ABSTRACT
T he decision to transfuse any blood com ponen t should never be m ade exclu sively on the basis o f a laboratory test. In m any instances, however, laboratory tests are im p o rtan t in guiding the appropriate use o f b lood com ponents. T he clini cal practice o f routinely transfusing patien ts m erely on the basis o f laboratory results such as a hem oglobin o r hem atocrit w ith o u t regard for clinical sym ptom s has fallen in to disrepute. A com bination o f clinical an d laborato ry features is the basis o f good clinical jud g m en t regarding the need for b lood transfusion .
