Baby Banker

In my opinion, you can run an antibody screen on the last wash instead of a full panel. Of course if the screen is positive, you'd want to run a full panel. I have never known the last wash screen to be positive.

You may be able to find something on the Pediatric Trauma Society site. https://pediatrictraumasociety.org/education/Journal-Scan/2018/august.cgi

I have it built into the computer system. It won't let you irradiate a PR platelet.

There is a section in the most recent Technical Manual (20th Edition from 2020) on platelet transfusions in neonates and children. It begins on page 685.

By the way, the AABB recently published a book on the validation and use of pneumatic tube systems to deliver blood products.

We have a Central Transport Department that picks up most of our blood from the Blood Bank, even during MTPs (MTP=Massive Transfusion Protocol). We have a pneumatic tube system, but we don't use it for blood products except when sending them to our satellite lab in the CV unit. We don't have insulated carriers; I don't even know if that is an option, but the transport time is so short that it doesn't matter, and since it is going to another lab, we are confident that it will be taken out of the PTS station quickly and put into controlled temperature storage. When I worked next door (large university hospital) they started using their pneumatic tube system to send blood all over the hospital. This was 'suggested' by consultants as a way to save money. They have had some challenges, but overall I think it works ok. Our pharmacy uses the PTS, but I don't know what procedures they have in place to ensure the right drug goes to the right place. I know they have them; I just don't know what they are.

What do you do with a syringe aliquot that is made from a unit that has had bacterial testing?

I am at a pediatric hospital as well. I requested open codes for the LVDS components our suppliers will be sending us. After we irradiate them of course.

O how I wish I could convince people here of that!

Get to know your staff, but remember that you are not there to be their buddy.

There can be back pain in an HTR, although there are LOTS of other things that can cause back pain. HTRs generally have multiple symptoms due to the severity of the reaction., and can actually be caused by other things than immune response.

There can be back pain in an HTR, although there are LOTS of other things that can cause back pain.

I agree. If you hold the unit up to a light, can you see platelet swirling?

It is best from an operational standpoint to do the same thing every time. If you always do a second type on patients without a history, you won't forget to do one.

We have dedicated staff. There were too many errors otherwise.