Knowledge and practices in transfusion regarding bedside compatibility test: Insights from a monocentric...

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Laboratory Science

Background:

• Bedside compatibility testing (BCT) is crucial for preventing ABO-incompatible transfusions.
• Existing BCT knowledge and practices among healthcare professionals require evaluation.
• The Serafol ABO card offers a new technique for BCT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current knowledge and practices of bedside compatibility testing.
• To evaluate the impact of a training session on BCT using the Serafol ABO card.
• To identify areas for improvement in transfusion safety protocols.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted with transfusion-qualified staff.
• Initial and post-training knowledge assessments were performed using anonymous questionnaires.
• The assessment included interpretation of Serafol ABO card examples.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in overall BCT scores from 43% to 90% post-training (p=0.000).
• High correct interpretation rates for the Serafol ABO card (86% isogroup, 81% non-isogroup).
• Despite improvements, 20.5% of participants would have transfused an incompatible unit, highlighting persistent risks.

Conclusions:

• Training and the Serafol ABO card significantly enhance BCT practices and knowledge.
• Continuous education, medical assessments, and monitoring are essential for sustained transfusion safety.
• Addressing identified gaps in BCT is vital to minimize transfusion errors.