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rcollins

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Everything posted by rcollins

  1. rcollins
    I think the variance is a good idea, too. Since I could only find references from April 2010 that still states 6 hours, I emailed the FDA and this is what I heard... Hi, Have the regulations (Title 21, Volume 7) been updated since April 2010? I’m particularly wondering about section 606.122. Thanks, Becky Dear Ms. Snedeker, Thank you for your inquiry. The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is one of seven centers within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CBER is responsible for the regulation of biologically-derived products, including blood intended for transfusion, blood components and derivatives, vaccines and allergenic extracts, human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), gene therapy and xenotransplantation products. There were no changes to 21 CFR Part 600 for 2011. I hope this is helpful. Sincerely, Lonnie
  2. rcollins
    Hi David and Mary, I'm having trouble understanding what a "therapeutic plan" is for our outpatient hemochromatosis pts. Does it include just a "goal hct." or is it much more involved. I'm working on this CAP checklist and realizing our ther. phleb. program needs a little beefing up after these regs came out. Will you give me some guidance?? Thanks, Becky
  3. rcollins
    Hi, Our outpatients bring any kind of written order from their OB that includes gestational age. If they haven't included gestational age on the order, then the outpatient registrars call the office. We have included a field in our LIS asking for the gest. age when they order RhIG so they follow up with that. We (that would be phlebotomy) draw type and screen and perform at least the type before we release the RhIG. Meanwhile, the patient is making her way from phlebotomy up to the 2nd floor of the hospital. Our MIC (maternal/infant center) Triage ladies come pick up the RhIG from us and administer it. Becky
  4. rcollins
    Hello Fellow Magic Users, Is there a way to pull up a report on the total number of units (specifically red cell components) transfused to a patient in your facility over their lifetime? I can of course count them in the history but I would love for Meditech to do it for me. Is anyone else starting to hear talk about notifying a physician if their patient has been transfused with at least 20 units over their lifetime so they can start monitoring serum ferritin for evidence of iron overload? That's where this is coming from. We're not actually doing it yet...but I have a feeling it's coming... Becky
  5. rcollins
    Brenda, Could there be a question of proper patient identification during phlebotomy? Probably not because she's a frequent patient in your outpatient but could the wrong labels have been stuck on the tube? And it's probably not an issue with a contaminated specimen diluting out a weak antibody but I'd say a situation like this is definitely worth a redraw. I wouldn't take the antibody tag off until I had a chance to test a new specimen from scratch. Good luck with your investigation! Becky
  6. rcollins

    The big move

    rcollins commented on Cliff's blog entry in PathLabTalk News

    Exciting news! I can't wait to check out the other sections! Thank you for all of your hard work, Cliff. Happy New Year!
  7. rcollins
    Of course we don't have 6.0 but can you define the xm to add on to the specimen that has the antibody screen? In the dictionaries, define xm products (LRBC) to add on to reqs with a TS or Antibody Screen ordered, and then it won't add on to reqs with just the 2nd blood type ordered? This is just speculation and what we have done here with 5.62. We don't require a second draw, but we have a couple of docs who think its necessary to order the TS and also the blood type. The blood type order never gets products automatically ordered onto it. I'm sure 6.0 is probably a whole 'nother ball of wax, though. Good Luck!
  8. rcollins
    We also have a "hold" order that we use for our Oncology and L&D folks. My question is...if you have a similar "hold" scenario: How are you notified to make the specimen "active"? I have had some problems of L&D patients having an actual Type and Screen ordered because the mom is being taken to the OR for a C-section but the BB never knows about it. We are pretty small but I don't want to be checking the pending logs every second of the day! Besides a phone call from the floor, what do you all do to keep on top of it?
  9. rcollins
    Wow! Yikes, what a poor attitude!
  10. rcollins
    Thanks for all of your hard work, Cliff! Congratulations to all of us for making BBTalk such a success that it's time for expansion. Blood Bankers CAN evolve and will welcome our other lab friends with open arms! Anything that promotes information sharing in the Clinical Lab--including Blood Bank--is a great thing. Who knows, maybe we'll learn something!
  11. rcollins
    Hi BUGGIE, I'm not sure what the actual reg is either, but we just had JC through the doors at the end of last year and they seemed alright with our practice. Our pharmacy stocks the rhogam, the BB gets a small supply at a time. The BB is in charge of the requests for rhogam, as far as ensuring appropriateness of the order and performing the correct testing. Then, BB issues the product and faxes a sheet to the pharmacy with patient demographic info. The pharmacy then bills the patient for the medication. Of course, the pharmacy manager requested a meeting for next week about rhogam so we'll see what that will bring! But so far, it has worked for us. Good Luck. Becky
  12. rcollins
    Is Verax FDA approved for randoms or only pheresis? Verax's literature says apheresis but the last CAP survey we got said it was cleared for use with single or pooled whole blood derived platelets. Please shed some light!
  13. rcollins
    I'm so sorry to hear this! He was an amazing contributor to this site, and the entire Blood Bank Community. My thoughts are with you, Rebecca.
  14. rcollins
    Any updates to this? @STEVE K--have you started using them?
  15. rcollins
    Hi Everyone, I'm opening up this thread again...what is everyone using for bacterial testing of random donor platelets now? We're not having much luck passing the survey by measuring the glucose and ph with Multistix Urine Dipsticks. Of course we hardly ever get randoms anymore so I can't justify a huge expense with lots of training. Anyone have a method they can recommend? Thanks, Becky
  16. rcollins
    Thank you so much Stoogiesfreak!! This was extremely helpful. I've finally got it figured out--and am a hero thanks to you!
  17. rcollins
    I would just be careful to make sure that everyone is involved at one time or another in proficiency testing. @Yiams--We split up our CAP surveys exactly as you suggest and it works out well. We've never had an inspector question it. Good Luck!
  18. rcollins
    I wonder if a "max/min" or "hi/low" thermometer would cover this. Thoughts, anyone?
  19. rcollins
    Hello all, Currently, when a XM order is entered via OE or POE, and there is a current TS, the BB tech cancels the new XM (product) order and re-orders it onto the patient's TS req. Even though we put a comment in when we do this, there is confusion on the nursing side when they see their order cancelled. My question is, can I set it up in Magic 5.62 so that the product order will add on to the TS req automatically (as long as the TS is still "good")? I've been messing around with it in test but can't seem to quite make it happen. My IT dept. is never really good at BB meditech issues. I just want to know that it is possible so I can further investigate! Thanks, Becky
  20. rcollins
    This is hilarious!! And something I would do...
  21. rcollins
    "They are almost always dedicated, careful, organised and conservative. Am I right?" I definitely think these qualities make the best blood bankers. And I think that people who cross-train can work to be good blood bankers. Some people, no matter what their job title, are "blood bankers at heart." And some people will never be blood bankers and will never care to be! (poor schmucks!) I also join in to have a laugh at the clinical staff but I agree with Tim, I would never EVER want their job. Kudos to the dedicated nurses who respect lab people and try to understand our job. It's easy to forgive ignorance if it is genuine and the person is actually willing to learn from you.
  22. rcollins
    I like this idea. I don't know of anyone around here who uses them but they would be really helpful sometimes...especially for the rare antibodies or people with multiples. Perhaps if on the back it said in big letters "Immediately present card to hospital staff. Important Blood Bank information!" or "Do not transfuse blood products before presenting card to Blood Bank staff" or something like that it would be used more efficiently. I have found that patients are really interested in their antibodies and what it means to have an antibody.
  23. rcollins
    We do the same as AMcCord, order is put in for RhIG and it's up to BB to order appropriate testing. We don't do KBs here--the positives are sent out to local hospital for flow. But where I worked before, the BB techs did the KBs--but we all also worked in heme so we were usually comfortable with doing it.
  24. rcollins
    Hard to relate this to blood bank but here's my favorite oldie: "Don't make love by the garden gate...love is blind but the neighbors ain't!" And whenever I get 2 drops of specimen that I can do NOTHING with I say (to myself usually), "I may be a lab worker, but I'm no stinkin' miracle worker!"
  25. rcollins
    Our policy also states we're allowed to issue the rhogam before the screen is complete. We do quick ABO/Rh and then release the rhogam if the patient is waiting. If they don't receive the rhogam at the time their type and screen is drawn then they have 7 days to come claim it. If they're not there within that time, they're redrawn. I also agree that your current policy is probably discouraging moms from even going to get their rhogam! And that's no good! Good Luck! Becky
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