Mistransfusion

The risk of mistransfusion is many times greater than that due to the transmission of HIV or HCV infection by blood.

Transfusion of incompatible RBCs is most associated with a mistransfusion event.

Mistransfusion, or 'wrong blood' events, i.e. administering an incorrect unit of blood which either does not meet the patient's special needs or is intended for another recipient, can also have serious consequences, including severe haemolysis due to antigen-antibody incompatibility, and is another well-recognised cause of mortality and morbidity.