Blood Bank & Transfusion Medicine

Four bedside items, available within minutes of arrival and needing no laboratory result, that predict whether a trauma patient will need a massive transfusion. Two or more means activate.

Calculate the anti-D dose for a measured fetomaternal haemorrhage under either convention. The UK figure is per mL of fetal red cells and the US figure per mL of fetal whole blood — crossing them under- or over-doses.

Work out whether a platelet transfusion actually worked. Enter counts in the unit your laboratory reports — the ×10⁹/L to /µL conversion the formula needs is done inside the calculator.

The oldest measure of blood ordering efficiency, with the transfusion probability alongside it. A ratio above 2 means units are being reserved and returned rather than used.

Estimate total blood volume from height, weight and sex using Nadler’s equations — the standard for apheresis and exchange transfusion planning.

Convert a Kleihauer acid-elution percentage into the volume of a fetomaternal haemorrhage — reported as fetal whole blood, with the fetal red cell figure that anti-D dosing actually needs.

Calculate the volume for a double-volume exchange transfusion in a term or preterm baby, and see what the procedure actually achieves — and costs.

Calculate the packed red cell volume needed to raise haemoglobin to a target, and the rate limits that keep it safe.