When a transfusion reaction is suspected, what should be done with the blood bag and tubing?

• A. Save the blood bag and tubing for investigation
• B. Discard the bag immediately
• C. Rinse and reuse the bag
• D. Label as normal and keep

Answer: (A)

Preserving the blood bag and tubing is crucial because they are the primary physical evidence needed to assess a suspected transfusion reaction. Keeping the original bag and attached tubing intact allows the blood bank and laboratory to verify product compatibility, check labeling accuracy, and perform tests on the bag contents and line connections if needed. This helps identify the cause of the reaction and ensures proper traceability and documentation. Discarding the bag, rinsing and reusing the tubing, or labeling it as normal would destroy evidence and could lead to incorrect conclusions or missed safety signals.