PRINCIPLES OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION SAFETYElliott Bennett-Guerrero

Introduction A professor and vice chair for clinical research at Stony

Brook School of Medicine, Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero also serves as medical director of perioperative quality and patient safety in the Department of Anesthesiology. In his leadership role with the university, Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero focuses a portion of his research on the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusions. 

When it comes to blood-transfusion safety, positive patient identification represents one of the most important safety protocols. At all stages of the process, healthcare providers should ask for the patient’s full name and date of birth. 

Blood Transfusion Safety  Furthermore, all paperwork involving the patient must

have all information identical, complete with the patient’s unique identification number.

All prospective donors must be asked a comprehensive set of screening questions to determine risk factors for blood transfusion. Recent travel to high-risk countries or a history of intravenous drug use are some of the factors that may exclude a prospective donor. After the blood is collected, it must be tested in the laboratory for blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, bacterial contamination, and more.