Clinical policies and guidelines
Published on 25 July 2024
We produce policies that outline the approach you should take in clinical setting transfusion situations.
We regularly update our policies and guidelines. You should always make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of our documents.
Our general service provision policies
If you require a copy of the Acceptance Criteria for patient blood samples in clinical labs policy, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot
If you require a copy of Our 24/7/365 approach to SNBTS blood bank service availability policy, please contact nss.snbtsnatsops@nhs.scot
Read our clinical transfusion policies
- Our policy on issuing red cell components close to their expiry date/time (PDF, 124KB)
- The provision of Kell negative red blood cells for female patient under the age of 51 years (PDF, 222KB)
- Our policy on recommending the selection of blood for patients with red cell alloantibodies (PDF, 58.5KB).
- Our policy for platelet selection (PDF, 150.7KB)
- Our policy on the use of high titre blood components (PDF, 141KB)
- Our policy on thawed fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (PDF, 60KB)
- Our indications for the use of CMV negative blood components (PDF, 42KB)
Read our polices for newborns and children
- The use of the apheresis platelets in children (PDF, 222KB)
- Our policy on methylene blue (MB) treated Cryoprecipitate (PDF, 222KB)
Read our emergency transfusion policies
- Using uncrossmatched red cells in an emergency (PDF, 42KB)
- Issuing RhD positive blood components to RhD negative individuals (PDF, 95.6KB)
- Using Group A FFP in emergency patients when the blood group is unknown (PDF, 96KB)
Read our clinical transfusion policies for specific conditions
- Providing transfusion support for patients receiving allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant from a donor of a different ABO and/or RhD Group (PDF, 191KB)
- Managing transfusions for patients found to be IgA deficient (PDF, 134KB).
- Investigating and providing transfusion support to patients with, or at risk of, post transfusion purpura (PDF, 109KB)
- Using imported FFP and cryoprecipitate to treat patients born on or after 1 January 1996 and adult patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (PDF, 222KB)
- Using plasma-reduced red cells and platelets (PDF, 222KB)