Because this physician is new to the facility, she may not be aware of the policy of not collecting autologous transfusions unless absolutely indicated.
The unit of blood collected may not be a full unit if the patient is small and an anticoagulant adjustment might be needed since this is a pediatric patient.
The collection of even a partial unit of blood could be very traumatic for the patient requiring a special appointment time.
But before referring this case to the Transfusion Safety Officer, the technologist checks the transfusion service information system to determine if the patient has any special blood needs.
If the patient had been a sickle cell patient with an anti-U, this information would be useful in determining what action should be taken as this is a significant deterrent to an autologous donor unit collection.
As it turns out, this patient has no special needs and the case is referred to the Transfusion Safety Officer for follow-up.
