jbrun

Mabel, Thank you for this resource. Do you have a reference source for it? I have some interested docs.

We also try to draw ASAP (within an hour) once we know a fetalscreen is needed (we generally obtain the cord blood type first). Our rationale is that the longer the time interval is from delivery to blood draw the higher the probability that fetal cells can be pulled out of circulation. We' rather obtain the specimen sooner and inconvenience the patient than have a false negative and put the patient at risk.

We have a doc who's been notorious for giving RhIG a couple weeks prior to patient's due date and subsequent delivery. We have encountered 4+ rxns (tube) in these folks with previous negative ab screens. However we have never titered them out and attributed the reactivity to the RhIg. We have seen some of the same patients again at a later time with negative ab screens, so from our experience I'd say it is possible. I can not give you specific numbers though, just my recollections. And in answer to your question Shelby56, we indeed perform AHG crossmatchs.

Thank you everyone for the useful information. I'm sending for a variance using the template today!

At our facility, we are similiar to Donna. It depends on the patient and is thus a case by case basis. We make certain that the physician is aware of the antibody status and try to ascertain their wants but also anticipate patient needs. Sometimes we antigen type and sometimes we wait.

Could you please compare/contrast the software differences, since Sysmex does not utilize decision rules? How are flags evaluated and dealt with?

We use Streck ESR-Chex. The product is very stable, and we like it.

Our current heme analyzer is the Coulter LH750 and is due for replacement. We are looking at the Sysmex XT 4000 AND the Coulter DxH. I was wondering if I could hear from past Coulter users that have now gone with Sysmex as to their rationale in making that decision and what their experiences have been since the change. There are many factors involved in choosing analyzers as well as advantages and disadvantages. I'd like to hear some real world experiences.

Do you have a reference for the 2 hours?

A few years back, it was recommended to our facility that we store patient and donor samples post transfusion 1 month.

When I did our crossover study, I was able to obtain positves from other hospitals in our region. They were glad to help me out.

I was wondering if any of you out there know of any regultaion(s) JCAH, AABB, etc. which prohibit the storage of blood and tissue in the same refrigerator. Thanks.

We did not experience any problems with validation. We went from manual Capture to the ECHO

Results are manually entered. yes, I am very concerned about clerical errors. We will interface in the future...i just do not know when in the future this will take place.