Why does it matter?
Blood transfusions are one of the most common medical procedures in the NHS, with around two million units of blood administered each year. When managed correctly, transfusions are lifesaving. But errors in the transfusion process can have devastating consequences, including serious harm and death.
The Infected Blood Inquiry, which reported in 2024, revealed the catastrophic impact of failures in blood safety over several decades. More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products, resulting in over 3,000 deaths. While the causes of that tragedy were different from today’s risks, the Inquiry’s findings reinforced the critical importance of robust systems for tracking and verifying blood products, and ensuring that patients receive the right blood at the right time.
This page is closely related to our pathology and specimen tracking use case page, where you will find more detail on reducing errors in blood sample collection.
How does barcode scanning help?
Barcode scanning creates a digital chain of custody for blood products from donation to administration, known as vein-to-vein tracking. At each critical point in the transfusion process, scanning helps to verify the correct match between patient and blood product, providing a strong systemic barrier against human error.
At the bedside, electronic verification works by scanning the patient’s wristband and the blood product barcode to confirm compatibility before administration. This replaces manual two-person checking procedures with an automated digital verification that provides real-time alerts if there is a mismatch or if a product has expired or been recalled.
Key benefits include:
- Prevention of mistransfusion incidents through automated patient-product verification
- Real-time alerts for mismatched, expired, or recalled blood products
- A comprehensive digital audit trail of every transfusion event
- Rapid identification of affected patients in the event of a product recall or safety notice
- Improved blood fridge security through electronic access controls linked to patient prescriptions
- Better supply chain visibility, reducing blood wastage and improving stock management
Standards for blood product identification
Blood products are identified using the ISBT 128 standard, which is the internationally recognised standard for medical products of human origin. The ISBT standard identifies the blood product so that it can be scanned. GS1 standards are used for patient identification where an identity band can be scanned and for the location (e.g. the fridge for where the blood product is located) or the asset (e.g. the infusion pump that delivers the blood product). NHS organisations implementing blood scanning should ensure their systems are compatible with ISBT 128 and GS1 standards for patient identification and locations.
Implementation
Implementing electronic blood verification typically involves:
- Deploying handheld scanners at the bedside and in blood banks
- Integrating scanning systems with blood bank management software and electronic patient records
- Ensuring reliable WiFi coverage in all areas where blood is administered
- Training staff on electronic verification workflows and responding to alerts
- Establishing governance processes for managing alerts and exceptions
- Reviewing and updating transfusion policies to reflect digital verification requirements
The phased approach recommended for other Scan4Safety use cases applies equally here. Starting with a pilot in one clinical area, measuring compliance and outcomes, and then spreading to other areas is an effective way to build confidence and identify any local workflow issues before full deployment.