic reaction in patients with a history of multiple urticarial transfusion reacti...

Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)

Definition and Epidemiology
Clinical Presentation and Laboratory Findings
Pathophysiology
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis
Prevention of Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)
Which type of antibodies are known to cause transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) reactions?

Acute Nonimmunologic Transfusion Reactions

Bacterial Contamination

Presentation and Prevalence of Bacterial Contamination
Sources of Contamination
Reducing Transfusion-Associated Septic Reactions
Which type of blood component is MOST often implicated in bacterial contamination?

Circulatory Overload

Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO)

Physical/Chemical Hemolysis

Acute Pain and Hypotensive Reactions

Summary of Additional Testing in Acute (Immediate) Transfusion Reaction Investigations

Table: Additional Testing That May Be Ordered for Acute (Immediate) Transfusion Reaction Investigations

Delayed Immunologic Transfusion Reactions

Delayed Transfusion Reactions

Delayed Transfusion Reactions
DHTR: Diagnosis
Severe DHTR and Sickle Cell Anemia
True or false. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTR) typically occur 3 hours after transfusion.

Transfusion-Associated Graft-Versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD)

Transfusion-Associated Graft-Versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD): Definition and Incidence
Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis
Therapy and Prevention

Post-Transfusion Purpura (PTP)

Definition/Manifestation/Prevalence
Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Post-Transfusion Purpura (PTP)
Which of the following patients are at risk for transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) and would require cellular components prepa...
Post-transfusion purpura (PTP) is characterized by which of the following?

Delayed Non-Immunologic Transfusion Reactions

Iron Overload
Disease Transmission

Investigation of a Delayed Transfusion Reaction

Investigation of a Delayed Transfusion Reaction

Reporting Transfusion Reactions

References

References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Intermediate

Intended audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science students and pathology residents.

Author information: Erin Tretter, MBA, MT(ASCP) is the Division Manager of the Rapid Response Laboratory at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Prior to taking this position, she was the Blood Bank Clinical Instructor for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and the Community College of Philadelphia. She has seven years’ experience teaching immunohematology concepts and laboratory procedures to Medical Technology students. She has also provided blood bank training to laboratory technologists and medical students. Erin holds a BS in Medical Technology from California University of Pennsylvania and Masters in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology.

Reviewer information: Barbara Cebulski, MS, MLS(ASCP) has over 40 years of experience in the medical laboratory profession as a technologist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. She was an Inspection and Technical Specialist for nine years with the College of American Pathologists in the Laboratory Accreditation Program and, until her retirement in 2015, was Program Director for MediaLab, Inc. Barbara holds a Masters in Instructional Technology from Georgia State University.

Course information: This course is a review of clinical and laboratory recognition of transfusion reactions and the responsibilities of both areas for prevention of and proper response to a suspected reaction.