JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Red blood cell transfusion is a common medical intervention with benefits and harms. ⋯ It is good practice to consider overall clinical context and alternative therapies to transfusion when making transfusion decisions about an individual patient.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Small-Volume Blood Collection Tubes to Reduce Transfusions in Intensive Care: The STRATUS Randomized Clinical Trial.
Blood collection for laboratory testing in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is a modifiable contributor to anemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Most blood withdrawn is not required for analysis and is discarded. ⋯ Use of small-volume blood collection tubes in the ICU may decrease RBC transfusions without affecting laboratory analysis.