Lab Med Qual Assur.  2020 Mar;42(1):40-47. 10.15263/jlmqa.2020.42.1.40.

Survey on Transfusion Laboratory Work inMedical Institutions Participating in the ExternalQuality Control Program for Blood Bank

• Lee JH
• Song S
• Ryu SW
• Kim HO

• KMID: 2505232
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2020.42.1.40

Abstract

Background
Laboratory tests in blood banks vary with respect to methods,equipment, and quality control according to the hospital’s environment.
Methods
We surveyed institutions that regularly participated in the Koreanassociation of external quality assessment using a web-based questionnairecomprising 79 questions regarding transfusion laboratory work.
Results
A total of 84 institutions were surveyed including 17 senior generalhospitals, 43 general hospitals, 19 hospitals, four clinics, and one commerciallaboratory. ABO cell typing was performed by slide (63, 75.0%), tube (42,50.0%), automated column (19, 22.6%), and automated microplate (7, 8.3%)methods. ABO serum typing was performed by tube (75, 89.3%), automatedcolumn (19, 22.6%), automated microplate (7, 8.3%), and slide (7, 8.3%)methods. Irregular antibody screening test and identification test wasperformed by 58 (69.0%) and 36 (42.9%) institutions, respectively. Irregularantibody screening test and identification test was performed by the columnagglutination method in 34 (40.5%) and 26 (31.0%) institutions, respectively.Room temperature saline, albumin, and anti-globulin reagent crossmatchingtest (three-step method) was the most popular method (48, 57.1%). Theuse of anti-globulin reagent in the crossmatching test did not significantlyvary according to the size of the hospital. A daily quality control programfor ABO, Rh typing, and the crossmatching test was conducted in 58 (69.0%)institutions.
Conclusions
There were differences in transfusion-related laboratory testsamong the institutions. Although this survey included a limited number ofinstitutions, it can be helpful to evaluate the routine laboratory tests andtransfusion-related blood bank work in each institution.

Keyword

Blood transfusion; Blood banks; Laboratory tests; Survey; Quality assessment