The Transfusion Laboratory at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital provides blood components for transfusion at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Cromer Hospital, Priscilla Bacon Lodge (NCHC, Spire Norwich, Bowthorpe Kidney service and Health Care at Home.
They are also responsible for the supply of routine and prophylactic Anti-D, Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (Beriplex) and clotting factors.
The Transfusion Laboratory at the James Paget Hospital provides blood components for transfusion at the James Paget Hospital and Beccles Community Hospital.
They are also responsible for the supply of routine and prophylactic Anti-D, Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (Beriplex) and clotting factors.
The Transfusion Laboratory at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital provides blood components for transfusion at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and North Cambridgeshire Hospital in Wisbech.
They are also responsible for the supply of routine and prophylactic Anti-D.
Samples are a potential source of infection and should be treated accordingly. Please fill all sample bottles with the correct volume of blood to ensure correct anticoagulation, and all containers must be securely closed. Leaking samples with gross contamination of contents and containers are discarded. Pocket bags are available for sample transport. Samples should be placed in the appropriate container, which must be securely fastened. This must be placed in a clear plastic bag and sealed. Samples accompanied by forms without specimen bags must be put into marsupial bags with the request form being placed in the side pouch.
Refer to local Trust policies.
JPUH – Red Cells can be pre-ordered on the request form but for urgent red cells and all other components the lab must be telephoned on extension 2443 or 2050, in all cases you will need patient ID and reason for transfusion (for platelets the National Indication (P) Code available on the Authorisation sheet must be provided).
Once a unit of red cells has been issued it will remain available in the issue fridge for 24- 48 hours, dependent on recent transfusion history, before being returned to stock. All other components are returned to stock after 24 hours. If you require a component to continue to be available this must be discussed with the laboratory.
When requesting Platelets please ensure that you try to telephone your request to enable delivery within the required time frames. Please click here for JPUH Platelet time frames.
NNUH – Requests for red cells must be made through ICE which has been designed to guide appropriate requesting. All urgent requests must be phoned to the laboratory. Once a unit of red cells is issued for a patient it will be available for 24 hours after the date and time required. All other requests for blood components and products are taken over the phone.
If platelets are required then these may need to be requested from NHSBT specifically for the patient. In order to allow for delivery on the routine transport please contact the transfusion laboratory before the order cut off time.
Platelets will be returned to stock 8 hours after the date and time requested has passed.
If you require blood components for a patient with a known special requirement it is important to ensure that the transfusion lab is aware of that patient’s needs. If the requirement is new or if the patient has not been treated at the hospital before then the appropriate special requirements request form must be completed and sent to the lab to allow an alert to be created for previous attendances (Trust Docs ID: 1286).
For order cut off times and expected times of delivery click here
QEH – All requests for blood components at QEH must be made by telephone on x3782. The laboratory staff will always ask specific questions about your request including the patient’s weight. This is so that patients are ensured the correct components and interventions.
Routine transfusions should be a unit at a time with a check Hb in between.
One unit of stock platelets is kept on site. For other routine platelet orders they should be requested by clinicians via the Transfusion Laboratory before the cut off time to allow for routine delivery. We have one delivery per day.
Please click here for QEH Platelet time frames
If you suspect a transfusion reaction, stop the infusion and assess the patient. Call a Dr to see the patient, who can take advice from the clinical haematology team.
Each hospital will have their own Trust policies to follow, which are available on the staff intranet. You must inform the laboratory on the relevant site of the suspected transfusion reaction.
JPUH – Supplement 5: Transfusion Reactions/Complications: SUPP5/TWD/JJ0106/02
NNUH – Trust Guideline for the Management of Reactions to Blood and Blood Products (Trust docs ID 1281).
QEH – Trust Transfusion procedures and Managing reactions – B04.5 Procedure for managing and reporting adverse events in transfusion
Massive blood loss is defined as ≥40% loss of total blood volume, blood loss of 4000mls within a 24hr period, blood loss of 2000mls in a 3hr period, or blood loss at a rate of >150mls/min. In recent years a more practical approach is that patients suspected of bleeding (especially if it is internal) will demonstrate a pulse of >110 bpm and a systolic blood pressure of < 90 mmHg.
JPUH – Supplement 6: Major Haemorrhage: SUPP6/POL/TWD/JJ1220/02.1
NNUH – The NNUH uses the treatment algorithm developed by the East of England Trauma Network and agreed by the East of England Transfusion Committee.
To activate the protocol phone the transfusion lab on ext. 2905/2906 and state “I want to trigger the massive blood loss protocol”.
All subsequent communications between the clinical area and the lab staff should be started with “This call relates to the massive blood loss protocol”. A specific member of the clinical team should be nominated to co-ordinate communication with the transfusion lab.
Full details can be found in the Guideline for the Management of: Massive Blood Loss in Adults (MBL) (Trust Docs ID: 1175) and Massive blood loss in children (Document ID 9960 and Flow chart ID 10828)
QEH – Massive Blood loss Flow Chart on The Trust Transfusion policy – B07.2 Massive Blood loss and B10.5 MBL in children protocol EoE RTC
To activate the protocol the transfusion lab must be contacted on ext 2330 or 3782 ask Transfusion to ‘’Initiate Massive Blood Loss Protocol’’.
The transfusion laboratories use the reference services of the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). The EPA laboratories hold the specialist request forms for these investigations, and some require haematology consultant advice before referring.
Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI): for blood grouping and antibody investigations that cannot be resolved in the laboratory.
Histocompatibilty and Immunogenetics (H&I): for investigations of platelet refractoriness, TRALI, HIT, NAIT.
International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL): samples for cffDNA to guide antenatal anti D prophylaxis.
Authorised results are available on the ICE system, which is updated regularly throughout the day.
Results of urgent requests if ICE access or electronic delivery is not available and unexpected results, which may aid the immediate patient management, will be telephoned.
In the event that the laboratory is unable to deliver the required service due to equipment failure we will endeavour to contact all relevant users.
Due to IG compliance requirements, results cannot be communicated directly to patients.
Each Trust has a Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC), which is a multi-disciplinary team which meets 4 times a year and is made up of a variety of specialities with an interest in transfusion.
The Hospital Transfusion Team (HTT) meets more frequently and is comprised of representatives from the Medical staff, BMS staff and the Transfusion Practitioner team. The HTT is a subcommittee of the HTC and issues can be feedback to the full committee when required.
All 3 laboratories participate in the external quality assurance scheme run by UK NEQAS (National External Quality Assurance Scheme).
All 3 laboratories are accredited with UKAS to ISO 15189 standards.
All 3 laboratories comply with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005/50, under the guidance of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). As part of the MHRA compliance all laboratory incidents, errors and near misses are reported via the Serious Adverse Blood Reportable Events (SABRE) website.
All 3 laboratories report to the UK’s independent, professionally-led haemovigilance scheme SHOT (Serious Hazards Of Transfusion).
EPA Network Blood Transfusion Manager:
Carol Harvey: 01603 286286 or 07562322164
JPUH
Sarah Parsons : 01493 452102
NNUH
Tracey McConnell and Sandra Ellis : 01603 286906
QEH
Frank Baiden : 01553 613782
JPUH
The Transfusion laboratory is available 24 hours a day
For Urgent samples the laboratory can be contacted internally on 2443. Outside hours contact the Haematology BMS via the Switchboard.
The laboratory can be found at the rear of the building on the ground floor sign posted ‘Pathology – Blood Tests’
NNUH
The Transfusion laboratory is available 24 hours a day and can be contacted on Ext 2905/2906.
The laboratory can be found in East Block Level 1 at the rear of the building on the ground floor sign posted ‘Pathology – Blood Tests’
QEH
The Transfusion Laboratory is open 24 hours a day.
For Urgent samples the laboratory can be contacted internally on 3782. Outside hours contact Haematology by bleep 2475.
The laboratory can be found at the rear of the building on the ground floor, in area 4, the green section sign posted “Pathology & Blood Tests”. Urgent samples should be handed to a member of laboratory staff after contacting them by telephone. It is a locked department and so can only be contacted in this way.
EWT-D-001 Last updated 07/06/2021 (1)