Human blood is a complex and specialized body fluid responsible for the transportation of oxygen to the tissues and organs, formation of clots, prevention of infection, removal of waste, and regulation of body temperature. A unit of whole blood collected from a single donor can be broken down into red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. Plasma can then be further broken down into volume expanders, coagulation factor concentrates, and immune globulins. Because of the complexity of blood, several safeguards must be in place to ensure blood is safe for transfusion. ABO typing, Rh typing, and cross matching are critical in the preparation for safe administration of blood products. This session will provide an overview of blood transfusion, proper preparation of donor blood, and other related safe transfusion practice.

Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this session, attendees will describe the process for preparing blood for safe transfusion.