Publication: How safe is transfusion of uncross-matched group-specific blood?
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Date
2005
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Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objective: Uncross-matched blood either group specific or Group O is advocated in patients with exsanguinating
haemorrhage when cross-matched blood cannot be made available rapidly. The risk of using uncross-matched blood
is not known clearly. The purpose of this study is to attempt to quantify the risk of major transfusion reactions
resulting from the use of uncross-matched group specific blood. Method: The cross-matching record of Patan
hospital for the period of two years was analysed looking at the number of units that had major or minor
incompatibility among all the cross-matching done during this period. Result: A total of 6027 units were cross-
matched in two years. Only one unit of blood was found to have both major and minor incompatibility. All other
units of blood taken out from the freeze for the purpose of cross-matching matched the patients blood. This puts the
risk of having major transfusion reaction from incompatible blood when using uncross-matched group-specific
blood at 1 in 6000. Conclusion: Using uncross-matched group specific blood in patients with severe haemorrhage,
when delay in transfusion can put life at risk, is justifiable and needs to be encouraged.
Key words: blood transfusion, uncross-matched, group specific