Blood transfusion is a life saving procedure routinely given in hospitals, but it carries with it inherent risks, including infectious and non-infectious complications. Despite its common use, the clinical indications for transfusion continue to be the subject of considerable debate. Therefore, they should be used optimally and prudently if maximum patient outcomes are to be achieved. Most clinicians would agree that treating a patient with a low hemoglobin level and symptoms of anemia is reasonable. However, in the absence of overt symptoms, there arises a debate as to when transfusions are appropriate. Clinical trials investigating their use suggest that waiting to transfuse at lower hemoglobin levels is beneficial. The current study was carried out at the Medical Wards of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Its objective was to establish the indications of blood transfusions among the patients admitted in the medical wards.184 patients who were transfused on the months of May and June 2014 were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 39 years with a mean Hb of 6.669g/dl. Anemia was the greatest indicator for transfusion with 63 out of 184 accounting for 34.2%.
