Blood banking issues pertaining to neonatal red blood cell transfusions

Many preterm infants are given multiple red blood cell transfusions during the early weeks of life. Because firm standards for neonatal transfusions d o not exist, it is important to consider the pathophysiology of the anemia of prematurity, the goals of transfusion therapy and blood banking practice s that best provide safe and effective neonatal transfusions. There is incr easing agreement that efforts continue to minimize phlebotomy blood losses, to transfuse per conservative indications and to limit donor exposure by t ransfusing stored red blood cells from a single unit reserved for an infant - rather than insisting on fresh blood. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.