TRACS Interactive Tool

What to check: You are checking the PATIENT's plasma (recipient), NOT the donor blood product.

Method: Draw a fresh blood sample from the patient into an EDTA or heparin tube. Spin down using a microhematocrit centrifuge or standard centrifuge. Examine the plasma/supernatant above the packed cell layer.

Interpreting results:
\u2022 Normal: Plasma is clear to light yellow
\u2022 Hemolyzed: Plasma appears pink, red, or dark red (indicates free hemoglobin from RBC destruction)
\u2022 Icteric: Plasma appears yellow/orange (may indicate bilirubin from ongoing hemolysis)

Also check the blood unit: Visually inspect the remaining blood product for discoloration, darkening, or particulate matter — this can indicate bacterial contamination or storage-related hemolysis in the unit itself.

Timing: Check IMMEDIATELY when a transfusion reaction is suspected — do not wait. Compare to a pre-transfusion sample if available.

Important: In-bag hemolysis (hemolysis visible in the unit's tubing or bag) is different from patient hemolysis and may indicate a storage problem or bacterial contamination rather than an immune reaction.