Reporting Procedure
Reports of transfusion reactions are sent to TRIP on a voluntary basis and are treated confidentially. Data analysis and reporting are anonymous.
Reporting to TRIP is separate from the regular communication between hospitals and the supplying Sanquin blood banks about transfusion reactions or incidents.
Who
- The hospital submits a report if a reaction has been noted in the hospital.
- The Sanquin Blood Bank submits a report if a problem has been detected by the blood bank after delivery of a blood component to a hospital. TRIP's point of contact in each of the four supplying divisions is the manager of the clinical advisory service.
- TRIP checks for double reporting by comparing product numbers.
The persons responsible in hospitals are
Hemovigilance officer
Staff member officially responsible for reporting to TRIP, nominated by the blood transfusion committee and preferably officially appointed by the hospital board
Hemovigilance assistant
Prepares the report to TRIP (visits ward, collects and collates information), assists the hemovigilance officer and provides education and training on blood transfusion.
What
Transfusion Reaction (TRIP definition)
- Any undesired medical event (symptom, sign or diagnosis) or worsening of a pre-existent medical condition during and/or after a blood transfusion.
- Period: from the ordering of the transfusion until an unlimited time after administration of a blood component.
- Imputability: rating the likelihood that the undesired event was due to the transfusion of the blood component.
More: Categories of reactions that are to be reported to TRIP
How
How to report
Department where reaction is detected
- Treat/act according to hospital protocol; discuss with the consultant in charge
- Treating team sends report to blood transfusion laboratory
Blood transfusion laboratory
- Further tests according to hospital procedures
- Report to supplying blood bank if appropriate
Report to TRIP (hospital hemovigilance officer)
- Report to TRIP, generally after conclusion of investigation
- Send in completed reports at least every three months
- Please do not 'save up' reports of grade II or more but submit when results of investigations are complete
Publication of results
Communication with hospitals (currently 110 addresses)
- TRIP confirms receipt of reports to the submitter
- Every six months each hospital receives an preliminary overview of (national) reports to date and (if there has been no communication) a 'nil to report' card to confirm participation
- Personal contacts through regional meetings and visits to individual hospitals where possible
Annual Report
The submitted reaction reports are reviewed by an expert panel of board members. Any disrepancies in the assignment to a particular category of reaction, grading or classification of imputability are resolved by discussion with the reporter.
The annual report with analyses and recommendations is sent to the reporting hemovigilance officers blood transfusion committees and governing boards of the hospitals, to the other participating organisations as well as to the Ministry of Health and the Inspectorate. A summary in English is made and is available on request.
Publication
Publication in relevant scientific journals is envisaged.