Steps to Better Health Social Media Toolkit: Blood Transfusions

5 Steps to Safer Blood Transfusions if You Have Sickle Cell Disease

Steps to Safer Blood Transfusions If You Have Sickle Cell Disease

Share your transfusion history with your healthcare provider including

• number of lifetime transfusions and
• any reactions to blood transfusions

Ask your provider for an extended red cell antigen profile, a test that determines your antigens (special proteins on the surface of each red blood cell). Share the results with your healthcare providers before your blood transfusion.

Ask your provider for blood that is matched for these antigens to which people with SCD most commonly have transfusion reactions: C/c, E/e, and K red cell antigens.