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We, in the deep south, were told to ONLY use CPDA-1 units for neonates. The majority of our babies needing blood are 22-26 weeks. The super low birth weight can't allow any Adsol (well, I think it is 1 cc per kilogram of birthweight and these babies are maybe 400-500 grams...kinda pointless.) As for filters...our NICU does the filtering of all products. We send an aliquot of whatever the NICU needs, in a bag with about 10 cc extra for priming tubing. They filter using a Hemonate filter, which gets down to 17 microns. With LBW premies, you have to be super careful about what may get through a 170 micron filter and cause respiratory distress or stroke. As for products, we keep a docked CPDA-1 LR, CMV negative O neg rbc for its life. We try to manage lowest donor exposure, if possible. For FFP, always AB...aliquot and go on. The remainder is going to expire in 24 hours (we use it for QC.) As for platelets, we try to get type specific. No joy...whatever is available (catch-22) We request docked, LR, CMV negative. Then, we pull into aliquot bags. We don't have a sterile docking device and with money troubles, will never see one. I know the LR and CMV negative are somewhat redundant, but it is what my medical director and neonatologists have agreed on. Until I can convince them otherwise, I will continue as is. As for worry about "D"...our understanding is "until baby is 4 months old, baby is unable to develop ANY antibodies." That is why we will transfuse baby based on Mom's antibody screen (if negative.) If Mom is positive, we test baby until baby is negative, then start testing again at 4 months of age. anti

We are using ProVue and Meditech. I need details regarding the interface. When our ProVue was purchased, we were told there was no interface. On BBT, I keep reading about an interface. How much actually transmits from ProVue to Meditech? Uni-directional or Bi-directional? Individual reactions for each mictotube, or just the overall interpretations? anti

Linda, I have "played" with this feature in preparation for our next upgrade. We are a multi-facility system. One hospital does similarly to yours, but we only allow a 7 day window. The other facilities do NOT allow this (too much confusion for generalist to keep up with.) Here is what I am hoping will happen. When the documentation arrives indicating that the patient is not/has not been pregnant or transfused in the last 3 months, at that time, the BBK tech will change the expiration date of the specimen (with this new enhancement) and include our specific comments we have used for these patients, on the patient's requisition in the BBK. We are looking forward to being able to change the expiration date to further in the future. Historically, we have had to override the warnings indicating the specimen has expired when we have used these older specimens. anti

Anybody using Meditech that is not purchasing a separate ISBT labeling system?

ProVue is good for routine, non STAT work. Wonderful for antibody id's. Would not recommend use of Cord Blood on ProVue. Clots are a huge issue. Additionally, contamination is an issue (Wharton's Jelly). Is anyone using ProVue with Meditech? Are you interfaced?

Does anybody know where I can get a powerpoint or pdf of a Codabar labeled rbc unit for training purposes for nursing? I have plenty of ISBT stuff, but need a Codabar label for side-by-side comparison.

I know with ISBT 128, we will now be identifying the originial collection facility or my own facility (hospital transfusion service) in the DIN. Is it true that under Codabar, we are supposed to be capturing a facility identifier too?

We do not perform many inpatient TPs. Predominantly performed by our Cancer Center phlebotomists. If it is after-hours or inpatient, then we have to hunt for one of the old-timers that used to collect autologous donors, or one of our seasoned phlebotomists that have internally received approval. Most of our inpatient TPs are for sickle cell.

I need to know if anyone using Meditech Magic is able to print ISBT and FDA compliant labels without using any other hardware? Desperately seeking input...ASAP. Thanks!