Informed consent for blood transfusion

To support health-care professionals in understanding the basics of informed consent in the transfusion medicine setting, an interactive, online course is now available. This course has been developed with the support of Canadian Blood Services' BloodTechNet Award Program.  

The course is available on mobile or desktop; no login or special software is required. It is self-paced and may be completed over multiple sessions. The full course is estimated to require approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Click on the red box below to access the course:  

• Disclaimer: This course is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or legal advice. Each health-care professional shall be solely responsible for making their own determinations as to what constitutes appropriate consent for treatment practices in accordance with their institutional policies and applicable law. 

Course survey 

A research project led by researchers at McMaster University in collaboration with Canadian Blood Services aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this course and understand how content may be improved for the future. To participate in their research project by taking a short survey about the course please visit: Module Survey (mcmaster.ca). Clicking on this link will take you to the external survey page.

• Canadian Blood Services’ Clinical Guide to Transfusion is also available on the professional education website. Informed consent is covered in Chapter 9, Blood administration, and Chapter 10, Transfusion reactions. 

• The Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network's (ORBCoN) Bloody Easy handbook provides practical information on transfusion medicine in a concise booklet format. Access the ORBCoN website for resources (toolkits, eLearning modules, publications and events [upcoming and archived]). 

Visit the additional links below for more patient education resources, clinical tools and forms:  

• Australia Lifeblood 
• Alberta Health Services 
• SaskBlood 
• Best Blood Manitoba 

Laureano, M, Khandelwal, A & Zeller, M. Informed consent for blood transfusion [Internet]. Ottawa: Canadian Blood Services; 2024 [cited YYYY MM DD]. Available from: https://profedu.blood.ca/en/transfusion/best-practices/informed-consent-blood-transfusion 

The authors also thank Richard Haspel, MD; Mark Fung, MD, PhD; and Shannon Lane, MPH, for their collaboration in developing the course content. 

Module 1

1. Krever, H. Final report: Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada. Ottawa: The Commission, 1997. 
2. Canadian Standards Association Group. CAN/CSA-Z902:20 - Blood and blood components, (CSA, Canada, 2020). 

Module 2

1. Carson, J.L., Stanworth, S.J., Guyatt, G., et al. Red Blood Cell Transfusion: 2023 AABB International Guidelines. JAMA 330, 1892-1902 (2023). Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2810754

Module 3

1. Callum, J. L. et al. Bloody easy 5.1: Blood transfusions, blood alternatives and transfusion reactions. A Guide to Transfusion Medicine, fifth edition handbook. Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN), 2023). Available at: https://transfusionontario.org/category/bloody-easy-e-tools-publications/bloody-easy-for-healthcare-professionals/ 

Module 4

1. International Society of Blood Transfusion-Working Party on Haemovigilance, AABB & International Haemovigilance Network. Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) Definition (2018).  (March 2019). Available from: TACO definition 2018 | The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) (isbtweb.org)   
2. Vlaar, A.P.J., Toy, P., Fung, M., et al. A consensus redefinition of transfusion-related acute lung injury. Transfusion 59, 2465-2476 (2019). 
3. Callum, J. L. et al. Bloody easy 5.1: Blood transfusions, blood alternatives and transfusion reactions. A Guide to Transfusion Medicine, fifth edition handbook. Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN), 2023). Available at: https://transfusionontario.org/category/bloody-easy-e-tools-publications/bloody-easy-for-healthcare-professionals/ 
4. Khandwelwal, A., Ramirez-Arcos, S. & Bigham, M. FAQ: Canadian Blood Services platelet bacterial screening [Internet]. Canadian Blood Services; 2022. Available from: FAQ: Canadian Blood Services platelet bacterial screening | Professional Education 
5. Prokopchuk-Gauk O, Robitaille N, Tinmouth A, Shih A, Musuka C, Devine D, et al. Recommendations for use of Irradiated Blood Components in Canada: A NAC and CCNMT Collaborative Initiative [Internet]. Ottawa: National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products; October 17, 2017 [updated 2023 10 16; cited 2024 03 21]. Available from: https://nacblood.ca/en/resource/recommendations-use-irradiated-blood-components-canada