Clinical policies and guidelines
Published on 29 July 2024
We produce policies that outline the approach you should take in clinical setting transfusion situations.
We regularly update our policies and guidelines. You should always make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of our documents.
Our general service provision policies
- Acceptance Criteria for patient blood samples in clinical labs
- Our 24/7/365 approach to SNBTS blood bank service availability
If you require a copy of these policies, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot
Read our clinical transfusion policies
- issuing red cell components close to their expiry date/time
- The provision of Kell negative red blood cells for female patient under the age of 51 years
- Recommending the selection of blood for patients with red cell alloantibodies
- Platelet selection
- The use of high titre blood components
- Thawed fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
- Indications for the use of CMV negative blood components
If you require a copy of these policies, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot
Read our polices for newborns and children
- The use of the apheresis platelets in children
- Methylene blue (MB) treated Cryoprecipitate
If you require a copy of these policies, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot
Read our emergency transfusion policies
- Using uncrossmatched red cells in an emergency
- Issuing RhD positive blood components to RhD negative individuals
- Using Group A FFP in emergency patients when the blood group is unknown
If you require a copy of these policies, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot
Read our clinical transfusion policies for specific conditions
- Providing transfusion support for patients receiving allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant from a donor of a different ABO and/or RhD Group
- Managing transfusions for patients found to be IgA deficient
- Investigating and providing transfusion support to patients with, or at risk of, post transfusion purpura
- Using imported FFP and cryoprecipitate to treat patients born on or after 1 January 1996 and adult patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Using plasma-reduced red cells and platelets
If you require a copy of these policies, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot