The transfusion service must have policies and procedures that address additional extended testing that must be performed.
When the investigation suggests serious adverse events such as TRALI, TACO, and anaphylaxis, the patient's physician must be notified immediately. If the suspected adverse event is related to the donor's characteristics, as in TRALI, the blood center must also be notified immediately and in writing. In the US, transfusion-associated fatalities must be reported to the FDA, other agencies, and institutions as stipulated by institutional guidelines and local and state regulations.
Adequate training is essential to ensure optimum performance. The transfusion service ensures that patient care staff members are well-trained to recognize and report transfusion reactions and that the policies and procedures are up-to-date, accurate, and clearly understood.
