Labelling of autologous blood is as important as the labelling of allogeneic (donor) units. To address this issue and to help promote the safe and appropriate use of cell salvage, the UK Cell Salvage Action Group developed a generic label for autologous blood. The aim is to help standardise practice through the routine labelling of autologous blood in all hospitals throughout the UK. The labels are available, free of charge, from the majority of UK cell salvage manufacturers.
Further guidance on reinfusion of salvaged blood is available in factsheet 4.
National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures set out the key steps for safe delivery of care of patients undergoing invasive procedures, and are intended to be modified in to Local Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (LocSSIPs).
Organisations using Intra- or Post-operative cell salvage should account for this in LocSSIPs (where these are in use).
UKCSAG has prepared some guidance to support this, and an example of an ICS LocSSIP can be accessed here.