JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Practice Guideline
Clinical Practice Guidelines From the AABB: Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds and Storage.
More than 100 million units of blood are collected worldwide each year, yet the indication for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and the optimal length of RBC storage prior to transfusion are uncertain. ⋯ Research in RBC transfusion medicine has significantly advanced the science in recent years and provides high-quality evidence to inform guidelines. A restrictive transfusion threshold is safe in most clinical settings and the current blood banking practices of using standard-issue blood should be continued.