INCORPORATION OF BEDSIDE ABO RE-TYPING INTO THE TRANSFUSION ROUTINE OF A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY HOSPITAL

The Complexo Oncológico de Referência do Estado de Goiás (CORA) is the first public hospital exclusively dedicated to cancer treatment in the state of Goiás. Healthcare activities, including the transfusion service, began on June 9, 2025. In the hospital setting, transfusion is a procedure that carries significant risks related to human error, process inadequacies, and intrinsic factors of the recipient. Among transfusion reactions, the one most frequently associated with risk of death is incompatible transfusion due to an ABO system error. Although some transfusion reactions are unavoidable, bedside retyping serves as an additional verification measure, functioning as an important step to minimize risks and ensure transfusion safety for the patient. The describe the implementation of bedside ABO retyping in a pediatric oncology reference hospital, comparing the results obtained with experiences reported in the literature, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of this measure as a transfusion safety barrier and addressing logistical, operational, and care-related aspects involved in the process. To implement the bedside ABO retyping test, Anti-A, Anti-B, and Anti-D reagent were acquired and subjected to quality control. Acrylic plates were manufactured to facilitate visualization of agglutination. The technique consists of applying drops of the patient’s blood mixed with the reagent and visually assessing the presence or absence of agglutination to confirm the blood group. The team of biomedical professionals from the Transfusion Agency (AT) conducted training sessions for the heath profissional team. The heath profissional team demonstrated high acceptance of the bedside ABO retyping technique, showing interest during training sessions, which contributed to resolving questions related to the procedure and the interpretation of results. The active participation of the heath profissional, following specific training, proved to be crucial for the successful implementation of the technique. The use of larger acrylic plates (15×10 centimetres) facilitated the testing process by providing better visualization of agglutination reactions, thereby increasing the accuracy of result interpretation. Additionally, comprehensive quantitative result reports and comparative analyses are currently in the process of being consolidated. Although not legally mandatory, the implementation of bedside ABO retyping is recommended by guidelines to enhance transfusion safety and is a practice aimed at improving the overall quality of patient care. Therefore, the adoption of this technique in institutions seeking to improve transfusion safety can help ensure better protection for patients during the transfusion process.