emeraldquest

We have been using the Hemobioscience check cells for a year without any major issues. Usually our complement check cells are 1+ by tube and 3+ to 4+ using the gel buffer card. We use to use Immucor's complement check cells and had several very weak to non existent reactions for QC, since we don't use alot of Immucor, Immucor's quoted price for us was high compared to Hemobioscience/Ortho pricing.

We also have the Helmer CW and love it! Had Sorvall cell washers for at least 9 years and had two of ours refurbished, still didn't work. Went without a cell washer for a year of misery, finally budgeted for the Helmer CW and no problems.

We are comparing Ortho's Fetalscreen II kit with Immucor's FBST kit. We decided to go with Ortho's kit due to price. The test method is similar to Immucor's, only 5 fields to review using Ortho's kit instead of 9 fields using Immucor's FBST. I do remember the way Ortho left us hanging when they pulled the last FBST kit, the other reagent manufacturer has its problems with reagent recalls.

In our hospital Blood Bank, we expect completed transfusion unit tags. If they are not completed, it is up to blood bank to follow up with the information from the transfusionist. Our SOPs note complete compliance for documentation of the transfusion. We have some non-compliance with filling out the unit tag to be returned from a few areas (ER and OR) in the hospital, since we usually know where the transfusion takes place we send the nurse educator or director for that area a copy of the tag and a note to the problem. Our Nursing council has been helpful in backing up the completion of the unit tags. Nurses who have not filled out the unit tags properly are reeducated about what is expected & needed. The copy I have sent them, usually comes back to blood bank for filing. At this time we have paper trails until our Wyndgate Blood Bank system goes live (Jan 05)...then we will find our paper trail, computerized and more efficient in our tracking of tags. Since we have aggressively taken a stand that documentation is essential, we have had a decrease in lack of documentation being noted. We also can track how long till they hang the blood and how long they transfused.

Our LIS is Pathlab (Cerner Millenium is our Projected new system- go live in May05), Our Blood Bank is in the process of Building Wyndgate- go live in Nov04, to be interfaced with Star/Caremanager until future interface with Cerner (2yrs...). Cerner is possible through out hospital within a couple years(currently HBOC)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Albumin = Pharmacy 2. Clotting Factor concentrates = Transfusion Service 3. Rh Immune Globulin-intramusular = Transfusion Service 4. Rh Immube Globulin-intravenous= not used 5. IVIg = Pharmacy

Hi, My name is Cathy. I work in a 250 bed hospital as a Blood Bank Supervisor. In a couple weeks we will begin our work on Wyndgate Blood Bank System builds, etc. This is the first Blood Bank Computer for this hospital and a welcome sight. Glad to see more Blood Bank forums.