A unit of Red Blood Cells is issued and returned within 10 minutes without being refrigerated. What should be done with the unit?

When a unit of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) is returned within 10 minutes without being refrigerated, the best practice is to place the unit back into inventory. This is because the unit has not been out of controlled temperature conditions for a significant period that would compromise its safety and efficacy. According to blood bank protocols, as long as RBCs are maintained at room temperature for a short duration and assessed to be in good condition, they can be safely returned to inventory for use.

Returning a unit to inventory allows for its proper utilization, as it remains viable for transfusion. It's important to note that if the unit had been out longer or if there were any indicators of contamination or compromise, further actions could be warranted. However, given the time frame mentioned in the scenario, the unit can safely be reintegrated into stock for potential use later.