Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Acute Nonimmunologic Transfusion

Reactions

Immunohematology Review 475

TYPE CLINICAL SIGNS CAUSE LABORATORY FINDINGS OTHER

Sepsis

Transfusion-associated
circulatory overload
(TACO)

Nonimmune hemolysis

Hypothermia

Problem in children, cardiac &

pulmonary patients, elderly, &

those with chronic anemia

Use blood warmer for rapid

infusions

Bacterial contamination

Too large a volume or

too rapid rate of infusion

Destruction of RBCs due

to extremes of temp,

addition of meds to unit

Rapid infusion of large

amounts of cold blood

Fever, chills, ↓BP,

cramps, diarrhea,

vomiting, muscle

pain, DIC, shock,

renal failure

Coughing, cyanosis,

difficulty breathing,

pulmonary edema

Variable

Cardiac arrhythmia

Pos Gram stain & culture

on unit

None

Hemoglobinuria,

hemoglobinemia

None