All other topics

Immucor's ImmuAdd antibody potentiator contains thimerosol as a preservative. Since thimerosol contains mercury wouldn't there be a potential problem with the EPA since mercury would be emptying down the drain as the cellwasher decants it's wash? Has anyone heard of this being an issue? Thanks!

I would be interested in hearing what percentage of plateletpheresis expire inother Blood Banks with a Open Heart program. Our percentage is 45% wasted.

I just returned from AABB in Seattle. What a great conference. I hope some of you were able to attend. While I was there our Platinum Sponsor generously allowed me to leave pens at their booth. The pens had the BloodBankTalk web address on them. This was an effort to help attract new members. Did anyone get one of these pens?

http://www.medicaltechnologists.org A site that includes up-to-date news and articles for the medical technology community - as well as discussions on a wide variety of topics. This is a newly created site.

Should a tech be dismissed immediately for missing an anti-Kell on patient's record (titer is low and ab screen is negative, units not Kell typed and coombs crossmatches not performed. Both units were transfused. Tech works 3rd shift and director believes that should he go, scheduling becomes a nightmare)?

Hi. We are looking to some restructuring within our department. We are a Hospital based Blood Donor Center that does in house collections and mobile blood drives. One of the things we need to look into is salary structure. If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it. If you prefer to keep your responses confidential, please e-mail me off list. If anyone knows of a web site or publication that lists the information that would help also. Thanks, Stu Rosenhaus Blood Donor Recruiter New York Methodist Hospital We are looking for salary information for the following positions: Phlebotomist/ Blood Donor Tech Apheresis Technician Donor Recruiter/Account Manager - Entry L…

This is funny, you need your sound turned on, it's part audio, part visual. http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

I've never had to become involved with CPT codes before until I was asked by our Billing department to resolve a couple of questions. Code #86885 (Anti-human globulin test, indirect, qualitative, each antiserum) seems to refer to an antibody screen or red cell antigen typing, however #86850 is an Antibody Screen and #86905 and #86906 seem to cover antigen typing. And what's with the "each antiserum" for #86885? Code #86886 (Anti-human globulin test, indirect, titer, each antiserum) seems to refer to a Coombs titer. But what's with the "each antiserum"? Any assistance would be appreciated.

I have some invites to Gmail. If anyone is interested just e-mail me and I'll send you one. Don't know what Gmail is, read here to see if you'd be interested. http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/about.html

Hi, I just got a link for this site and I cant believe it actually exists! I am Teri, I recruit and manage rare antibody plasma donors, among my many duties. Sure would like to get replies and find out about the many different jobs everyone performs. I am especially interested in transfusion related topics. Hope to hear from some of you!

Does any one have any information on no additive vacutainer red top tubes and /or clot activator additives that are found in most red top tubes? Some of our reference testing needs serum, does the activator compromise our testing? Thanks for your help.

Can anyone help me out? Our supplier will no longer make glass vacutainer tubes. Have the plastic replacements been OK'd by AABB for use?

I would like to introduce myself to the other members of this forum. I have been in the field for 36 years, all of them at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. I am an SBB, and also have a Masters In Applied Immunology. My job is divided between the LIS and research, with my research interests in platelet therapy and serological methods for detection of platelet and/or HLA antibodies. I also do considerable work for our in-house donor center. At present we collect all our plasma, about 95% of our plateletpheresis units, and approximately 100 red cell units a month. When we move to the new donor center this spring we will have more spalce and will then i…

I have a question about the new FDA ruling or proposed ruling about barcoding and none of the current forums seem to fit because we are not a donor service. My hospital performs collections just for our use here. Thanks!

But is there a way to view new messages. Other sites allow to you log in and view all new messages since you last logged in.

I was thinking since this is also about Donors, maybe an area about recruitment - both successful and not so successful, could be added.

Just to introduce myself. I am the Blood Donor Recruiter at Bay Medical in lovely Panama City, FL. The hospital now has a donor center inside and is open to all employees and the general public. If anyone has found the magic bullett of donor recruiting, please share it with me as my wife and I enjoy living here and really want to stay. I'm originally from Birmingham, ALA via Tuscaloosa and have my background in event management, fundraising and public relations. If anyone is in the area, look me up and we'll do lunch! Roll Tide!!

Hello - I'm Dave Saikin in Littleton, NH. I'm enjoying the ambiance of a 40 bed facility after being in 700+ tertiary care and 400+ acute care facilities. When I'm not doing blood or assessments or inspections, I try to play guitar in a jazz trio, or watch my daughter's hs bball team, or read. I'm looking forward to the sharing of ideas these venues allow, esp being out of the blood bank loop, so to speak.

My name is Lakshmi. Been in Blood Bank for 10 years and recently moved to a position that involves Operational Support for the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory. I have been enjoying the new responsibilities and am looking forward to more and more administrative abilities. It is so exciting to have a place where the blood bank geeks :roll: can discuss topics!

My name is Jeanette and I work for MGH in their recruitment department. If anyone has some new ideas on how to get donors in please share!

Hi, My name is Cathy. I work in a 250 bed hospital as a Blood Bank Supervisor. In a couple weeks we will begin our work on Wyndgate Blood Bank System builds, etc. This is the first Blood Bank Computer for this hospital and a welcome sight. Glad to see more Blood Bank forums.

Hi! I'm Jane from North Carolina. I supervise the blood bank in a 300 bed facility. I have had this position for a couple of years and always appreciate help with the many questions that seem to come up.

My name is Chris, and I am warm sunny east central Florida. I have been in the Blood Bank field for 19 years and a Med Tech for 25 years. I have worked both Donor Center and Transfusion sides. I hope this board really takes off.

My name is Samir Kopti. I worked at a 700 bed Hospital Transfusion Service and Blood Bank for 14 years. I was in charge of the second shift. I did QA, Statistics in addition to bench work. I joined the Information Systems and Technology department last year, and currently I am the Blood Bank Database coordinator. We upgraded our LIS system from Cerner Classic to Cerner Pathnet Millennium last March. We run a multi hospital system (7 hospitals) Will be happy to answer any questions regardingCerner LIS. Samir Kopti, MT(ASCP) MS Clinical Systems Analyst

Hi, I'm Kate in Boston - and I guess I do it all. We still do not have a QI person, so I manage the people, the transfusion service, the donor area, and therapeutic pheresis. Nice to see that you've put this together, Dawn/Cliff. I would classify myself as a bb geek, too.