An automated system for bedside verification of the match between patient identification and blood unit identification

Background: The administration of blood to the wrong patient remains the leading cause of acute hemolytic transfusion reactions and subsequent death. A process control system for blood administration was developed that verifies, at the bedside, the match between barcoded patient identification and blood unit identification. Study Design and Methods: The system is composed of 1) a portable bedside scanner that reads barcoded patient identification and blood unit identification, 2) a host computer system capable of accepting transfusion data from the bedside scanner, 3) printed documentation of the transfusion episode, and 4) audit trail monitoring of whether air steps in the automated patient and blood unit identification process have been performed. Software design, development, and validation protocols followed industry standards. Results: A pilot study was performed over a 2-month period evaluating the blood administration process using the computerized bedside transfusion identification system prototype for transfusions in 39 oncology patients. Conclusion: This system controls the blood administration process and includes bedside verification of the match between patient identification and blood unit identification.