[Temperature Monitoring Systems]

Is anyone "periodically" recertifying or checking their temperature and humidity monitoring sensors against an NIST thermometer and/or hygrometer(humdity)? If so, what are you doing and how often? Does the company perform this check for you?

[ISBT numbers for pools/Cerner Milennium]

We use ISBT-128 barcoded labels for our pool number when we pool codabar labeled cryo or platelets from the American Red Cross who is not ISBT-128 compliant. We recently upgraded to Cerner Milennium version 2012.01.02 and it will no longer allow us to use the ISBT-128 pool number with codabar numbered pooled products. Has anyone else run into this issue or is anyone planning on upgrading to this version of Cerner Milennium where it will then become an issue?

[Immucor]

Immucor has issued a letter regarding this. Conatct your sales rep. Our rep assured us that they are working diligently to resolve any quality issues and that this will not happen.

[Confirming Antigen Negative Units from the Reference Lab]

Our reference lab sends a written report with units that are historically antigen negative. There is no label or tie tag physically attached to the unit. Does anyone place a label, tie tag or write on the unit indicating that it is historically negative for an antigen and does anyone know if there are regulations against doing this? We do not repeat the antigen type and in most cases we would not have the anti-sera.

[Direct and Indirect cost of blood]

Thanks for the article!

Marcia

[Direct and Indirect cost of blood]

Can anyone refer me to any articles regarding the national average of direct and indirect (type, screen, crossmatch, etc.) cost of blood?

[Issues with Immucor Fetal Screen?]

We have also had a problem recently. I spoke with Immucor today. They are aware of the problem. They are looking at the indicator cells, the anti-D, etc. The next kit to be shipped will have a "different" anti-D so we will see if the problem is resolved.

[ISBT 128 labeling of autologous blood]

Would anyone who works in a hospital blood bank that collects their own autologous blood be willing to share how they will address labeling these products using ISBT-128, including donor numbers and FDA registration. Will you be using pre-printed labels for the base label and the donor number? We have a digitrax printer and will be converting to CERNER Millenium.