Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction

Definition

Symptoms must manifest within 4 hours of cessation of the transfusion and should not be due to another cause such as an underlying infection, bacterial contamination of the blood component, or another type of transfusion reaction, for example acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. Fever must be at least 38 °C (100.4 °F) oral and a change of at least 1 °C (1.8 °F) from pre-transfusion value, or chills and/or rigors must be present. The UK hemovigilance system (SHOT) categorizes the severity of the reaction. A mild reaction involves fever of at least 38 °C and a change between 1 and 2 °C from pre-transfusion values but no other symptoms or signs. A moderate reaction involves fever of at least 39 °C, or a rise in temperature of at least 2 °C from pre-transfusion values, and/or other symptoms or signs including chills (rigors), painful muscles (myalgia), or nausea that are severe enough that the transfusion is stopped. A severe reaction involves the same temperature criteria and symptoms but also requires immediate medical treatment, admission to hospital, or lengthens the duration of hospital admission.