Blood Component Transfusion

Read the illustrated guides to Blood Transfusion on ClinicalSkills.net below. The process of blood transfusion is made up of several steps and these are broken down into 6 sections below. You may wish to read through each section in order to gain a full understanding of the process from ordering to administering and dealing with potential adverse reactions. Alternatively you might prefer to jump to the specific section that you want to find out more about: 

You will need to be logged into ClinicalSkills.net to use these pages: Go to ClinicalSkills.net, click login at the top, enter your user name and password. You must have set up your account to do this. For further information on how to login to your ClinicalSkills.net account please click here: How to Login to ClinicalSkills.net

Blood transfusion part 1: ordering blood for collection, gaining consent, being prepared

Blood transfusion part 2: collecting the blood 

Blood transfusion part 3: the blood arrives on the ward 

Blood transfusion part 4: the final bedside check 

Blood transfusion part 5: giving the blood, monitoring and documentation 

Blood transfusion part 6: adverse reactions 

For further practice on the skills involved in the blood component transfusion process, use the Blood Assist app from NHS Blood and Transplant to go through the procedures involved in the process in turn.

Click on the image below to open the app...

You might also find the modules on e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) really useful to help you develop your understanding of blood transfusion. There are many modules available for you to do, including taking assessments to check your knowledge at the end of these but the ones below are the ones you're likely to find most useful in relation to your role as a nurse:

Please note that to view and undertake these e-learning modules you will need to have an e-LfH account. Information about registering for an account can be found here: http://support.e-lfh.org.uk/get-started/registration/. As a student you are able to create an account and you don't need an NHS email address to do so. To find out more about this follow this link: http://support.e-lfh.org.uk/get-started/registration/working-as-a-student-tutor/.

Once you have created or logged into your account you will be able to open the e-learning modules from the links below:

To view all 13 modules which make up the Blood Transfusion e-learning on e-LfH click here.

Click on the button below to navigate to the 'Take a Test' area of ClinicalSkills.net. Please make sure you're logged into ClinicalSkills.net already, otherwise you may not be able to open and take the test. Once you have reached the 'Take a Test' area, select 'Local Tests' and then click on the test called 'Blood Component Transfusion Test 1 and Blood Component Transfusion Test 2' to begin. You will need to score 80% or more to pass. Make sure you've read the ClinicalSkills.net procedure thoroughly before taking the test as many of the answers will be found within there!

The first test Blood Component Transfusion Test 1 refers to the aspects involved in the pre-administration part of the transfusion process (ordering blood, consent and preparation, collection of the blood itself, and management of the blood when it arrives on the ward) - ensure that you have read and understood parts 1, 2 and 3 of the ClinicalSkills.net blood transfusion modules before taking the test.

The second test Blood Component Transfusion Test 2 focuses on the aspects of the second half of the transfusion process (the final bedside check, administration of the blood itself and documentation, and adverse reactions to transfusion) - ensure that you have read and understood parts 4, 5 and 6 of the ClinicalSkills.net blood transfusion modules before taking the test.

To read more about the recommendations and guidance included in the Health Service Circular Better Blood Transfusion – Safe and Appropriate Use of Blood (2007) from the Department of Health, click on the link here: 

Better Blood Transfusion – Safe and Appropriate Use of Blood

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20130105054416/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Healthservicecirculars/DH_080613

Blood Transfusion Patient Information Leaflets (NHS Blood and Transplant Service)

www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/what-we-do/blood-services/blood-transfusion/ 

Blood Transfusion Handbook from JPAC (Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee)

www.transfusionguidelines.org/transfusion-handbook 

Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Procedures (9th Edition): Transfusion of blood and blood components- 

Page 170-191

ProQuest Ebook Central - Reader 

Date reviewed: November 2022

Next review: November 2023