Susan.Sullivan

NIST certified thermometers can be purchased pretty cheap! We had a CAP inspector make the recommendation years ago and it was the BEST recommendation ever! Digital NIST for the range you want will run you between $30-50! Every two years we ditch the expired thermometer and buy a new one!

Reach out to Immucor and Ortho. Both have great charts~ and will most likely give you one (or three!)

I would refer you to the CFR std 493.1423 & 493.1425. The standard subpart (2) HAVE EARNED AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, OR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION

The "30 MINUTE RULE" is urban legend! estiner is correct that the FDA is clear that it is not the time out, but the temp that is the driving force. The unit can be on the floor and transfusion completed within 4 hours. My concern is where is the unit while it is awaiting infusion? Did they leave it on the radiator? In direct sun light? In a refrigerator? EEK! If the nurse cannot hang the unit right away, it should be returned to the blood bank. I like the idea of holding the unit for 4 hours and THEN discarding it! So often the unit is returned due to loss of IV or other short term event; this would allow us to re-issue the unit to the patient and avoid discarding the product!

Check with your emergency services coordinator. I asked this question, and the EMS coordinator was able to obtain the state protocols regarding transport of patients with blood products. Each transporting organization (ambulance service, med-flight, etc) also has protocols for who is qualified to transport a patient with blood products. FYI~ if the product is sent in a box with the patient, and it is transfused, we cannot charge for the administration and therefore the product (since the administration revenue code and the product revenue code must appear on the same pt bill)! :mad:

We have used a "confirm type" protocol for almost 2 years. We do not have electronic crossmatch (yet), but implemented the verification type following a FMEA at an affiliated hospital. The process is pretty simple: a second phlebotomy enounter is required for the confirm type. We do not specify who can collect this second specimen, just that it be collected at a time different than the type/cross tube. For PAT specimens, the nursing staff does a fingerstick on the day of the SDC admission. For inpatients they usually have something drawn during their admission that we can grab for a quick type. We do issue type O red cells and AB plasma if a confirm type cannot be obtained. The confirm type is a quick ABO/Rh only (we don't require the backtype). I can share our protocol. We have great compliance, and are so confident we will soon look to eliminate the bbk wristband. BTW- when the tech answers the question "Previous blood type on file: Y or N" with a NO response, a confirm type order is generated and added to the next collection batch!

I am curious if the is truly a "TJC mandate" or is it the opinion of a TJC surveryor. Years ago, we had such a surveyor, and three years later we had that opinion overturned. Don't believe everything a TJC surveyor says... do your home work! I am going to start digging now...

Howdy~ I am looking to see if anyone would "share" their policy for comparability of Instrument/Method. While Chem and Hemo have been doing this for years, I am now looking to compare my Echo with my bench techniques. I have some great forms and some basic knowledge, but I'm hoping this forum can share some existing policies. why re-invnet the wheel? THANKS!

Meditech has a function of "Move to Another Acct" that will allow you to move the PAT blood work onto the SDC account. The specimen information, commentsm test results and all audit information remove the same; it just merges the two requisitions. We use this often to resolve billing rejections. this is available in Meditech SC 5.54 and it will be available in Meditech CS 6.0.

Is anyone being approached by orthopedics for a new protocol: Platelet Rich Plasma for surgical applications? The Bone/Joint team at my facility is researching a device that will separate (column?) and concentrate the platelets. I'm getting the feeling they want BB to do the work... HELP! The manager is quoting the sales rep (always a concern) about the ease, the high reliability, low risk nature of the process. I have experience preparing platelet concentrates and fibrin glue... Any advise?

At our facility, I would accept a truncated first name if the dob &/or medical record number were complete; we do use a secondary wristband with a unique BB # for transfusion candidates. Have you investigated reducing the font on the label to allow for more characters (or is it already barely visible?) The BB has always had higher standards than the other lab departments. And I agree that while a wrong H&H or wrong glucose can lead to a patient treatment error; an error with an ABO/Rh could be a fatal event! I would love to be on the front page of the Boston Globe for Winning Power Ball~ NOT for a fatal transfusion/ error at my facility! The only edit that is allowed to a BBK specimen label is the addition of a last name if the collecting phlebotomist only placed their initials on the tube. ALL other omissions, mis-spellings, missing digits of DOB/MR are cause for discard and recollection. To mitigate the risk of transfusion errors we have implemented a verification of pt blood type PRIOR to transfusing ABO specific products. While some argue that it is cumbersome for the BB we found it to be a very easy to apply on our lab. My suggestion: hand the phlebotomists a sharpie and a roll of labels and tell them to hand write the paient info if it is truncated and does not fit your policy! Stick to your guns... This is patient safety! ~Sue

:highfive:AMEN sista!

SBB Last Chance Review offered at Gulf Coast is AWESOME! And there was a SBB review text that was a collection of questions. Add to that ISSIT, AABB & FDA stds, and geat a great study buddy! I had a standing study date with a friend with a history of HLA lab experience. I tutored him on stds and regs and he taught me about HLA! Good luck!