FLYING SQUAD BLOOD

Group O Rhesus (D) Negative (universal donor) blood is available for immediate use at all times - and is kept in issue fridges in Basildon Blood Bank (4 units), Basildon Maternity (2 units) and Orsett Blood Bank fridge (4 units).  This blood is ABO and RH(D) compatible with all recipients so there is no risk of serious acute haemolytic transfusion reaction. When removing Flying Squad Blood, make sure to record the patient details and ensure that a sample for crossmatching is taken before giving the blood.  Please inform Blood Bank that Flying Squad Blood has been used.

If the recipient has “atypical” red cell antibodies (which results in an incompatible crossmatch in about 3% of the population), the patient may develop a mild delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction several days later and future pregnancies may be complicated by haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).  In the case of a patient with an active life threatening bleed, the risk of a delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction or future HDN can be accepted as small compared to the risk posed by delaying the transfusion.

ABO AND RH (D) SPECIFIC BLOOD (But Uncrossmatched)

Blood can be issued by the Blood Bank within 10 minutes of a valid sample reaching the laboratory.

The only advantage of using this blood compared to using “Flying Squad” blood is that it conserves the national stock of Group O Rhesus (D) negative blood.  As for “Flying Squad” there is no risk of ABO or RH(D) incompatibility but there is about a 3% risk of incompatibility due to the presence of “atypical” red cell antibodies - see above for consequences.

FULLY CROSSMATCHED BLOOD

ABO and Rhesus (D) specific and fully crossmatched blood is usually available from the laboratory within 45 minutes of a valid sample reaching the laboratory.  The crossmatch test is “compatible” in about 97% of units tested and this means that the blood should not cause acute haemolysis or delayed haemolysis or HDN (due to “atypical” antibodies).

Remember that the crossmatch test may be unexpectedly “incompatible” in 3% of patients, if the clinical situation is urgent, it may be necessary to transfuse this “incompatible” blood regardless of the presence of “atypical” antibodies.  If in doubt and if there is time, discuss with your consultant and the consultant haematologist on call.