In response to an AABB regulatory requirement, starting April 3, 2018, when a sample is collected using the downtime sample collection protocol AND the patient does not have an historical blood type on file in the blood bank, a second blood type verification sample will need to be collected. The blood bank will identify these patients and communicate the need for a second sample to the patient care area, along with the new order code Blood Type Verification (LAB8684). This second sample is intended to prevent misidentification errors by having two separate patient identification events and two separate sample collections and blood types performed when computer verification is not available. We anticipate that there will be few of these double collection events and will work with the patient care area when they occur.

Please contact Natalie Chambers, Assistant Laboratory Manager, DeGowin Blood Bank (natalie-chambers@uiowa.edu, 353-7603) with any questions.