Resources and education – blood transfusion

Comparing Beriplex with Prothrombinex

Blood Matters has developed a document comparing the new four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate, Beriplex with the soon to be discontinued three-factor, Prothrombin complex concentrate.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) safety notice – look-alike, sound-alike products

There is a potential for prescription, dispensing and administration errors due to the look-alike, sound-alike IVIg and SCIg products. See the safety notice for more information.

Transfusion practitioner position description

The position description is a generic document covering a variety of Transfusion Practitioner roles including TN, TT, BMNC, TSO, TQO. Select the relevant sections when developing your Transfusion Practitioner position description.

Blood management and transfusion practice handbook

The handbook is designed to provide some foundational knowledge for the Transfusion Practitioner role.

Lifeblood Microcredentials for Transfusion Practitioners

The microcredentials is a series of 7 modules aimed at helping the Transfusion Practitioner gain fundamental knowledge to fulfill their role. Access the modules now.

Pretransfusion blood sample collection and compatibility testing

• The ABCD of blood sampling poster.
• Lifeblood Component Compatibility webpage for blood compatibility.

Prescription, patient blood management and consent

• Nurse Practitioner prescribing refer to the ANZSBT guidelines for the prescription of blood and blood products by nurse practitioners
• Blood Matters has developed the RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis infographic poster to promote best practice and the provision of relevant information. RhD immunoglobulin administered to pregnant RhD negative women can help prevent haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

• ANZSBT and RACP Top-five recommendations on low-value transfusion practices
• National Blood Authority resources:
  • Patient Blood Management Guidelines
  • Preoperative haemoglobin assessment and optimisation template
  • Fit for surgery.
• Lifeblood resource library
  • Toolkit for maternity blood management.

Updated recommendations for warfarin reversal in the setting of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate

Following the release of Beriplex, a four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate, there has been an update to the recommendations for warfarin reversal. For more information, read Updated recommendations for warfarin reversal in the setting of four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate.

As per the CSL Behring Beriplex Key Account Executive, the main recommendations are:

• 4FPCC should be used instead of 3FPCC, using the same suggested dose, Vitamin K co-administration is still recommended for more sustained reversal.
• The use of 4FPCC for urgent warfarin reversal obviates the need for co-administration of fresh frozen plasma.

Beriplex Approved PI is available at CSL Behring product list.

Blood administration

• Blood administration competency template. Designed to help assess nursing staff competence in blood administration.

• The '30-minute 4-hour rule – what does it mean?' poster explains what the 30-minute 4-hour rule means for clinical practice.

• A resource to help with double independent checking.

• Resources to assist with spiking procedures for Macopharma blood bags. Includes a poster and swing tag.

Adverse events

• Refer to Lifeblood Adverse events page.
• Refer to the Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting system (STIR) page.
• For information on Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload see Reducing risk in transfusion, Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting (STIR). This includes material to assist assessment and recognition of this adverse event.

Emergency blood management plan template

The National Blood Authority has developed a National blood supply contingency plan(NBSCP) to ensure a rapid response should there be threat to the safe and adequate supply of blood.

It is expected that health services have an emergency blood management plan to ensure an appropriate response should the NBSCP be activated.

The template is designed to be modified by health services to suit local requirements, while meeting the intention of the NBSCP.

Traceability of blood products

For relevant information, see section 2, Minimum retention times, of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Requirements for the retention of laboratory records and diagnostic material.

Blood Matters clinical education

Twice yearly Blood Matters runs a series of virtual education sessions designed for clinical staff covering the fundamentals of blood management and safe transfusion practice.

These sessions are promoted via Blood Matters updates and in the What’s new section on Blood Matters program.

February 2025

August 2024

February 2024

Previous reports February 2017 to August 2023

• Tan M, Zacher N, French R, Borosak M, Lennard S, Le Viellez A, Benson S, Daly J (2022) ‘Guidance for transfusion management in patients receiving magrolimab therapy (anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody)’, Internal Medicine Journal, 52: 2165-2171. doi.org/10.1111/imj.15934
• Crispin P, Akers C, Brown K, Delaforce A, Keegan A, King F, Ormerod A, and Verrall T (2022) 'A review of electronic medical records and safe transfusion practice for guideline development', Vox sanguinis, 117(6):761-768. doi:10.1111/vox.13254
• Deelen R, Costermans E, Moss R, and Akers C (2019) 'Disaster planning: the role of the transfusion practitioner', Vox Sanguinis, 14:98-103. doi.org/10.1111/voxs.12454
• Bielby L, Moss R, Mo A, McQuilten Z, and Wood E (2019) 'The role of the transfusion practitioner in the management of anaemia', Vox Sanguinis, 15:82-90. doi: 10.1111/voxs. 12523
• Akers C, Savoia H, Kane S, Crispin P, Keegan A, Wood E, Glazebrook B, Bielby L, and Davis AK (2019) 'Misinterpretation of blood group and antibody screen leading to serious errors in RhD immunoglobulin administration: A report on first two years of data from Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting program', The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 59:161-164. doi:10.1111/ajo.12889
• Bielby L, Moss RL, (2018), Patient blood management and the importance of the Transfusion Practitioner role to embed this into practice(opens in a new window),Transfusion Medicine, 2:98-106. doi:10.1111/tme.12526
• Bielby L, Peterson D, Spigiel T (2018) 'Transfusion education for nurses and transfusion practitioners in Australia', Vox Sanguinis, 13:259-267. doi:10.1111/voxs.12409
• Bielby L, Haberfield A, Kelsey G, Kay S (2018) 'The role of the transfusion practitioner in the multidisciplinary team', Vox Sanguinis, 13:338-346. doi:10.1111/voxs.12408
• Hennessy C, Borosak M, Bielby L, Stevenson LJ, Glazebrook B (2016) 'Documentation of consent for blood transfusion', Internal Medicine Journal, 46(12):1443–1446. doi:10.1111/imj.13276
• Bielby L, Moss, R, Deelan, R (2016) 'The role of the transfusion practitioner', Transfusion Today, 109:64.
• Bielby L, Akers C, Francis S, Darby S, Campbell L, Hollis L, Quested B, Hogan C (2016) 'The role of the transfusion safety coordinator in Australia', Vox Sanguinis, 11(1):118–125. doi:10.1111/voxs.12201
• Bielby L, Akers C, Perillo J, Sieradzki N, Pollock C, Nasra F, Polack C, McGregor S, Bastin K, and Pearse B (2014) 'Patient blood management initiatives in the perioperative setting', ACORN: The Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia, 27(4):8–14. doi.10.3316/informit.871157121374829
• Anderson MA, Glazebrook B, Cutts B, Stevenson L, Bielby L, Borosak M (2013) 'When do we transfuse cryoprecipitate?', Internal Medicine Journal 43(8): 847–958. doi:10.1111/imj.12104
• Bielby L. (2012) The role of the transfusion practitioner. International survey of Clinical Transfusion practice improvement programs 2011. Transfusion Today 90:5
• Bielby L, Stevenson L, Wood E (2012) 'Clinical Transfusion practice improvement programs in Australia', Transfusion Today, 90:6
• Bielby L, Stevenson L, Wood E (2011) 'The role of the transfusion nurse in the hospital and blood centre' International Society of Blood Transfusion Science Series, 6:270–276. doi.10.1111/j.1751-2824.2011.01537.x
• Miller K, Akers C, Davis AK, Wood E, Hennessy C, Bielby L (2015) 'The evolving role of the transfusion practitioner', Transfusion Medicine Reviews, 29(2):138–144. doi:10.1016/j.tmrv.2014.08.005

Publications from 2003 to 2008 include:

• 2008: Transfusion Governance Survey Report
• 2007: Second report of the Victorian Better Safer Transfusion (BeST) Program 2
• 2006-07: Serious Transfusion Incident Report
• 2006: Better Safer Transfusion (BeST) Serious Transfusion Incident Reporting (STIR) system pilot
• 2006: Victoria's Better Safer Transfusion (BeST) Program report
• 2005: Towards Better Safer Blood Transfusion - A report for the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care
• 2004: Blood Matters Improvement Guide Final Report
• 2003: Blood Matters Project - results of consumer study.

These are available on request from the Blood Matters program.