NAC449.61374. Laboratory services and reports; procedures for storage and administration of tissue specimens, blood and blood products; agreements with outside blood banks; review of blood transfusions and reactions.

     1. Each independent center for emergency medical care shall maintain or have available adequate laboratory services during all hours of operation provided by a medical laboratory which is licensed pursuant to chapter 652 of NRS to meet the needs of its patients and medical staff.

     2. If laboratory services are provided by a laboratory outside the center:

     (a) The original report of services must be provided by a laboratory which is licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 652 of NRS and contained in the medical record of the patient; and

     (b) The conditions, procedures and availability of work performed by the laboratory must be in writing and available within the center.

     3. Each independent center for emergency medical care shall ensure that each laboratory report is promptly filed in the medical record of the patient and that the physician requesting the report is notified of its availability.

     4. All laboratory reports of tissue specimens must be signed by a pathologist. The medical staff of an independent center for emergency medical care and a pathologist shall determine whether a tissue specimen requires a macroscopic examination, a microscopic examination, or both.

     5. If an independent center for emergency medical care provides for the storage and administration of blood and blood products:

     (a) The center shall ensure that an authorized physician provides adequate control and supervision of the storage and administration; and

     (b) The refrigerator for the storage of blood and blood products must:

          (1) Have an adequate recording thermograph and temperature alarm system;

          (2) Be regularly inspected; and

          (3) Be otherwise safe and adequate to prevent the deterioration of the blood and blood products.

     6. If an independent center for emergency medical care depends upon outside blood banks for the storage of blood and blood products, the center shall have an agreement with a blood bank which governs the procurement, transfer and availability of blood which is reviewed and approved by:

     (a) The medical staff of the center; and

     (b) The administrator and governing body of the center or, if none, the medical director of the center.

     7. Each independent center for emergency medical care shall:

     (a) Provide for the prompt blood typing, cross-matching and investigation of transfusion reactions; and

     (b) Have a committee of the medical staff of the center review all transfusions of blood and blood derivatives and blood or blood derivative reactions which occur at the center and make recommendations concerning the policies governing these practices.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 11-1-95)