SusanM

Do any of these (or is there somewhere else) give actual benchmarks? Like we expect to a rate of 1%, etc... Expected values vs. over/under reporting? Thanks!

We have a couple Clay Adams that are antiques, but still work great! :-) When we had to purchase new, we got the Helmer Heittech models and have had no real issues with them.

as long as the Smith band stayed on the patient, the tube is labeled Smith and the blood would be tagged with Smith, you can call the patient anything you want. It is similar to banding a "Doe" patient. I would have used it (provided the original band was still there). We always call the RN and attempt to explain the situation... and generally the band is removed by some "helpful" person so the crossmatch is then repeated with the current band.... but we try...

We use the same guidelines for allo, auto, directed. It's easier to have one set of rules & if you "shortcut" based on the autologous status of the unit, you are assuming there were no lableling errors... probably slim chance, but possible...

The way i understood it, BioRad actually owns the gel patent. BioRad's contracts with Ortho will or already have expired and since BioRad aquired BioTest, they are not going to allow a competing company (Ortho) sell "their" products... Nevermind, i see too late that it was already better explained above!

We also only use Leukoreduced O neg RBC. They are only washed & irradiated for exchange transfusions.

Love it, Malcolm!

We've been using Bio-Rad (Biotest) ABO/Rh for a while. It is just fine compared to the others (Ortho/Immucor). We're in the process of setting up our new Tango. Slowly, i am switching everything to them, save the few gel things we'll have to get from Ortho (for now, i assume those will come from Bio-Rad eventually, too). We will be doing gel as back-up. The prices are better and the reps (actually eveyone i have met associated to the company) are wonderful.

Pharmacy handles albumin, IVIG, and all factors!!! :-) Was such a relief to hand that (the factors) off... Last i heard our docs wanted Factor VII here, but i don't know if they ever got their way... BB does do the RhIG. S.

Just wondering: If the manufacturer has a process, why would it not be recommended? On the flip side, why would the manufacturer then tell you not to use it 'routinely'? (What constitutes 'routinely'?) I have wondered this same thing (converting from 0.8 to 3), but we have just kept a set of 3% around for the Anti-Gel's. Daily diluting of screen cells was never an option-- too busy. There are also some people that are Anti-Ortho's-- they don't react in gel when using Immucor (diluted) cells... There's always somebody who doesn't like something!

not being a hematologist so i don't really know, but i always assumed CBC was "complete blood count"

We occasionally receive units with other antibodies, as was stated earlier the majority are anti D or C,D. We do not wash them. We do try not to use them on 'repeat customers' as we have had cases where the antibody can then be detected in the recipient. But we have not had any other problems in giving them.

Our cords are tested on the day shift, so they are done the day after delivery if it's after noon and the specimen from mom is then collected later that day or the next AM with other labs (depending on how big a hurry she is to leave or how early we get them done). I can't imagine the screams (from both techs and the floors) if we attempted to type baby and get mom drawn as soon as 1 hour after birth!

Too true... and that guy retired. Now i've got a fresh young quiet one (and i'm not that old, if i do say so myself...) whose toes i'm trying to not crush, or at least only slightly mash.

Thanks for the replies... the 'problem' i have is with an outpatient MFM clinic that does amnios... they've been storing and dispensing their own RhIG and now we are 'taking it over' for them. We require a blood draw for all RhIG orders and add testing as needed. (An Rh-if not already done during that admission, a screen-if not rec'd previous RhIG last 4 months, and a fetal screen-if >24 weeks gestation) THe MFM clinic thinks all that is unnecessary and we are looking to increase revenue. I haven't found anyone that dispenses RhIG with out some kind of testing, although i can't find specific rules of what MUST be done, other than CAP's requirement of a fetal screen after delivery. I think what we do is a good system and should be done that way.