Where should the Blood Bank Identification Number (BBIN) be placed?

The Blood Bank Identification Number (BBIN) plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and accuracy of blood transfusions. Placing the BBIN on the patient, requisition, and each tube is essential for multiple reasons. First and foremost, this practice helps to ensure proper identification of the patient throughout the entire transfusion process and minimizes the risk of mix-ups that can lead to serious complications.

By having the BBIN on the patient's wristband, it is easily accessible for all healthcare providers involved in the patient's care. Including it on the requisition form ensures that the laboratory can accurately match the blood product to the specific patient. Additionally, labeling each tube with the BBIN allows for reliable tracking of samples in the lab, which is especially important during testing and cross-matching procedures. This comprehensive labeling secures a consistent link between the patient and the blood products they are set to receive, thus enhancing patient safety.

Other options, such as only placing the BBIN on the patient’s wristband or on the medical record alone, do not provide sufficient safeguards for tracking the necessary information across all points of care. Similarly, recording the BBIN only in the nurse's log book does not ensure that all relevant personnel involved in the patient's treatment have the