Cliff

For those taking the temp, do you validate (presumably annually) the device you take the temp with? We chose to validate our 30 minute rule. Validation Design60 red cell units will have their temperature monitored for 40 minutes after their release from the Blood Bank. Units released from the Blood Bank will be taken to defined locations where they will be placed near the floor's receptionist. Prior to the lapse of 30 minutes, the products will be returned to the Blood Bank. Temperature monitoring will continue for an additional 10 minutes before the temperature monitor will be stopped. TempTale Preparation-Set TempTale to monitor 1-100C for 2 days. Unit Preparation-A unit of blood will be split into 2 equal parts.-The 2 parts of the unit of blood will be rubber banded together with an activated TempTale placed in the middle. Minimize as much air between both halves of the unit as possible.-Place unit in a monitored refrigerator in Coordinating for at least 24 hours.-Record date and time unit is placed into refrigerator on form created for this validation. Monitoring-After 24 hours, unit prepared for this validation can be used for temperature monitoring.-Prepare a timer for 30 minutes.-The release of the unit must coincide with the release of an actual blood product to be transfused on the floors - this will be used to reflect the time it takes to issue a product. Unit must be placed in a white plastic bag used for transport of blood products.-Document the day and time of issued on the form created for this validation. Start timer and proceed to one of the locations defined by this validation.-Once at the defined location, place the bag with the unit near the receptionist's station. Remember to leave this location in enough time to be back in the Blood Bank by 30 minutes from release of the product. Record the time the 30 minute timer goes off.-Once back at the Blood Bank, place the bag on the counter and wait an additional 10 minutes until stopping the TempTale.-Record the time you stop the TempTale on the validation form.-Download TempTale data. Enter time of issue, 30 min, and 40 min intervals on TempTale temperature graph. Prepare unit for next observation.

The software is actually built this way by design. If replies were made to a post several times a day you should be brought to the first post you have not read.

I recently merged many partially empty sections into fewer sections. This site gets a lot of traffic and having too many sections can make it a little daunting for new people. I am completely in the camp of no question being too dumb. As I've matured I've learned I am not nearly as smart as I thought I was and ask more than my fair share of "dumb" questions.

As a few people have said in support of writing the volume on the unit, they are right. It doesn't take much time to write the volume and record it in the computer. Multiply that by more than 30,000 red cells transfused a year and it adds up quickly. I don't see the value in doing it. I can see the cost.

It sounds like some of your policies are simply "we've always done it this way" issues. There isn't an easy way to determine how much blood is in the bag. It started as 450ml or 500ml of whole blood (unless it was apheresis red cells) +/- 10%. Then as you know it's spun done and most of the plasma is removed and an preservative is added. All of these steps, along with the donors hematocrit make for a wildly varied red cell product volume. That said, the human body doesn't react to red cells as it would a different medication. A unit is a unit and the recipient should receive an approximate increase in hematocrit regardless of the variable size product. There isn't a direct correlation between the increase in hematocrit and the mls of red cells received that all recipients will exhibit. If you are a small facility the physicians may be used to and want to continue to receive this information. It's up to your medical director to convince them it's archaic and of little value. It is a waste of your resources which translates into money. As for sounding dumb, I firmly believe the only dumb thing to do is remain silent and not ask questions. The people on this site are an amazing wealth of information. I'm almost afraid to post now.