AM25-MN-31-L - Safety, Standards, and Sanity: Navigating Compliance in Emergent Blood Product Release

At a level 1 trauma center with a dual-site Transfusion Lab and a team of approximately 50 trained clinical lab technologists—each with varying levels of experience—adhering to an emergency blood product release process presents a unique challenge. Striking the right balance between ensuring staff compliance and meeting urgent patient needs is critical. The rapid release of blood products demands swift, high-pressure decision-making, often requiring consideration of patient demographics within moments. This complexity is further compounded by strict regulatory and compliance requirements, necessitating meticulous attention to detail. While these challenges are particularly pronounced in high-capacity trauma centers, this discussion will also examine how smaller facilities navigate similar pressures, often with fewer resources and more constrained staffing.

In this session, the critical process of emergent blood product release and massive blood transfusion protocols will be examined. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved, from initial assessment to product distribution, in high-pressure, time-sensitive scenarios. Key challenges faced by staff in these urgent situations, including procedural compliance, decision-making under stress, and ethical considerations when patient outcomes are at stake will be reviewed. The session will also highlight methodologies for identifying quality gaps in the blood product release process and present practical, evidence-based solutions to enhance efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety. Finally, the session will review strategies to optimize the emergency release of blood products, focusing on empowering staff to respond swiftly and effectively while adhering to best practices and regulatory standards.