Transfusion medicine
Transfusion medicine handbook
The Transfusion Medicine Handbook is designed to assist hospital staff and other health professionals in modern Transfusion Medicine Practice.
Transfusion Medicine Handbook
Abbreviations and Glossary
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ABG |
Arterial blood gas |
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ACE |
Angiotensin-converting enzyme |
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ACS |
Acute coronary syndrome |
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ACT |
Activated clotting time |
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ADAMTS-13 |
A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 |
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ADP |
Adenosine diphosphate |
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Adverse event |
Untoward occurrence associated with the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of blood components and fractionated products. Serious adverse events are those which may lead to death or to life-threatening, disabling or incapacitating conditions for donors/patients, or which result in, or prolong, hospitalisation or morbidity. |
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Adverse reaction |
Untoward response in a donor or patient associated with the collection or transfusion of blood components and fractionated products. Serious adverse reactions are those which may lead to death or to life-threatening, disabling or incapacitating conditions or which result in, or prolong, hospitalisation or morbidity. |
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AHF |
Antihaemophilic factor |
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AHTR |
Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction |
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AIDS |
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
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AIHA |
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia |
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Albumex 4 |
Albumex 4 is a 4% w/v human albumin solution |
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Albumex 20 |
Albumex 20 is a 20% w/v human albumin solution |
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Alburex 5 NZ |
Alburex 5 NZ is a 5% w/v human albumin solution |
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Alburex 20 NZ |
Alburex 20 NZ is a 20% w/v human albumin solution |
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ALI |
Acute lung injury |
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Allogeneic blood |
Collected from one individual and intended for use by another individual (as in allogeneic blood donation). |
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ANH |
Acute normovolaemic haemodilution |
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Anti-HBs |
Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Anti-HBs also develops in a person who has been successfully vaccinated against hepatitis B. |
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ANZSBT |
Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion |
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APTT |
Activated partial thromboplastin time |
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ARC Lifeblood |
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood |
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ARDS |
Adult respiratory distress syndrome |
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ASH |
American Society of Hematology |
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ASTH |
Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis |
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ATG |
Anti-thymocyte globulin |
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Autologous blood |
Collected from an individual and intended for their own use (as in autologous blood donation, which is generally not supported by NZBS). |
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ATIII |
Antithrombin III |
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BCSH |
The British Committee for Standards in Haematology |
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B19/HAV |
Parvovirus B19 and Hepatitis A virus |
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Berinert |
Berinert is a C1-esterase inhibitor concentrate |
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Berirab |
Rabies Immunoglobulin |
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Biostate |
A high purity, sterile, freeze-dried powder containing purified human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and human von Willebrand factor (vWF) complex. |
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BSH |
British Society of Haematology |
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Blood component |
A therapeutic constituent separated from human blood (red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and white cells). |
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Blood (fractionated) product |
A therapeutic protein fraction prepared from large pools of human plasma under pharmaceutical conditions, e.g., coagulation factors, albumin, immunoglobulins. |
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BMI |
Body mass index |
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BMS |
Blood management system |
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BNP |
B-type natriuretic peptide |
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BU |
Bethesda unit |
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Ceprotin |
Ceprotin is a sterile freeze-dried powder of purified human protein C. |
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CHAD |
Cold haemagglutinin disease |
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CMO |
Chief Medical Officer |
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CMV |
Cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpesvirus family, transmissible by transfusion, and which may cause disease in immunosuppressed patients. |
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CNS |
Central nervous system |
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CoE |
Council of Europe |
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CPAP |
Continuous positive airways pressure |
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CPD / CPDA |
Citrate phosphate dextrose and citrate phosphate dextrose adenine anticoagulant solutions used when collecting blood donations. |
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CSL |
Compound sodium lactate |
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CSL Behring |
A manufacturer of plasma therapies whose name derives from the merger of several parent companies including CSL (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) Limited and ZLB Behring. |
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CVP |
Central venous pressure |
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DAT |
Direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test |
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DDAVP |
1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin (Desmopressin) |
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DHTR |
Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction |
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DIC |
Disseminated intravascular coagulation |
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DNA |
Deoxyribonucleic acid |
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DOAC |
Direct Oral Anti-Coagulant |
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DSTR |
Delayed serologic transfusion reaction |
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ECG |
Electrocardiogram |
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ECMO |
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation |
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EDTA |
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid |
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eGFR |
Estimated glomerular filtration rate |
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EPO |
Erythropoietin |
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FBC |
Full blood count |
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FEIBA |
Factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity |
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FEIBA NF |
FEIBA NF is a sterile freeze-dried powder of human plasma fraction with factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity. |
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FFP |
Fresh frozen plasma |
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Fibrogammin |
Fibrogammin is a freeze-dried powder of purified human factor XIII |
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FIX |
Factor IX |
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FMH |
Fetomaternal haemorrhage |
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FNAIT |
Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia |
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FNHTR |
Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction |
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Fractionated product |
A therapeutic protein fraction prepared from large pools of human plasma under pharmaceutical conditions, e.g., coagulation factors, albumin, immunoglobulins. |
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FVIII |
Factor VIII |
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FXIII |
Factor XIII |
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Gamunex 10% |
10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin |
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G-CSF |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor |
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GP |
Glycoprotein |
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GvHD |
Graft-versus-host-disease |
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HAE |
Hereditary angioedema |
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HBsAg |
Hepatitis B surface antigen; a serologic marker on the surface of hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can be detected in high levels in serum during acute or chronic hepatitis. The presence of HBsAg indicates that a person is infectious. |
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HBV |
Hepatitis B virus |
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HCT |
Haematopoietic cell transplant |
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HCV |
Hepatitis C virus |
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HDFN |
Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn |
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HES |
Hydroxyethyl starch |
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HFE |
High Iron Fe gene; mutations of HFE are responsible for genetic haemachromatosis. |
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Hizentra |
20% Human Normal Immunoglobulin |
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Hizentra NZ |
20% Human Normal Immunoglobulin |
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HLA |
Human leucocyte antigen |
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HPA |
Human platelet antigen |
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HPC |
Haematopoietic progenitor cell |
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HIT |
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia |
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HIV |
Human immunodeficiency virus |
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HSCT |
Haematopoietic stem cell transplant |
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HTC |
Hospital transfusion committee |
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HTLV |
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus |
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HUS |
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome |
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HyperHEP B |
Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (Human). |
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ICH |
Intracranial haemorrhage |
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IgA |
Immunoglobulin A |
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IgG |
Immunoglobulin G |
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IgM |
Immunoglobulin M |
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INR |
International normalised ratio |
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ITP |
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura |
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IVIg |
Intravenous immunoglobulin |
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IU |
International units |
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IUT |
Intrauterine transfusion |
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JVP |
Jugular venous pressure |
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Kybernin P |
Antithrombin III product. |
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LDH |
Lactate dehydrogenase |
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MBOS |
Maximum blood order schedule |
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MHP |
Massive haemorrhage pathway |
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MTP |
Massive transfusion protocol |
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MO |
Medical Officer |
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NAIT |
Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia |
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NBA |
Australian National Blood Authority |
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NHI |
National Health Index |
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NHMRC |
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia |
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NSAID |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
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NZBS |
New Zealand Blood Service |
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NZRC |
New Zealand Resuscitation Council |
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PAS |
Platelet additive solution; nutrient media used in place of plasma for platelet storage. |
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PBSC |
Peripheral blood stem cell |
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PCC |
Prothrombin complex concentrate |
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PCI |
Percutaneous coronary intervention |
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PHARMAC |
Pharmaceutical Management Agency of the New Zealand Government |
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PID |
Primary immunodeficiency diseases |
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PLT |
Single therapeutic dose of platelets |
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Privigen |
10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin |
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Privigen NZ |
10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin |
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Prothombinex-VF |
Prothrombinex-VF is a sterile freeze-dried powder containing purified human coagulation factors II, IX and X and low levels of factors V and VII. |
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PT |
Prothrombin time |
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PTP |
Post-transfusion purpura |
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RAADP |
Routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis |
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RANZCOG |
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
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RCNA |
Royal College of Nursing of Australia |
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RCo |
Ristocetin cofactor |
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Resuspended red cells |
Red cells from which the majority of plasma has been removed and replaced with a nutrient or preservative solution, e.g., saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol (SAG-M) |
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RhD |
Rhesus factor or RhD red cell antigen |
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RiaSTAP |
RiaSTAP is a sterile freeze-dried fibrinogen (coagulation factor I) concentrate derived from human plasma. |
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Rhophylac |
Rhophylac is an Rh(D) Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human). |
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RNA |
Ribonucleic acid |
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SCIg |
Subcutaneous immunoglobulin |
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SED |
Serum eye drops |
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SHOT |
Serious Hazards of Transfusion; UK haemovigilance programme. |
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TACO |
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload |
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TAD |
Transfusion-associated dyspnoea |
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TA-GvHD |
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host-disease |
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TMS |
Transfusion Medicine Specialist |
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TNS |
Transfusion Nurse Specialist |
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TPE |
Therapeutic plasma exchange |
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TPO |
Thrombopoietin |
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TPR |
Temperature/Pulse/Respiratory rate |
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TRAE |
Transfusion-related adverse event |
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TRALI |
Transfusion-related acute lung injury |
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TRIM |
Transfusion-related immunomodulation |
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TTI |
Transfusion-transmitted infection |
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TTP |
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura |
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vCJD |
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease |
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vWF |
von Willebrand factor |
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vWD |
von Willebrand disease |
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VZV |
Varicella zoster virus |
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Whole blood |
Blood collected from a donor prior to separation into constituent red cells, platelets and plasma. |
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WBCT |
Whole blood clotting time |
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WBIT |
Wrong blood in tube |
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WHO |
World Health Organization |
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Last updated: September 2025. Previously part of 111G122 – Transfusion Medicine Handbook 3rd Edition
NZBS Reference: 111G01503