1. Algorithm for Reviewing Requests for Red Cells
Clinical Request
Patient actively
Bleeding? No
Yes
Surgical Blood
loss anticipated?
Issue blood following
emergency issue
procedures
Yes
Refer to MSBOS No
Chronic
transfusion
dependent anaemia?
(eg SCD/Thal)
Yes
Issue component No
Agreed No
Hb <70g/l?
More that
one unit
requested?
Suggest single unit
transfusion followed
by clinical
and Hb review
Yes
Yes No
Yes
Refused
Symptomatic cardiovascular disease
Hb <80g/l
Severe sepsis/traumatic brain injury/acute cerebral ischaemia
Hb <90g/l No
Refer request to
Haematologist
NOTE: This Algorithm is a guide and the list is not exhaustive. If there are any queries regarding the request you should contact the haematologist for clinical review.