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Our blood center is 2 hours away, and like others have said, our biggest problem product is Platelets. We keep some on hand, but sometimes run out and need to get shipments off schedule. Another product difficulty is when you need to order those 'rare' antigen typed units. How many to get is always a game. Another impact is your ability to ID complex antibodies. We rarely send anything to our reference lab, just because of the time and logistics. So, even though we have all generalists, we are pretty good at ABID.

Auntie-D, one of my absolte PET hates is receiving inadequate samples on patient's with an auto-antibody, especially as the User Guide and the back of the Request Form both have printed on them the MINIMUM sample volume required. I sometimes think that people believe we can do the impossible (or, maybe, guess our results!!!!!!).

:boogie:At least now I know why some of the e-mails I have sent were returned as undeliverable. I'll update my address book. Wouldn't want you to miss out on any of the wonderfully funny stuff I pass along!

Oh I forgot the pan reactive one that they want 2 units for tomorrow for a chemo day patient. I had it all ready and packaged to go to the reference centre for them to crossmatch and this particular member of staff decides to do a 10 cell panel and enzyme too and empirically crossmatch 6 units with hope of getting 2 - all units pos, panel pan reactive. And surprise surprise there isn't enough sample left for the reference center to do it. So instead of coming in tomorrow for a transfusion the poor woman will be bled again and sent home and have to come in for a third time! Exactly the situation I wanted to avoid

How about having a massive transfusion bleeder who is Oneg and not switching them, meanwhile the Oneg inventory is being depleted and someone wanting to set up the last two emergency Oneg units. Or delaying an emergency request for blood due to not wanting to verify a straight forward textbook antibody.

We have the Immucor ECHO and love it. Phone service and field service are both great. It picks up many more Jk's than gel or tube. It does seem to pick up more 'warm autos' than gel. We have our manual gel stations as back up and for alternate testing. Unlike the Provue (at least when I saw the Provue) you can add specimens without waiting for the analyzer to allow it. Linda

Good idea - this way, you can get your QC done weeks ahead of time!