National Haemoglobinopathy Registry

NHSBT red cell antibody data is now available in the National Haemoglobinopathy Registry (NHR). Daily transfers will keep it contemporaneous.

It is important to remember that the haemoglobinopathy centre where the patient is treated will need to be contacted to ensure that no new or historical antibodies have been identified that are not on the NHR.

As patients may have been transfused at other centres to their normal haemoglobinopathy centre it is important to ensure you have confirmed transfusion history with the patient.

Please can all centres looking after patients with haemoglobinopathies ensure that their laboratory data on red cell antibodies is entered on the NHR to ensure the NHR holds a relatively complete data set of antibodies for a patient. 
 
The NHR now has write access for all registered users so transfusion data can be entered for patients not treated with your centre currently.

I cannot stress the importance of doing this enough, as historical antibodies that are no longer detectable remain a major risk for patients requiring blood transfusion, particularly when the transfusion is undertaken urgently to manage a complication.
 
If you do not have access to the NHR please contact your haemoglobinopathy lead and they can ensure access is provided.
  
I want to take this opportunity to thank the MDSAS, NHSE and NHSBT project team in delivering this this important patient safety improvement for the NHR.
 
Dr Farrukh Shah - Chair NHR, Medical Director-Transfusion, NHS Blood and Transplant