Lab order for Type and screen

[Isabelle49]

Have you ever done a type and screen in the home? Sounds strange to me, but doing one tomorrow. Am told it will save the lab 45 min if patient needs to be transfused, but they will have to draw their own blood for match. I think this should be done at the same time as the type and screen - doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Actually sounds like an accident waiting to happen. And, No, I will not be placing a blood bank band on the home health patient!!!

[annaedRN, RN]

I've done it frequently. Make sure you have the proper tubes and the tubes are labelled with patient name, DOB, pt location, time, date, your name. Check with the hospital or facility that will process it - they will probably have a copy of the policy on it for you. Our hospital just recently gave us an updated one.

[Sue Damonas, BSN]

I've drawn them frequently. It does save the pt time, especially if they have antibodies and are hard to crossmatch.