Quick Guide to Transfusion Medicine

The Quick Guide to Transfusion Medicine is a valuable reference for any healthcare professional involved in ordering blood transfusions or collecting, performing, and interpreting pretransfusion tests. The Quick Guide is a concise pocket-sized reference for patient and donor blood collection and testing; composition, indications, and administration of blood components; and recognition and treatment of transfusion reactions. It includes guidelines for transfusion in special circumstances such as sickle cell anemia, massive transfusion, intrauterine and neonatal transfusion, stem cell transplant recipients, IgA deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Therapeutic use of apheresis for plasma or red cell exchanges or photopheresis is also covered. Throughout, the emphasis is on transfusion safety through knowledge and adherence to requirements for accurate identification and appropriate ordering, testing, and administration of blood products. We hope the Guide will be a useful resource to many medical professionals.