I was wondering if other hospitals are implementing a policy for collecting blood for type and screen. I have not seen this policy in writing yet but I found out yesterday about have to collect blood twice for a type and screen.
This is what I was explained yesterday. (I work in pre and post op so I have to do type and screens alot. However, the rest of the hospitals have phlebotomists to get the floors labs).
There has to be two type and screens collected by two different ppl at two different sites. The hospital gods are saying this is a new blood bank guideline that hospitals are implementing. Most of us are thinking someone really messed up in lab. Anyways, I'd like to know is there real?
Ours is 2 vials but we do it from the same site at the same time. It requires dual sign off that you verified the patient identity so once I've drawn the specimen I flag down a nurse thats walking by to sign off of it.
I've never heard of this practice but suspect like you that it's a reflex to a fatal error or near miss. I think the better alternative would be what one poster mentioned about having a second nurse witness. The process you described sounds time consuming, which could further delay type specific transfusions. And with the amount of blood required for two full tubes could be detrimental in patients who are already severely anemic or in shock.
As mentioned and linked previously it is a standard of the American Association of Blood Banks, not a reactionary policy by an isolated hospital.
Interesting article. I would note however that this organization is a membership association and not an accrediting body. As such, hospitals would not be required to follow this groups recommendations. And as you mentioned it's an undated article, so it would be hard to determine if this article or organization contributed to OP's hospital changing their policy. In my experience sudden policy changes like this, in this absence of new research or regulatory requirements, are often due to near miss events.
Epidural, BSN, RN
176 Posts
Our policy is the same: two pink tops-two separate draw times- (type and screen & ABO)