[Specimen Expiration]

3rd day at midnight, with day of draw being day zero.

[Gold Medal.]

Congratulations Malcolm!!!

[References]

Yes, our policies say "current edition".  We have a cover page in our SOP manual that lists the current editions we are currently using.  It's updated with each new edition, and after review of changes.

[Electronic vs Immediate Spin Crossmatches]

2nd specimen, or a historical blood type.  Yes, we will use a CBC tube drawn only by our Lab staff using bedside barcode ID system.

[Blood Bank staff]

Worse than last year when I posted. Pretty dismal outlook in NY State.

[Training new employees]

Document every issue.  Then cut him loose at the end of his probationary period.  He sounds dangerous.

[SBB Online Program while Working FT]

I did mine FT while also working FT.  It was brutal, but it was the fastest 12 months of my life.  Takes a lot of discipline, at least 3 hours every night. You can't skip more than 2 days or you reach the point of no return.  As soon as I started to feel overwhelmed, I would take a day off from work to catch up. You have NO social life during this time. However, you have a MUCH better chance of passing the test if you do it FT and then commit to take the test within 2 months of ending. Private message me if you want more info.

[BloodBankTalk: Blood Transfusion Therapy in Haemoglobinopathies]

I just answered this question.

• My Score
  PASS

 

[BloodBankTalk: Allergic Reaction]

I just answered this question.

• My Score
  PASS

 

[BloodBankTalk: Antibody/Antigen Reaction]

I just answered this question.

• My Score
  PASS

 

[BloodBankTalk: Correct Blood Bank Nomenclature]

I just answered this question.

• My Score
  PASS

 

[To BB (ASCP) or Not]

29 minutes ago, Malcolm Needs said:

Good Lord!  Is this possible for anyone?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Very, very, very short term only.  A day after the test, most of it went from my brain directly back into that book. LOL.

[BloodBankTalk: Clinical Aspects of Transfusion Reactions]

I just answered this question.

• My Score
  PASS

 

[To BB (ASCP) or Not]

I'd say go for it! Memorize the Technical Manual.  Also the Antigen Facts Book.  And use the BloodBankGuy website; it's amazing.

[Night Shift Supervisor, Night Shift Techs in New York]

Orange Regional Medical Center is searching for a Night Shift Supervisor and 2 Night Shift Techs (MLT or MT).  Must be licensed in NYS.  Great pay and benefits, including shift diff.  Apply at www.ormc.org

 

[Siemens Coag Instruments Question]

We have the IL Tops 550s and LOVE THEM!

[Blood Bank staff]

Staffing in NYS labs right now is reaching catastrophic levels.  Can't even find generalists.

[CAP TRM.31450 Comparability of Instrument/Method]

For the list of tests that I correlate (see above), we do 5 of each (at least one pos and one neg in the set of 5).

[IL HIT test]

We have the TOPS 550s and we plan to implement HIT testing next year.

[4 hours to transfuse]

It's 4 hours from issue time from the Blood Bank.

[Dropping Blood Bank Bands]

We have had Epic for 6 years and dropped our BB band.  Best thing we ever did.  We require two draws, the second has to be OUR phlebs in the Lab using the MobileLab/Rover with barcode scanning.  Our ED also has Rover, but can "cheat" by force printing multiple labels.  So we never let them collect the 2nd.  Until we get a second (we also use existing CBC tubes), we give type O.

[Beckman DxH]

Hello all.  We are choosing between a Beckman DxH and a Sysmex XN.  I would like comments from people who have recently (within 2 years) purchased either of these.  Pros and cons.  Specifically if you have the slide maker/stainer. Thanks.

[Microwave plamsa thawer]

On Monday, June 05, 2017 at 11:42 AM, AMcCord said:

Thanks for the info.

This is what I'm hearing: Now the factory is very tied up with a FDA review.  Ark Bio-Medical Canada Corp. reports that they are working with the FDA to resolve this issue.  I think it is mostly involved with documentation.  There have been no problems related to the methodology with the hundreds of units in place.

[Misidentification risk mitigation alternatives]

Agreed; getting a second type confirmation is not the big deal that clinicians think it is.  We use CBC specimens drawn by our own phlebs using the hand-held device.

[Electronic Quality Control]

31 minutes ago, SMILLER said:

I am not sure why you would have to have printouts of everything.  

I've had inspectors (usually older ones) that are still not trusting of computers.  Which I find very hard to believe in this day and age but...there are certain things I still print and keep just for them.  I have fought citations and won, but sometimes you just want them to look at the stuff and keep moving.  Much less drama.