Sanguine

It's not a book, it's a blood bank journal published by AABB.
http://www.aabb.org/programs/publications/Pages/transfusion.aspx

I took mine a pretty long time ago.  What worked for me was to read the Technical Manual a couple of times.  I took a peek at a hematology book.  I read Transfusion cover to to cover for at a year.  I memorized Standards (there were fewer of them then) and the relevant CFRs.  I tried reading Issett, but didn't get very far.  I passed.

Hi AMR. 
I took the test about 2 years ago without the formal Sbb program just like you.  It is difficult because it's not just blood bank questions, but it definitely could be done. 
If you have a hematology textbook, study the chapter on coagulation.  On my test I had several coagulation questions and test cases. they give you the coag results and you have to determine what product to give the patient (cryo, FFP, Factors).  Study the coagulation cascade. 
Also, I had several management type questions (budgeting, calculating FTEs, cost effectiveness of instruments, etc..). 
Review blood administration and how to calculate the infusion rate. 
Hope this helps.  Good luck on your test!!!
 

Wow, just wow.  I can't even imagine a blood banker in the US considering this as acceptable.  Our usual assumption has always been, if we didn't do it then it's probably wrong.  Our paranoia runs deep and swift.  Now, before anyone gets too upset with me please know that I was one of you for 35 years so I can play the what if game with the best of you.  I'm just noting what I observed over many years.  If anyone in the US is actually accepting the results from other facilities at face value and acting on them, please let me know, I would love to be wrong.

1. The AABB Tech Manual, the AABB Standards, Harmening's book is good, Issit's "Applied Group Serology" is excellent; Mollison's "Blood Transfusion is Clinical Medicine" is excellent;  Blood Bank Guy - a very useful site; this forum - always useful.  The AABB website.  National websites (AUS, New Zealand Canada) for their blood services.  ARC and UBS (now Vitalent) - our big national blood suppliers.
2.  Get a set pattern of working set up that you can follow (within the ways your Blood Bank likes to do things: tubes, automated, computerized, etc.);  ALWAYS do the work the same way - keep things in the same order always - your tubes, your results, your units as you work with them and label them.  I have trained people who I watch do things in a completely random order, especially as they load the centrifuge - then they had to straighten out every thing to read it and enter it in the computer.  Waste of time and very confusing - it will get you in BIG trouble someday when you are in a hurry.   At the same time - things will change overtime - new computer, new instrument, etc. - be adaptive to change.  If you need to set up a new pattern because it is more efficient or works better with a new instrument (especially computers) - be willing to change and adapt.
3.  Always keep an eye on processes - make sure they follow the Standards and are being done correctly.  Watch for inappropriate procedural drift - don't just change the procedure to "your" way just because you think it works better - it may be the other way for a good reason.  If not - talk it out and see if you can initiate change.  Blood bankers can be slow to change, but they follow rules for VERY good reasons.
4.  You just always wish you knew more.  Patients don't always follow the "rules" and situations can be very fluid in trying to get the right products to the right patient at the right time - and YOU will be the one holding the line on staying within safety rules (and yes, they do scream at you sometimes.)  Most Drs and many RNs do not know a lot about Blood Bank - you will answer many questions.  Always try to keep learning.  Remember always  - there is a patient at the other end of that conversation and they need your help.  You may be the only one with the right and safe answer, but you have to find a way to help the patient 1st.
Best of luck - enjoy the adventure.
 

I would read the book, "Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices" by Harmening.  It is pretty easy read unlike the Technical manual. Plus it has short quizzes at the end of the chapter.
As far as workflow you probably need to wait to see how your BB does things. Only thing I tell Techs that I train on the simple things such as loading the centrifuge or setting up their tubes for testing is to  be consistent in how you do that task, don't flip back and forth.

Hello, I am working in a small town hospital. I want to ask your opinion about this scenario. Patient stay in the ambulance and took by airmed. ER doc, requested blood and took by Airmed personnel. All documentation in paper, blood charges in paper. Patient not registered that day and no visit number .Is this accepted? or its a deviation?
We are using Meditech in our facility but for this case patient has no registration number. 
appreciate all your response

We do not charge for a 2nd type - it's part of the cost of doing business.
CAP TRM.40300 Historical Record Check says "If no record of the patient's blood type is available from previous determination(s), the transfusion service should be aware that there is an increased probability of an incorrect blood type assignment and, consequently, of a hemolytic transfusion reaction. If a laboratory collects an additional sample for the purpose of verification of patient identity, a repeat antibody screen need not be performed on this specimen."
CAP TRM.40670 ABO Verification (Computer Crossmatches) "The recipient's ABO blood group has been verified by repeat testing of the same sample, a different sample, or by performing a historical search of laboratory records..............Note:................Repeat testing of the same sample may be inadequate unless the sample has been drawn using a mechanical barrier system or digital bedside patient identification system."
So, since you are not doing a computer crossmatch, CAP does not 'require' a second sample. If you are doing a computer crossmatch, you have options other than a second sample, but those options are going to be pricey.
Since your concern seems to be safety, look at how your facility IDs patients, how many admitting errors or fraud cases (patient admitted under someone else's name), who draws samples, do you have control over the collection process, how well can you enforce the rules of patient ID at the time of collection, how many 'wrong blood in tube' incidents do you see, etc, then decide what gives you the most secure, safe process. Lots of variables. The answer may or may not be a second specimen.
I think the day will probably come when the 2nd specimen will be required if you don't use a digital bedside ID system. I don't think that's an absolute solution to the problem, because that requires that there is never an admitting error/fraud that puts the wrong ID band on a patient's arm. And it also requires that people faithfully and carefully ID their patient the old fashioned way every time a sample is drawn and blood is given, not blindly zipping that barcoded armband and calling it good. But what do I know.......I'm just a blood banker. Actually I do have the answer. We all should all get a computer chip inserted in the scruff of our necks, like we do for our pets!

It would be interesting to know how strong your gel reactions are/were. I have found that a 2+ or weaker gel reaction is virtually undetectable in tube testing regardless of the enhancement. I also think it would make more sense to run your DAT in gel but that is up to you.

The ABO/Rh confirmatory policy has been developed to prevent transfusion from a misidentified sample.
Our guidelines states unless electronic patient identification systems are in place, a second sample should
be requested for confirmation of the ABO/Rh group of the first time patient prior to transfusion, where this
does NOT impede the delivery of urgent red cells or other components.
 
The ABO/Rh confirmatory is a STAT test and should be handeled accordingly, it must be from a seperate collection phlebotomy and collected at a different time from the initial one.
 
It should NOT be a retained sample from the initial collection and delivered as a second one after Bank Bank calls for a ABO/Rh confirmatory sample.
 
Yes,post 4 months of age, we require a confirmatory sample, as MAGNUM stated.
We must always remember that the most important test done in the Blood Bank is ABO grouping.