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Blood Transfusion

Age of blood products

  • More information on this topic is available see: Age of blood – background document

    Patient group Age of red blood cells on day of issue Considerations
    Neonatal exchange transfusion < 5 days Kell negative, CMV negative,
    Rh and phenotype matched
    Intrauterine transfusion < 5 days Kell negative, CMV negative,
    Rh and phenotype matched
    Paediatric large volume transfusion*

    • Cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass
    • ECLS
    • Craniofacial surgery
    		 < 7 days In an emergency, the blood bank scientist will
    issue the most appropriate unit
    available at that time
    Paediatric – routine transfusion
    • Post-op surgical patient
    • Oncology patients
    • Solid organ transplantation
    		 Standard issue
    Massive transfusion Aim < 10 days In an emergency, the blood bank scientist will
    issue the most appropriate unit
    available at that time
    Chronically transfused patients
    • - Congenital anaemia who are transfusion dependent
    • - Haemoglobinopathies (sickle cell disease, thalassaemia)
    • - Aplastic anaemia
    		 Aim < 14 days Patients with haemoglobinopathies are matched for Rh and Kell.
    Extended phenotype matching for patients with alloantibodies.
    Extended phenotype matching may take precedence over age of red cells.
    Small volume (top up) neonatal transfusions Standard issue
    Children and adolescents not included in any groups listed above Standard issue