Single Unit Transfusion Guide

Single Unit Transfusion Guide

We have developed a guide to implementing single unit transfusion based on the national Patient Blood Management Guidelines. 

The National Safety and Quality Health Service Blood Management Standard requires blood and blood product policies and procedures to be consistent with national evidence based guidelines. The Single Unit Transfusion Guide describes reasons why single unit transfusion is beneficial to patients and includes resources to help you implement it.

The International Society for Blood Transfusion defines single unit transfusion as “in the non-bleeding patient, single-unit transfusion refers to a standard dosing scheme of one unit of red blood cells, followed by an assessment of the patient’s signs and symptoms to determine whether additional units are indicated.¹”

The single unit transfusion guide was written in consultation with a technical writer and reviewed by a clinical cross-jurisdictional group before being available for a four-week public consultation period.

Please feel free to adapt, alter and re-badge the single unit transfusion guide and resource material as needed to suit your local area.

Guide (includes Appendixes 1, 2 and 3 only):

Additional Resources (Appendixes 1 to 6):

¹Adapted from the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) https://www.isbtweb.org/isbt-working-parties/clinical-transfusion/resources/patient-blood-management-resources/6-single-unit-transfusion.html(Opens in a new tab/window) 

Acknowledgements:

The National Blood Authority extends their appreciation to NSW Health Pathology – Pathology North (Hunter) for their involvement in the development of this guideline. 

Single Unit Transfusion Decision Support Tool

The Single Unit Transfusion Decision Support Tool supports the Single Unit Transfusion Guide and is designed to assist clinicians with appropriate prescribing of red blood cells. The Single Unit Transfusion Decision Support Tool underwent a 6-week public consultation period.

Please note: the Single Unit Transfusion Decision Support Tool based on the national Patient Blood Management Guidelines and is not mandatory. Feel free to use this version or create your own adaptation. If you develop your own version, please remove the National Blood Authority logo and note in your references ‘Adapted from the Single Unit Transfusion Decision Support Tool, National Blood Authority 2023’.

Implementing a Single Unit Transfusion Policy Fact Sheet

The NBA and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) have developed a Fact Sheet to help Health Service Organisations implement a Single Unit Transfusion Policy. 

The Fact Sheet is available for download below and on the ACSQHC website(Opens in a new tab/window).