Red cell reference

Who are we?

Lifeblood's Red Cell Reference Service provides an internationally recognised scientific and diagnostic service to support transfusion practice and clinical need.

Our primary role is to support the clinical management and transfusion of patients and delivery of specialised blood components through:

excellent customer service
specialised red cell serology and molecular genotyping services
supporting the maintenance of a phenotyped inventory and rare donor panel, including an inventory of rare frozen red cells
supporting education and exchange of resources nationally and internationally
providing expert scientific and clinical advice
international collaboration to resolve complex cases, and
maintaining the Antibody Register.

To find out more, please see the National Red Cell Reference Service Strategy 2019-2023

Note: Our testing services are not available to the general public, patients should discuss their situation and the need for testing with their health care practitioner.

How do we do this?

Antibody investigations

We’re able to resolve complex antibody investigations and anomalous blood groups because we can assess rare anti-sera and phenotyped red cells.

Antibody investigation services offered include:

atypical antibody identification
resolution of complex mixtures of atypical antibodies
resolving crossmatching difficulties, including investigation of anomalous reactions due to monoclonal antibody therapy
serological investigation of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, including allo- and auto-absorption studies to detect underlying alloantibodies
investigation of red cell induced transfusion reactions, and
investigation of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

Blood grouping anomalies, phenotyping and genotyping

We’re able to resolve blood groups anomalies including the classification in the weak and partial RhD status, and phenotyping or genotyping for most blood groups antigens. We may use serological and molecular techniques including single nucleotide polymorphisms and next generation sequencing for blood group determination.

We use non-invasive prenatal analysis (NIPA) for blood group genotyping to determine fetal blood groups in certain high-risk pregnancies to guide clinical management.

Locations

Red Cell Reference Service has laboratories in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA with an on-call service for life-threatening situations where identification of atypical antibodies or blood group resolution is required to provide appropriate blood for transfusion.

For access to the on-call Red Cell Reference Service, please call the Customer Service Delivery team in your State.

NSW / ACT / NT

Laboratory hours

8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday (Public holidays excluded)

Enquiries

Phone: 02 9234 2189

Fax: 02 9234 2193

Email: RedCellReferenceEnquiriesNSW@redcrossblood.org.au

Manager: Karyn Campbell

Address

Red Cell Reference Laboratory

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood