Russia to introduce new blood transfusion preparation rules

In short

Russia's Health Ministry is introducing a new procedure for examining patients and preparing them for donor blood transfusion, according to RIA Novosti and Vedomosti. Vedomosti, citing the ministry document, said the order takes effect on 1 January 2027 and runs until 1 September 2032. It sets rules on blood typing from a single sample, sample labelling, storage and transport, and adds hypotension to the symptoms that require a biological test to be stopped immediately.

Why it matters

The change applies to clinical practice across Russia's medical organisations, covering how recipients are examined and how samples for compatibility testing are taken, labelled and moved to the laboratory. It also widens the list of symptoms that halt the mandatory biological test before transfusion, a patient-safety step the document ties to the effectiveness and safety of the procedure. The order is set to remain in force until 1 September 2032.

Key facts

• A new procedure for examining a patient and preparing them for donor blood transfusion will take effect in Russia on 1 January 2027, according to Vedomosti, citing a Health Ministry document. [ 2 ]
• The order is to remain in force until 1 September 2032. [ 2 ]
• AB0 blood group and Rh status, as well as the confirmatory test, are to be determined from a single blood sample; if results diverge, the doctor sends a new sample for confirmatory testing and to establish the cause of the deviation. [ 2 ]
• Recipient blood samples for confirmatory testing, compatibility tests and individual selection must be taken no later than 48 hours before transfusion and labelled with the date and time of collection, the recipient's surname and initials, inpatient medical record number, and AB0 and Rh status (for newborns, surname and initials). [ 2 ]
• For patients weighing up to 30 kg, the volume of blood samples for tests does not exceed three millilitres, excluding anticoagulant. [ 2 ]
• Samples are transported to the laboratory in special containers; at temperatures no higher than +10C the temperature inside the container is recorded throughout the journey, which can last up to 24 hours, while above +10C recording is not required and is allowed for transport within a medical organisation of 30 minutes or less. [ 2 ]
• Hypotension was added to the list of symptoms at which the biological test before transfusion is immediately stopped. [ 2 ]
• The stated aim of the document is to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the transfusion procedure. [ 2 ]

What local media are saying

Timeline, local time

1. 04:18RIA Novosti publishes a headline reporting that a new procedure for preparing for blood transfusion will be introduced in Russia. [ 1 ]
2. 09:36Vedomosti publishes details of the Health Ministry document, including its 1 January 2027 start date. [ 2 ]