Before hanging a blood product, what assessment should be performed?

• A. Check blood glucose
• B. Collect a full set of vitals
• C. Obtain a lipid panel
• D. Perform a lung function test

Answer: (B)

Before hanging a blood product, establish the patient’s baseline by obtaining a full set of vital signs. This gives you a reference—temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation—to compare against once the transfusion starts. Many transfusion reactions begin with changes in these parameters, such as fever, tachycardia, hypotension, or breathing difficulties, so having baseline vitals helps you spot problems early and distinguish transfusion-related changes from the patient’s existing condition. The other tests listed aren’t needed for this immediate safety check: a glucose check, lipid panel, or lung function test don’t inform whether it’s safe to begin a transfusion or help detect early transfusion reactions. After starting the transfusion, vitals are monitored regularly to catch any adverse reactions as soon as they occur.