NHSBT clinical guidelines

Red cell transfusion and red cell immunohaematology

• Managing patients on monoclonal antibody therapies (PDF 229KB) - for hospital transfusion laboratories, transfusion practitioners and haematology clinical teams: essential information (PDF 408KB)
• Guidelines for the management of urgent red cell transfusion and situations when serological compatibility cannot be assured (PDF 176KB)
• High titre anti-A/B testing of donors within NHSBT (INF178/4)
• The clinical significance of blood group alloantibodies and the supply of blood for transfusion (PDF 1016KB)
• Selecting appropriate blood products for recipients of ABO / Rh mismatched stem cell transplants (SPN215/2)
• Investigation and clinical management of suspected reactions to IgA (PDF 486KB)
• Investigation and clinical management of patients with a positive Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) with and without haemolysis (SPN220/3)
• Red cell unit for intra-uterine transfusion and exchange transfusion with DAT (SPN564/1.1) 
• Management of D negative female patients with D positive: inadvertent red cell or platelet transfusion; bone grafts; Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) or large volume Fetomaternal Haemorrhage (FMH) - specification document (PDF 267KB)
• Joint statement (PDF 152KB) from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) and the UK Thalassaemia Society (UKTS) about the removal of maximum age requirements for red cells transfusion to patients, including those with haemoglobinopathies. This is a communication which was sent to transfusion colleagues on 1 November 2023.

Platelet and white cell transfusion, Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics

• Guidance notes for reduced dose apheresis platelets (PDF 111KB)
• Transfusion associated graft versus host disease (PDF 99.5KB)
• Guidelines for the management of platelet transfusion refractoriness (PDF 106KB)
• Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) (PDF 111KB)
• Post transfusion purpura (PDF 73KB)
• Clinical guidelines for the use of granulocyte transfusions (PDF 757KB)
• Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT)  (PDF 187KB)
• Thrombasthenia (PDF 70.5KB)

Samples

• RCI sample labelling policy (MPD637/6)
• H&I sample labelling policy (PDF 1602KB)
• Sample packaging policy (DAT2132)

Blood donors with haemochromatosis

We accept individuals with genetic haemochromatosis as blood donors, once they are nearing the end of the induction phase of treatment or are in the maintenance phase of their treatment, with no associated complications. Information for potential donors is found in this leaflet which can be displayed in clinics or where venesections take place:

• Leaflet for donors - download 'Haemochromatosis and blood donation' leaflet (PDF 217KB) or order the leaflet

For your information, donors are sent the following information form and donor agreement form once they have contacted NHSBT. You may find them helpful in deciding when to encourage individuals to consider blood donation. We currently request that donors contact NHSBT themselves to register as donors, but your support in directing them to us at an appropriate stage in their management is greatly appreciated.

• Donor agreement form (Word 49KB) for potential blood donors with haemochromatosis for use by clinicians. It requires the patient’s signature as confirmation of their agreement.
• Information for donors with Haemochromatosis (PDF 116KB)