Banc de Sang i Teixits


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• The Banc de Sang i Teixits is the blood bank that supplies blood components to all the hospitals and clinics in Catalonia. In addition: - It is fully responsible for transfusion services in eleven hospitals in the Catalan Public Healthcare Network. - It is the reference centre for resolving queries on transfusions for all the transfusion services in Catalan hospitals and clinics. - It participates in hospital transfusion committees. - It actively carries out haemovigilance work throughout the whole of Catalonia.
1	Transfusion tests
2	Plasma turnover
3	Prices
	Transfusion

1. Transfusion tests

DEFINITION
These tests are performed before the transfusion of blood or any of its components, to ensure absolute compatibility between the recipient and the administered product.

METHODOLOGY

• ABO group

• Red blood cell test, which tests the recipient's erythrocytes against anti-A, anti-B and anti-AB reagents.
• Serum test, which tests the recipient's serum against the erythrocytes A₁ and B.
• These tests are conducted for all transfusions.

• Rh (D)

• Use of a monoclonal anti-D reagent.
• If the findings are negative, it is repeated with a monoclonal anti-D IgG-IgM reagent to detect the VI variant of the D antigen.

• Screening of irregular antibodies

• This tests the serum of the recipient (using a 37ºC and antiglobulin technique) against a panel of three red blood cells containing the clinically significant antigens.
• If the findings are positive, the antibody is identified by testing the serum against a panel of 10 red blood cells.
• Irregular antibody screening is only carried out for red blood cell transfusions.

• Cross-testing

• Cross-testing is performed by testing the serum of the recipient against the red blood cells administered using a technique at 37ºC and antiglobulin test.
• It is only conducted in certain situations as a pre-transfusion test of red blood cell concentrates or whole blood.

2. Plasma turnover

DEFINITION
This involves eliminating the plasma of patient and substituting it for a solution maintaining the blood volume and concentration of the plasma proteins.

METHODOLOGY

Before the plasma is eliminated, it must be separated from the other blood components using a continuous-flow cell separator equipped with disposable plastic tubing.
Two vascular accesses are required to connect the separator unit and set up a circuit entering and exiting the cell separator.
To ensure the blood flows fluidly, it must be mixed with an anticoagulant agent composed of sodium citrate (ACD) as it enters the plastic tubing of the cell separator.
The following solutions can be used to replace the patient's plasma: fresh inactivated plasma, fresh quarantine plasma, or a 5% albumin solution.