Ensis01

The was a thread about this recently you could start with: https://www.pathlabtalk.com/forum/index.php?/topic/10288-typenex-bands-should-they-stay-or-should-they-go/&tab=comments#comment-77667

Not sure if this response is too late. After your new hires receive 6 weeks training and pass the test are they then expected to be competent in your blood Bank? What exactly are they expected to be able to deal with? My opinion (and experience in a similar setting) is that you have trained your new hires in the theory of your Blood Bank; the next 3 (probably more) months will/should provide practical training in how to use those skills in practice, increasing complexity and especially under pressure.

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Then we do not QC new panels aside from visual inspection and any insert changes. Apart from damage in transit it seems any in-house validation is FAR less than the manufacturer must do.

We don't but I assume that as we use panels for antisera QC it by default QCs the panel.

One reason (maybe) is that if you are AABB accredited the Reference lab you use MAY change what they are required to reprove from the results you provide, which would reduce cost.

I wholeheartedly agree with all the above comments for you to determine the surgeons expectations. One other thing we found VERY useful was asking if the patient has had prior heart surgeries, i.e. how much scar tissue was on/around the heart. We found that the more scar tissue the patient had the more products, especially RBC, would be needed.

I can just imagine the conversations you may have if a patient comes to you after being titered at a different hospital and an 8 fold increase is the result

I was told, by a very senior tech, that this convention began pre-automation when instances where an anti-E was identified but occasionally weakly reacting anti-c was missed. This resulted in a change in hospital policy so when the patient has an anti-E and is c= give E=,C= units. I then assume this practice spread as techs gained seniority and moved to different hospitals. The improved reagents, panel cells and especially automated methods over the last few decades, plus increased pressure with time and costs may either make this policy redundant or (remain) implemented based on your patient population and experience. Thoughts anyone

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My understanding and experience of thermal amplitude testing is to identify a cold autoantibody and determine if it is clinically significant or primarily just a nuisance. I have never been involved in cold autoantibody titers; can someone explain its purpose please.

The LIS has to have all the different product codes you may use entered so it can log and track them in your inventory. Discuss with your supplier as you will probably never see most potential products (it is a REALLY long list). The Dr however should only be able to see the basics RBC, platelet, plasma, cryo and be able to add extra requirements like LR, irradiated, washed etc. I suggest having special products like washed, platelet crossmatchs in a sub menu (or at least harder to get at).

Considering how often inpatients get stuck I am not sure they would notice the 2nd check especially if appropriate CBC tubes are looked for and used.

Upright: so you can read the unit number plus the segments can be kept tidy to avoid getting tangled with each other, and observe hemolysis.

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