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Kalyan Roy: Visual Inspection of Blood Bags and Blood Products
Kalyan Roy/ LinkedIn
Apr 12, 2026, 13:47

Kalyan Roy: Visual Inspection of Blood Bags and Blood Products

Kalyan Roy, Transfusion Medicine Specialist at Square Hospitals LTD, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Visual Inspection of Blood Bags and Blood Products

A must – know checklist before every transfusion

Why it matters?

A simple visual check can prevent serious transfusion reactions and ensure patient safety.

1. Identification and Label Check

  • Patient name matches request
  • Blood group and Rh type correct
  • Unit number verified
  • Expiry date valid
  • No tampering or relabeling

2. Blood Bag Integrity

  • No leaks or punctures
  • Bag intact (no cracks/damage)
  • Seals intact
  • Tubing patent (no blockage/clots)

3. Color and Appearance

Packed RBCs / Whole Blood

  • Normal dark red
  • Plasma not pink (no hemolysis)
  • No clots or discoloration

Plasma (FFP)

  • Clear, pale yellow
  • No cloudiness
  • No particles/clots

Platelets

  • Golden-yellow color
  • Swirling present
  • No clumping

4. Signs of Contamination

  • No gas bubbles
  • No turbidity/cloudiness
  • No unusual appearance

5. Storage Conditions

  • RBCs: 2–6°C
  • Platelets: 20–24°C (with agitation)
  • Plasma: Frozen (until use)
  • No signs of improper storage

6. Expiry and Time Limits

  • Within expiry date
  • Acceptable time out of storage

Reject the Unit If You See:

  • Hemolysis (pink/red plasma)
  • Clots or fibrin strands
  • Discoloration
  • Leaking/damaged bag
  • Cloudiness/contamination
  • Expired unit
  • Label mismatch

Golden Rule:

If in doubt – do not transfuse.”

Kalyan Roy

More posts featuring Kalyan Roy on Hemostasis Today.

Blood Bags blood products Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today Kalyan Roy Medicine Transfusion Medicine
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