The safety and adequacy of blood used in massive transfusion presents a challenge for the transfusion services. This Guideline addresses how a transfusion service can play an important role by designing and implementing systems to effectively manage patients with massive transfusion.

The first part of this Guideline, Medical Considerations, addresses hemotherapy management options for patients receiving massive transfusion. These options take into account available studies and expert position statements on the subject. The second part, Laboratory Considerations, discusses issues surrounding the design and implementation of a massive transfusion protocol.