[IQCP]

So can anyone share with me how you are doing QC on cell panels, WARM and REST kits, and eluate kits? Do these tests need IQCP?

[Immediate Spin crossmatch using Buffered Gel card]

I must not be understanding the question...what has the buffer cards and performing the IS crossmatch in gel got to do with detecting Anti-Kell?

[units spiked not transfused returned to the blood bank]

I work at 3 different institutions. 2 of them don't allow reissue of a red cell unit that has been outside of the blood bank longer than 30 minutes. The 3rd facility will reissue a red cell unit as long as it does not hang over 4 hours...but it can not be released and placed back into inventory and the bag can not be entered..so if it's been spiked it would get discarded.

[Immediate Spin crossmatch using Buffered Gel card]

Yes, we use the buffer cards on our ProVues. McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC

[Quality Control of Panel cells]

Thanks so much for your help. I'm still debating if qc'ing the expired panel cells is even necessary. We have never done this and have never been questioned about it from an inspector

[Quality Control of Panel cells]

Do you make a 3% suspension from your 0.8% panel cell to test with the antisera? I guess I wasn't very clear with my question...sorry.

[Quality Control of Panel cells]

Can someone tell me how you QC a 0.8% expired panel cell that you are using on a select panel for rule-outs?

[Pneumatic Tube Users]

We do not place temperature indicators on our units sent via pneumatic tube, unless we know that the blood may not be given in a timely manner (i.e., multiple units tubed to the OR). When we validated our tube system, temperature limits were maintained appropriately.

[ABO/Rh confirmation labels--necessary??]

Is it necessary for a transfusion service to place confirmation labels on red cell units after ABO/Rh confirmation testing has been performed? If you have a computer system in which you can show the testing was done, is that sufficient? Not having to put labels on units would be a time-saver for us.

[TRM.42650--mimic temp of component stored]

Sorry, Stephanie...I don't think I've been very clear..I even confused myself, so I called CAP. I was told that a thermometer should be somewhere in the refrigerator (whether it is the sensor probe bottle, or the daily thermometer bottle) that has an amount of liquid in it that is equal to the least amount of product you would place in the refrigerator. Example: 20 mls of RBCs in a syringe.....then you would need a thermometer in 20 mls of liquid (10% glycerol) to mimic that volume.

[TRM.42650--mimic temp of component stored]

Thanks. Another question.....what kind of thermometer setup do you use to check your daily temperature of your blood storage refrigerator?

[TRM.42650--mimic temp of component stored]

How much solution is in your bottle? Are you using the NIST certified thermometer bottles that you can buy?

Thanks for your help.

[TRM.42650--mimic temp of component stored]

"The temperature sensor probe should be in liquid ...and a volume similiar to the smallest unit stored." What are facilities doing for syringes being stored?

Thanks.

[Looking for wall charts]

What is your address?

Rogers Helton

BBTS\ImmucorGamma -- we have some that are no charge.

Thank you so much!! My reps from Immucor/Gamma and Ortho couldn't seem to find anything demonstrating tube reactions.

My address is: McLeod Regional Medical Center

Attention: Blood Bank Laboratory

555 East Cheves Street

Florence, SC 29506

[Looking for wall charts]

Does anyone know where I can find a good wall chart of the reaction grading for tube agglutination? I used to have one and when our lab was renovated, it disappeared. I want it for teaching purposes.

Thanks in advance.

[Comparability of Instrument/Method]

We compare our ProVue gel tests with our gel testing at the bench....which is the same manufacturer and lot number.

We compare our gel testing results with tube testing results (LISS, PEG), which uses 3% cells--different method, different manufacturer.

[Comparability of Instrument/Method]

This is what we do..........

When more than one method can be used to perform testing in the Blood Bank, each method will be checked against each other at least twice a year for correlation of results. 3 patient samples for each different test method will be compared under actual testing conditions. Quality control data may be used for the comparison of results when the same manufacturer and lot number of reagents are being used.

The following tests will be compared: ABO/Rh typings, antibody screens, direct antiglobulin test, immediate spin crossmatch, full crossmatch, and blood type confirmations. The methods that will be compared are automated gel testing, manual gel testing, and tube testing (LISS and PEG).

[Helmer freezer alarm checks]

Can someone tell me if the automatic alarm test is sufficient for quarterly alarm checks? On our old freezer we would document internal, chart, and digital temperatures.

The automatic alarm check on our new Helmer freezer does not affect the chart movement or the internal temperature. Will we need to "remove the probe from the solution bottle" so we can document internal and chart temperature change, like we did before?

The automatic alarm check was one of the reasons we decided to get a Helmer freezer....I thought the "manual method" did not have to be performed.

Thanks for your help.

[blood warmer]

We had a patient who came from the operating room to the intensive care unit. They had trouble getting the patient's body temperature back up. The doctor did not want to infuse "cold" plasma.

[blood warmer]

Thanks.

What if the blood warmer temperature is >37C?

[Blood sets]

We use a 180 micron filter blood set for red blood cell administration. Can platelets, plasma, and cryo be transfused using this size filter?

[blood warmer]

Can plasma be transfused using a blood warmer?

[Billing antigen screening w CPT 86903]

We set up new test codes and pricing for antigen typings. For example: AO2 stands for "2 antigens typed", AO5 stands for "5 antigens typed". Then, we charge that code for "the number of units screened". For example:

I screened 3 units for C and K.......the code/charge would be AO2 X 3.

You just have to calculate how much you want to charge for 2 antigen typings vs. 3 antigen typings vs. 4 antigen typings, etc.....since there can be different combinations of antigens.

[heat block for hemotemp II discs]

On 24/7. Never had problems

[Billing for Hgb S testing]

So, John, how do you "pass it along"? Do you increase the price of a unit of red cells to cover the sickle cell testing?

If you don't mind sharing, how are you charging for your supplier antigen typings?