The ARC has a newly updated Visual Inspection Reference Guide for blood and blood components. The guide is intended to serve as a photo atlas to help staff working at a blood center or in a hospital setting better perform the visual inspections that are required to distinguish between normal and abnormal units.

The 39 page guide is intended as a “living” document that will change over time. Staff should not depend solely on the guide in accepting or rejecting a unit of blood.

The guide is also intended as an online tool. We do not recommend printing and posting the photo atlas because printers may not give an accurate color depiction, and with sunlight and with time, printed copies begin to fade. Referencing the guide electronically on the Web site is the best option.

The guide will be updated as new components become available and as new conditions are identified. Comments and/or photos may be sent to ricepame@usa.redcross.org. The Visual Inspection Reference Guide is available at www.redcross.org/visualinspectionguide.

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