Hospital Partner Resource Guide (HPRG)
To best serve our hospital partners, the following comprehensive resource guide is available to facilitate access to all Red Cross service areas. All product and service information ranging from ordering and invoice payment to reference lab and medical consultation is available along with essential points of contact ready to address your every need.
HPRG Quick Links
Instituting standard lead times for order placement enables Red Cross to more consistently and accurately fulfill your product needs.
STAT orders will require a minimum of one (1) hour processing time from order submission to packed and ready for shipment. The definition of STAT will be based on processing time not delivery time. Additionally, STATs orders will be filled using short-dated products. You will need a Connect ID. If you need help, please contact ConnectHelp@redcross.org.
The American Red Cross has developed recommended strategies for managing temporary blood product shortages, including in massive transfusion situations. These measures can be used in conjunction with your hospital’s policies and considering the treatment needs of your patients.
For hospital support and all general inquiries regarding our services, email hospitalsupport@redcross.org
Connect is the Red Cross’s Online Order Management Solution, designed to offer efficient and effortless access to product and service ordering, billing support, inventory management, and tracking of blood product movement.
With quarterly software releases, we regularly add features to enhance functionality and benefit our hospital partners. A summary of changes can be found in the User Guide on the Connect home page.
For all inquiries regarding your account and for password assistance please reach out to your Hospital’s Admin for Connect, your Account Manager, or ConnectHelp@redcross.org.
The Red Cross values your input. Please share your feedback and concerns with us by filling out this customer feedback form.
The American Red Cross packs blood products in qualified boxes. The boxes have been validated to ensure products are maintained at the required shipping temperatures. Shipping temperature requirements are slightly different than storage temperatures and the following table will outline differences:
Storage Requirement
- +1°C to +6°C
Shipping Requirement
- +1°C to +10°C
Storage Requirement
- +20°C to +24°C
Shipping Requirement
- As close as possible to +20°C to +24°C (+19°C to +25°C)
Storage Requirement
- -18°C to colder
Shipping Requirement
- No evidence of thawing
Storage Requirement
- 1–6°C
Shipping Requirement
- Packed on wet ice for transit at 1–10°C
Each box that originates from Red Cross contains a detailed packing slip. Hospitals should verify container contents against the packing slip. If a discrepancy is found, immediately contact the Red Cross Customer Service.
Temperature stabilizing packs (TSPs) used in shipping are preconditioned to appropriate temperatures based on the products being shipped. For example,when shipping platelets, the TSPs are preconditioned to a temperature between 20.0 °C and 24.0 °C. Precondition TSPs by storing them in the appropriate temperature before use.
If repacking is required after receipt of shipment, such as transferring amongst hospitals, or if products need to be returned, please follow these instructions.
- Packing Chart
- Pathogen Reduced Cold Stored Platelet Implementation Guide
- Platelets Handling and Storage Guide
- Shipping Cryoprecipitated AHF in an E-54ARC
- Shipping Cryoprecipitated AHF in an E-120ARC
- Shipping Cold Stored Platelets (CSP) in a E‐54ARC
- Shipping Plasma
- Shipping Platelets
- Shipping Qualification Memo
- Shipping Red Blood Cells
A list of scannable Facility Identification Numbers are available in the links below to upload in your hospital inventory system.
- Product Codes
The Product code file references the page number of the label examples below - Non American Red Cross LVDS and PR Codes
- Products and Services Sample Labels
- IRL Label Examples
- Red Cross Testing Methodologies Click the link and toggle to the “Interpretation Sheets” to find testing methodology information.
- Infectious Disease Testing
- Creative Testing Solutions (The lab that performs Infectious Disease Testing for the Red Cross)
Donor and Client Support
- Transfusion Service Customer Handbook
- Transfusion Reaction Case Report
- Infectious Disease Case Report
Adverse Reactions
In the case of an adverse reaction, call the Red Cross Donor Client Service Center (DCSC) at 866-236-3276.
The Compendium is intended as a reference work for practitioners of transfusion medicine. Guidelines reflect the authors’ understanding of relevant literature and other publications such as the Circular of Information. We hope that the Compendium becomes an essential resource and reference guide for transfusion management of your patients.
- Example IRL Report
- Example NML Reports
Provided are examples of NML reports for reference
Please refer to the instructions provided to ensure correct shipping conditions and optimal result turnaround time.
Provided below are test requisition forms used for Laboratory Services when ordering is not available through Connect.
- Immunohematology Consultation Request Form
- Donor Request For Special Blood Form
- National Reference Laboratory for Specialized Testing Form
- National Molecular Form
- Histocompatibility Laboratory (Portland, Pomona, and Charlotte) Form
- Histocompatibility Laboratory (Philadelphia) Form
- Histocompatibility Laboratory (Dedham) Form
- National Neutrophil Laboratory Form
- Product Disposal Authorization Letter (Portland and Salt Lake City)
- Recipient Consent for HCT/P Disposal (Puerto Rico)
- HCT/P Inventory/Continued Storage-Discard Record (Philadelphia)
- HPC, Apheresis Disposal Authorization (Norfolk)
- HCT/P Disposal Form (Puerto Rico)
- Medical Authorization for HCT/P Disposal (Puerto Rico)
Enter zip code to find laboratory licenses and certificates for Red Cross laboratories:
Invoices are produced for products purchased and services performed four times each month. Daily reconciliation is performed to validate that all products are passed to the Billing System from the Distribution department to ensure all product transactions are correct. Billing for services includes a reference to the Connect order and patient identifier.
The Red Cross processes all invoicing functions through the Shared Services Center. Shared Services is a centralized processing center for key accounting functions located in Charlotte, NC. Invoices are generated four times per month and are distributed via mail or our electronic solution - Invoice Central. Invoice Central allows customers to view, print, export and/or pay invoices and statements online through a secure website.
Need an account? Contact your Account Manager for help.
To enroll in Invoice Central, please fill out this form and submit.
- Reimbursement Frequently Asked Questions
- CPT Codes for Blood Services
- HCPCS Codes
- AABB Billing Guide
If you have questions regarding reimbursement, please review this section on reimbursement. For all other questions, you can email reimburse@redcross.org.
- 866-236-3276 (ask for a supervisor)
- Email: DCSCmailbox@redcross.org
- Fax: 888-719-3535