ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of using two specimens for ABO grouping on the prevention of ABO-incompatible transfusions caused by sample errors. Methods A two specimen policy for blood samples of pre-transfusion testing was implemented from July 2007. This policy was defined as that for patients requiring transfusion or likely to require transfusion,ABO group was determined twice on 2 separate-samples. The rate of mislabeled samples and miscollected samples prior to blood transfusion were recorded and analyzed.Results From Jul 2007 to Jun 2009,79 115 samples for pre-transfusion compatibility testing were accepted. A total of 273 samples were identified as mislabeled. The rate of mislabeled samples was 1 in 290. The rate of miscollected samples with correction for silent errors was 1 in 1485 (23 miscollected samples of 47 507 repeat samples,with a correction factor of 1.391 2). Of the 23 miscollected samples detected by double-step typing policy,9 cases (39%) could have caused ABO-incompatible transfusions.Conclusion The risk of ABO-incompatible transfusions caused by mislabeled and miscollected samples can be reduced by two specimen policy.