Report on ABO-Incompatible Transfusions in 12 University Hospitals in Kinki Districts.

We investigated the incidence and the causes of ABO-incompatible transfusion in 12 university hospitals in the Kinki district during the 5-year period from 1993 through 1997. Over 5 years, 648, 553 units of red cell components (RBC) and 2, 545, 880 units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or platelet concentrate (PC) were transfused, and a total of 26 ABO-incompatible transfusions occurred. Incompatible RBC were transfused to 17 patients and FFP or PC were transfused to the remaining 9 patients. In cases of RBC transfusion, half of errors (8 cases) were due to misidentification of blood units and the other half of errors (8 cases) were due to incorrect typing. Twenty of 26 errors occurred during night shifts and the majority of errors occurred in the ward (17 cases) or operating room (5 cases). Various measures were taken to prevent ABO-incompatible transfusion at the participating universities. We conclude that continued data collection and analysis are necessary to prevent ABO-incompatible transfusion.