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If you use FDA licensed reagents (in the USA) - all I would do is verify that they pass my routine QC of such reagents. There is no need to do parallel testing (at least in my opinion).

It takes some work, using several items in the BB dictionary: QC, test, entry screen and worksheet; and everything has to match. If they say it can't be done, press them. It can, and I am not even a LIS person!

I'm in agreement with Terri. It's become almost impossible/unrealistic to maintain PRN staffing in the blood bank due to not only hospital/technical competencies but also to the pace of change and modernization. Just this calendar year we released a new document control system and a new occurrence management system, both completely web-based.

I would go by experience and skills and what the candidate's view of his or her place will be in my lab. I would not think age is an issue by itself. Now, how often they plan on bringing in bagles and/or donuts.... Scott

I would, but then I'm 60 myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'll answer the question seriously. It depends very much on the vacancy. If it is a vacancy that requires routine work (and I do not use the term "routine" in any derogatory way whatsoever) I would probably go for someone like you, who has had years of experience and, presumably, knows exactly what they are doing and has "seen it all before", particularly if I could use you as a mentor for my more junior staff, who will be coming through to take over from us "grey beards" (nothing personal Dr. Pepper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) after we retire. On the other hand, if it is a position where I am trying to "modernise" the laboratory, particularly with an eye to the introduction of either routine genotyping or the use of recombinant blood group proteins (or both, and both are coming - they are already "routine" in our own Reference Laboratories in the UK, and this may well spread to our hospitals very quickly), I might well go for a younger person, on the grounds that they are probably more "up-to-date" with molecular techniques. I realise that this does not answer your question, but I do not think that there is a "one size fits all" answer to your question either.

There are always things that make you scratch your head a bit, that you dare not go above 6o for a second during storage, but that 10o is fine during shipping. Or that you cannot send RhIG through the pneumatic tube because it might be subjected to undue turbulance, but the shipper can kick the hell out of it and throw it in the back of a truck with bad shocks to jiggle along a bumpy road on its way to you.

In all honesty, there is no "one size fits all" answer here. It depends on how the facility operates. Smaller facilities that are staffed by generalists will differ than larger, specialized facilities. You have to do what works for your environment. Your procedures should clearly reflect what your facility does.

This is correct if you are accredited by the JC, you will get cited for having the physician order the reaction or continuing a transfusion when there are signs/symptoms of a reaction. Ours is policy based (medical staff approves the policy), they have signs/symptoms, they get the workup...period. We even have a statement in the policy that the physician cannot restart a transfusion that the nurse has stopped until the Medical Director evaluates the workup and gives the OK to release more units.