Quality Management of Blood Bank Operations at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, South West Nigeria

This study evaluates quality management practices in blood bank operations at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State, South West Nigeria. Effective blood bank quality management is fundamental to transfusion safety, and systematic assessment of current practices is necessary for identifying gaps and implementing targeted improvements. A professional audit was conducted using a structured quality assessment tool based on WHO blood transfusion safety standards, evaluating donor screening, blood component preparation, serological testing, cold chain management, record keeping, and adverse event reporting. Interviews were conducted with 30 blood bank staff including medical officers, scientists, and nurses. Blood bank records for 24 months were reviewed. Findings revealed satisfactory donor screening compliance (92%) but significant gaps in haemovigilance reporting (only 43% of adverse events formally documented), inadequate temperature monitoring logs in component storage (gaps in 38% of reviewed days), and incomplete pre-transfusion compatibility records in 11% of cases. Staff training in haemovigilance was received by only 58 percent of transfusion personnel within the preceding two years. The study recommends implementation of a digital haemovigilance reporting system, mandatory biannual transfusion safety training for all blood bank staff, real-time temperature logging with automatic alert systems for cold chain deviations, and appointment of a dedicated transfusion safety officer at LUTH Lagos. These recommendations align with the national blood policy and international best practices for tertiary hospital blood banking. Keywords: blood bank quality management, haemovigilance, transfusion safety, Lagos Teaching Hospital, blood banking.