TYPE AND SCREEN

The "Type and Screen" (T/S) has been shown to be a safe and cost effective preoperative substitute for the "type and crossmatch" when the likelihood of transfusion is low and the antibody screen is negative.

If the antibody screen is positive, the antibody will be identified, the patient is removed from "Type and Screen" status, a complete crossmatch is performed, and the ordering physician is notified. Also, if any patient's clinical situation is such that the probability of blood use intra-operatively is significantly increased, the requesting physician can remove the patient from "Type and Screen" status by contacting the Blood Bank. If, during surgery, blood is needed on a "Type and Screen" patient, tube a written request for blood and blood products on the patient. The blood will be available in the Blood Bank 10 to 20 minutes after notification. The Blood Bank physician will assume responsibility for providing all blood and blood products in a timely fashion.

The procedures listed in Table 1 have been selected as "Type and Screen" eligible procedures by the University Hospital Transfusion Review Committee and Hospital Executive Board.

For surgery patients having one of the listed procedures, a 6 mL EDTA tube of blood should be sent to the Blood Bank by 3:30pm the day before surgery along with a stamped Blood Bank requisition (BBK1) or Echart order.

Table 1: TYPE AND SCREEN (T/S) PROCEDURES