Critical Values
Diagnostic Services: Winnipeg Centre
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Diagnostic Services considers certain test results to be “critical values”. Critical result values will be reviewed by the Canadian Blood Services Medical Director / Designate and communicated to the facility nursing unit, responsible nurse and/or responsible physician as appropriate. Whenever possible results shall be sent by fax transmission.
Test Interpretation - Critical Values
Crossmatch Testing
- Positive DAT on a transfusion reaction investigation.
- ABO discrepancy of current sample versus previous record.
- Provision of red cell units that are incompatible but have been approved for issue.
- Unmatched units have been issued and patient was found to have a positive antibody screen upon completion of testing.
- Unmatched units have been issued and are later found to be incompatible upon completion of testing.
- Positive bacterial culture.
- Positive hemoglobin S result obtained post transfusion on IVT and exchange red cell units.
Perinatal Testing
- Positive DAT on cord blood or neonate sample.
- Kleihauer Betke result indicates that >1500 IU of RhIg is required.
- Rh positive mother where the Kleihauer Betke result indicates that a > 30 mL bleed has occurred due to trauma or at full term.
- Antibody titre ≥ 16 in maternal sample.
- Positive Kleihauer Betke result on a mother with an increased AFP.
Platelet Immunology Testing
- Positive HLA antibody screen or HPA antibody on a patient refractory to platelet transfusion
- Positive HPA antibody on maternal NAIT sample or suspected PTP.