Audit of the Blood Bank in the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Many blood banks in Nigeria are not standardized, sensitization is poor and paid donation is common; thus blood is scarce and need prudent management.  

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct an audit of the blood transfusion practice in Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH).

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out using the transfusion laboratory request forms and blood bank cross match register. The bio data of the patients were obtained; clinical diagnosis and requesting unit, the appropriateness of the transfusion request and the transfusion/cross match (C/T) ratio were assessed.

Results:  A total of 357 request forms were assessed. The median age of the patients was 31 years (range 1 day - 90 years), 29% had no data for age written on the forms. About 49.9% were male and 1.7% had no data for gender. Most requests were from adult emergency department (38.7%). Requests for whole blood constituted 51.8% while 3.1% were packed cells and 45.1% had no specific request. There was no indication for transfusion in 27.5%. The percentage appropriateness of blood product use was 30.1%. The C/T ratio of the hospital was 2.1.

Conclusion: Blood transfusion requests were predominantly from adult emergency unit with whole blood being the most used product. Pre-analytic errors were common and the C/T ratio was high.