Checking Perceived Blood Group of the Patient Upon Phlebotomy: Additional Approach for Accurate Patient Identification and ABO Testing

Jo, Kyung Mi; Chung, Yousun; Shin, Sue; Roh, Eun Youn; Yoon, Jong Hyun; Han, Kyou Sup

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Accurate patient identification is fundamental in transfusion medicine. Our hypothesis is that an open question about patients' ABO blood group would be helpful for accurate identification of the patient and for accurate laboratory testing.
METHODS
We added some blanks, including the patient's ABO blood group on the tube label, which should be filled in by the phlebotomist on the spot. From Aug 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, we analyzed the effect of the additional step for identification of a misidentification 'incident' in 31,454 tests of 14,864 patients. We surveyed on 21 phlebotomists with regard to whether the changed label reinforces patient identification. In addition, the discrepancy rate between the ABO blood group perceived by the patient and the test result was analyzed.
RESULTS
Patient-misidentification error rate during this study was 0.022%, and 81.0% of the phlebotomists answered that the changed label reinforces patient identification. The total discrepancy rate was 1.93%. Patients without previous results showed a higher discrepancy rate (3.08%) than patients with previous results (0.35%). Males (2.48%) showed a higher discrepancy rate than females (1.38%). Patients older than 50 years showed a higher discrepancy rate (2.87%) than patients younger than 50 years (0.82%). According to ABO blood group, group O showed the lowest discrepancy rate (0.87%).
CONCLUSION
Checking ABO blood group known by the patient helped phlebotomists to correctly identify the intended patient. Active corrective action by the transfusion laboratory when discrepancies exist could increase test reliability and pave the way for safe transfusion, which will ultimately improve the quality of transfusion medicine.