Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
05:23

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload

Published on: March 14, 2017

[Present state of transfusion errors]

Junko Murakami1

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610.

Rinsho Byori. the Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology
|March 26, 2003
PubMed

Insights

ABO-incompatible transfusions are serious errors. A survey found 20% of Japanese hospitals experienced these errors, often due to misidentification or incorrect blood typing.

Area of Science:

  • Transfusion Medicine
  • Patient Safety
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • ABO-incompatible transfusion represents a critical patient safety risk in healthcare.
  • The Japanese Society of Blood Transfusion conducted a national survey to assess the prevalence of these errors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of ABO-mismatched transfusions in Japanese hospitals between 1995 and 1999.
  • To identify the primary causes and contributing factors of ABO-mismatched transfusion errors.

Main Methods:

  • A national survey targeting 777 hospitals with over 300 beds and >3,000 annual blood product transfusions.
  • Data collected via questionnaire from 578 (74%) hospitals regarding ABO-mismatched transfusions from January 1995 to December 1999.

Main Results:

  • 115 hospitals (20%) reported experiencing ABO-mismatched transfusions during the study period.
  • Transfusion error frequency correlated with hospital size and blood product volume.
  • Key error causes included blood bag misidentification (42.8%), incorrect blood typing (15.1%), and patient misidentification (11.5%).

Conclusions:

  • ABO-mismatched transfusions are a significant issue in Japan, occurring in one-fifth of surveyed hospitals.
  • Errors stem from procedural and technical failures, particularly during high-demand periods like holidays and emergencies.
  • Addressing misidentification and blood typing accuracy is crucial for preventing serious transfusion errors.

Related Concept Videos

Blood Transfusion and Agglutination02:45

Blood Transfusion and Agglutination

Blood transfusion is a therapeutic measure to restore the blood volume after extensive blood loss due to an accident or a medical procedure. Blood transfusion involves drawing a certain amount of blood from a suitable donor and infusing it into the recipient.
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
Blood Transfusion01:15

Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion is a critical medical procedure that saves lives and treats various medical conditions. It involves transferring blood from a donor to a recipient. This process requires a thorough understanding of the ABO blood group system and its associated antigens and antibodies.
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring01:25

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure monitoring is a crucial clinical procedure in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Despite its significance, the accuracy of blood pressure measurements can be compromised by multiple factors, potentially leading to either falsely high or low readings. These inaccuracies are critical as they can significantly impact patient care. So, it is vital to understand these challenges deeply and adopt strategic approaches to minimize errors.
Several factors...
Tissue Transplantation01:24

Tissue Transplantation

Tissue transplantation is a significant medical procedure involving the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from a donor to a recipient, with the primary aim of restoring lost functions. This procedure is crucial in treating a broad spectrum of diseases, including kidney diseases, liver failure, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
Kidney Transplant I: Introduction01:28

Kidney Transplant I: Introduction

A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...
Blood Typing01:10

Blood Typing

Understanding an individual's blood group is a critical component of transfusion medicine. It ensures compatibility in blood transfusions, organ transplants, and even during pregnancy. Determining these blood groups involves the ABO and Rh blood typing systems, utilizing specific antigens and corresponding anti-sera to identify an individual's blood type.
Antigens are protein molecules that reside on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). The ABO and Rh blood typing systems target antigens A,...