We currently have one blood bank analyzer and use manual gel for backup. I have been offered the opportunity to bring a 2nd piece of automation into the blood bank- a different manufacturer. At first, I totally dismissed the idea but now I'm actually trying to look at the pro's and con's and I would really like some other perspectives on this. My idea at the moment would be to use the analyzer we have now as the primary and to use the 2nd for retypes, as backup for the primary and as secondary methodology for complex samples (we don't do elutions or absorptions). If we have the two analyzers, I don't think I would need to keep a manual backup system. This idea is both intriguing (from a manager's aspect) and disturbing (as a blood banker). All of our techs are generalists and the ones I've discussed this idea with, don't seem to have a problem with the idea of doing maintenance on another machine; they seem to think that this would be faster than doing the QC on the manual gel system. I appreciate all input, ideas, etc.