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carol1

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  1. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from SbbPerson in BloodBankTalk: Correct Blood Bank Nomenclature   
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  2. Like
    carol1 reacted to Malcolm Needs in translation of antibody screen result   
    Before I attempt to answer your query, I must explain that I am NOT a doctor.  I am what is called in the UK, a Biomedical Scientist and, as such, am not qualified to make a diagnosis, but I am the Chief Examiner in Transfusion Science for the Institute of Biomedical Science, and used to by the Reference Laboratory Manager in the Red Cell Reference Laboratory in the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Centre in Tooting, London, so I can claim some expertise.
    Although a warm auto-antibody in a person's  plasma is by no means common, it is something we use to see on a daily basis at Tooting.  To put it at its most basic, it results from your immune system producing an antibody directed against a red cell antigen expressed upon your own red cells, which could, under certain circumstances, lead to you becoming (usually mildly) anaemic.
    The "autologous adsorption" bit means that the laboratory, either at your hospital, or at a Reference Centre has been able to remove the antibody from the plasma in your blood sample by using  your own red cells (thus proving beyond doubt that the antibody is indeed an auto-antibody).  They have then tested this adsorbed plasma in tests to see if there are any unusual antibodies in your plasma that are directed against antigens expressed on the red cells of other individuals; so called allo-antibodies.  They include in their report the caveat that concerning the "common blood group antigens" because it is all but impossible to test for antibodies against all the known antigens, of which there are well over 600, some of which are incredibly rare.
    Most auto-antibodies have a specificity within the Rh Blood Group System, which, at present, contains 55 different antigens (but other antigens are being found on a regular basis).  Most of these auto-antibodies are directed against either the Rh antigen known as Rh17, or against that known as Rh18 (I realise these names will mean nothing to you - but bear with me).  Almost everybody in the world expresses both of these antigens on there red cells, and the actual specificity of the auto-antibody is not really of any consequence.
    It is highly unusual, to say the least, for a maternal auto-antibody to cause any problems with a condition known as haemolytic disease of the foetus and new-born (or HDFN), particularly at an early stage of pregnancy.
    To me, this suggests that your early miscarriages and your auto-antibody status are coincidental, rather than the auto-antibody being the cause of your early miscarriages.  Red cells are not really produced in early foetal life (indeed, there is not much in the way of blood in a foetus until about 12 weeks of gestation), so there are very few foetal red cells available to be affected by your auto-antibody.
    Having said all of that, I would reiterate that I am NOT a doctor, and even if I were, it would be impossible (and stupid in the extreme) to even attempt to make a diagnosis without FULL knowledge of your case.  As such, I would suggest that you do discuss your case with your own physician (or your obstetrician) and be guided by what he or she suggests in terms of further testing.
    I hope that helps a little bit, and that I have not "blinded you with science" (which was not my intention), and I apologise for me English spelling!
  3. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Antibody/Antigen Reaction   
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    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Antibody/Antigen Reaction   
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  5. Like
    carol1 reacted to Linda0623 in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  6. Like
    carol1 reacted to ANORRIS in Red Cell Storage Position   
    It is also easier to take inventory when they are standing up.  If they are flat you would have to pick them up to count????
  7. Like
    carol1 reacted to Bb_in_the_rain in Mock-up case 1   
    Please let me know if you would like me to do more "mock-up cases" with RHCE variants. I can look for some good ones.  I think it is fun to interact with case studies here. (I mean it is quite fun to pick Malcolm's brain and learn from him... cough cough). 
  8. Haha
    carol1 reacted to SMILLER in Just for fun   
    LOL!  We would send it to our reference lab!  We have other things to do here...
    Scott
  9. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Antibody/Antigen Reaction   
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    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Clinical Aspects of Transfusion Reactions   
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    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Correct Blood Bank Nomenclature   
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  12. Like
    carol1 reacted to Malcolm Needs in saline expiration date   
    No, and to be honest, and at the risk of being accused of being big-headed, I am not too bad in the kitchen.  For example, when making a lasagne, I do everything from scratch, including making my own pasta and bechamel sauce.
  13. Like
    carol1 reacted to Malcolm Needs in saline expiration date   
    An excellent post JHH1999, however, if I made the cake today, with milk that had a use by date of tomorrow, there would be grave doubt as to whether the cake would be edible today, let alone in a few days time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Allergic Reaction   
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  15. Like
    carol1 reacted to Cliff in Gold Medal.   
    The site was giving @Malcolm Needs a spot of bother, so I have taken the liberty of uploading some spectacular images for him.


  16. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Allergic Reaction   
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    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Antibody/Antigen Reaction   
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  18. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Blood Transfusion Therapy in Haemoglobinopathies   
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  19. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Allergic Reaction   
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  20. Thanks
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in Gold Medal.   
    Very well deserved.  Your explanations and library contributions have been very helpful to so many.
  21. Like
    carol1 reacted to Malcolm Needs in Bone marrow and blood group   
    When a person undergoes a bone marrow transplantation, their own bone marrow is "destroyed" by radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of the two.  Donor bone marrow, sometimes of a completely different blood group is then introduced into the circulation of the recipient, and the stem cells migrate to the marrow and start to clone.  as they clone and develop, so the developing cells (red, white and platelet) start to come out into the circulation (although not all at once - the red cells are usually, but not always first).  At the same time, the patient's own red cells are gradually removed from the circulation by a form of apoptosis, called eryptosis, by splenic macrophages.  Eventually, the donor's red cells will make up 100% of the circulating population (although the patient may require transfusion support for some time), and by the time this happens, if the donor's blood group differs from that of the recipient, the recipient's blood group will, effectively, have changed to that of the donor (at least, this is true for all antigens that are intrinsic to the red cell membrane - those that are adsorbed onto the red cell surface from the plasma, for example, Lewis, Chido/Rodgers, will stay the same as the recipient's original type).
  22. Like
    carol1 reacted to Malcolm Needs in Benchmarking and Lean Expectation   
    Oh, you mean that they have suddenly woken up to the realisation that their figures don't add up, but are too embarrassed to admit it.  
  23. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Blood Transfusion Therapy in Haemoglobinopathies   
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    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Correct Blood Bank Nomenclature   
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  25. Like
    carol1 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in BloodBankTalk: Antibody/Antigen Reaction   
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