Blood Bank
Blood bank, also called blood transfusion service, typically refers to one of hospital departments or laboratory that must be present in a health care facility. This is a highly technical service for collecting, testing, processing and distributing blood products. It is in this division where the storage of blood product takes place and proper testing or screening is performed to lessen the risk of transfusion and events related. Blood banks dispense whole blood, plasma, packed cells, or platelets. Some hospitals do not have their own blood bank, and in cases like this, blood may be supplied from the regional blood center.
Policies and procedures for blood transfusion services must conform to the standards set by the Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines. These include criteria for:
- Accepting blood donors
- Laboratory testing of donors and recipient’s blood
- Preparing and administering blood products for therapeutic purposes
The rules and regulations governing the regulation blood service facilities are clearly stated under Administrative Order No. 2008 – 0008. To ensure safe and efficient blood baking and transfusion practices in the Philippines Republic Act 7719 also known as “National Blood Services Act of 1994” was passed. To make sure that the provision of Republic Act 7719 is carried out the “Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act 7719” was put together and was approved in 2003.
If an elective surgery is done and the operating surgeon anticipates blood loss replacement may be required, the patient may have his or her own blood drawn and stored in the blood bank for autotransfusion. Autotransfusion is a blood replacement procedure and blood bank technicians may participate on autotransfusion teams for collection of patient’s blood intraoperatively and postoperatively. In cases where the patient does not have his or her own blood stored in the blood bank, also called autologous blood, additional units of donor blood is needed (homologous blood). In this case, a sample of the patient’s blood is sent for blood typing and cross matching. Blood requests should be made by a physician or surgeon and when the units of blood are prepared it should be labeled with the patient’s name and blood data.
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Daisy Jane Antipuesto RN MN
Currently a Nursing Local Board Examination Reviewer. Subjects handled are Pediatric, Obstetric and Psychiatric Nursing. Previous work experiences include: Clinical instructor/lecturer, clinical coordinator (Level II), caregiver instructor/lecturer, NC2 examination reviewer and staff/clinic nurse. Areas of specialization: Emergency room, Orthopedic Ward and Delivery Room. Also an IELTS passer.
