Patent ID: 6983884

Claim:
A method for tracking blood transfusions, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining identifying information for a patient and providing said patient with a wristband comprising said patient identifying information; (b) collecting a blood sample from said patient and testing said blood sample to determine the type of blood required by the patient; (c) allocating from a supply of blood units a blood transfusion unit for the patient, wherein said blood transfusion unit contains the type of blood required by said patient and wherein said blood transfusion unit is marked with an identifying code; (d) labeling said allocated blood transfusion unit with a compatibility label, wherein said compatibility label comprises said patient identifying information and said identifying code; (e) generating a blood unit request slip for the patient, the blood unit request slip including said patient identifying information; (f) retrieving the blood transfusion unit and verifying the blood transfusion unit's identity by comparing the patient identifying information on the blood unit request slip to the patient identifying information on the compatibility label on the patient allocated blood transfusion unit; and (g) comparing the patient identifying information from the patient's wristband to the patient identifying information on the compatibility label on said patient allocated blood transfusion unit; and (h) comparing the identifying code marked on the patient allocated blood unit with the identifying code on the compatibility label on said patient allocated blood transfusion unit.