The RCI laboratory provides a reference service for hospital blood transfusion laboratories. The services provided by the RCI laboratory are listed below.
- Provision of crossmatched blood for patients with complex antibodies.
- Investigation of red cell antibodies
- Investigation of Haemolytic Transfusion Reactions
- ABO/Rh typing, including the investigation of blood group anomalies
- Investigation of patient’s with positive Direct Antiglobulin Tests
- Investigation of Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia
- Investigation of Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus & Newborn (HDFN).
- Antenatal screening for red cell antibodies to identify at risk pregnancies (antibody quantification or titration as appropriate).
- Provision of suitable blood at delivery for at risk pregnancies
- Phenotyping of donor red cells (Ordered via the IBTS electronic ordering system)
- Clinical & scientific advice to hospital colleagues
- Extended phenotyping for transfusion dependant patients and for patients with complex red cell antibodies.
- Importation of rare blood for named patients.
- Out of hours emergency on-call service
Additional services are provided by other support laboratories including; the Blood Group Genetics Laboratory (IBTS), the Molecular Diagnostics and Red Cell Reference laboratories (NHSBT, Filton) and RCI Sheffield (NHSBT).