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cbaldwin

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cbaldwin last won the day on January 19 2017

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About cbaldwin

  • Rank
    Member
  • Birthday 04/17/1954

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  • Gender
    Not Telling
  • Interests
    Climbing, skiing, hiking, being outdoors. Also studying...
  • Biography
    Generalist in small, rural, very isolated hospital. In 2013 I completed an SBB course and passed the SBB exam
  • Location
    Bishop California
  • Occupation
    BS, CLS, MT(ASCP)SBB
  • Real Name
    Catherine

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  1.    Cliff reacted to a post in a topic: Job Opening--Coordinator Position in Small Transfusion Service
  2. cbaldwin
    I am the transfusion service coordinator in the lab of a small rural hospital. I am retiring at the end of the year and my lab manager has posted my position on this site. I thought I would add some information. Bishop California, population around 5,000, is located on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range near the Nevada border. We are 200 miles south of Reno, 300 miles northeast of LA. We are a vacation destination/retirement community. In the Sierra to the west, and the White Mountains to the east, there is hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping, hunting, skiing,
  3. cbaldwin
    Has anyone been recently surveyed by the Joint Commission? We are expecting a survey in May, I am preparing for it, and I wondered if there were any trends this year in what they are “observing”. I am responsible for a small transfusion service in a 26 bed rural hospital. I am checking that documentation for reagents, QC, competency, training, proficiency testing, and patient testing is complete. I’m updating my P/Ps, and going over the QSAs. The Joint’s observations in 2017: 1. Not labeling uncrossmatched O negative units with patient’s name, DOB and MRN
  4.    dragonlady97213 reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  5.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  6.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  7. cbaldwin
    So now you have an exciting hobby?
  8.    Malcolm Needs reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  9.    Malcolm Needs reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  10.    Malcolm Needs reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  11.    mollyredone reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  12. cbaldwin
    Just found out...our reference lab charges $305. Thanks all for your replies...I am learning...have a lot to learn. Catherine
  13. cbaldwin
    Thank you for this information. I just found the handouts from a lecture Sue Johnson gave in March 2016 at an Immucor Users meeting and I have attached them in case anyone is interested. It's very good. She discusses the molecular basis of weak D and partial D and the variability of reagents and methodology, also the recent recommendations of the Inter-organizational Work Group on RHD genotyping for managing pregnant women and transfusion recipients who have a serologic weak D phenotype. On page 18 she states that there is a new CPT code 81403 for RHD genotyping (Tier 2 molecula
  14. cbaldwin
    Thank you! This is good information. I will call our Immucor rep. Catherine
  15.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Weak D Molecular Testing--Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
  16. cbaldwin
    I am working with our OB/GYN MDs on how we will handle weak D OB patients. First of all, we would like to know how available the test is and how expensive it is. When I contacted our IRL to inquire about the price of this test, which they list on their menu, I can only speak with technical people who know nothing about billing, and I do not expect them to--I am a technical person and I know nothing about billing. They did tell me they send the test to Grifols and they gave me a contact number which didn't work out. The very nice people at the other end of the line did not understand my quest
  17. cbaldwin
    Those of you who send out samples from weak D OB patients for molecular testing, do you know, approximately, how much the test costs and whether insurance companies willingly pay for it? I am having trouble finding this information. Thank you! Catherine
  18. cbaldwin

    Hello David,

    I think several months ago I read a post where you stated you only had anti-IgG and did not use anti-IgG,-C3d.  Is my memory correct?  I carry both anti-IgG and anti-IgG,-C3d--the anti-IgG,-C3d for the rare transfusion reaction workup.  I would like to stop carrying the anti-IgG,-C3d because the vials come in packs of 10 and out date.  Do you have any advice on this for me?

    Thanks!

    Catherine Baldwin

     

    1. David Saikin

      David Saikin

      I only have tube anti-IgG.  I also carry anti-C3b,-C3d in vial.  I do my DATs in gel, using the IgG gel card and I use the anti-complement antisera in the buffered gel not in tube (the C check cells are always 4+).  I don't buy the polyAHG gel for the same reason - I'd outdate more than I'd use.  You should be able to find a vendor that sells polyAHG in less than 10 packs.  Ortho probably does vials of 3 and you could check with Quotient Biodiagnostics and BioRad also. I don't recall if Hemobioscience is distributing it.  You could also just get the anti-complement antisera - Ortho sells me in single btls, though I usually purchase 2-3 at a time.

      Hope that helps.

      Dave

       

    2. David Saikin

      David Saikin

      If you go with the anti-Comp antisera you'd have to purchase the check cells that go with it.  Immucor's are a lot less expensive than Hemobioscience's (I didn't tell you that) and now Quotient is also distributing them.

    3. cbaldwin

      cbaldwin

      Thanks!  That helps a lot!

       

  19.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Blood Warmers
  20. cbaldwin
    What are the regulatory standards for checking the temperature alarms and verifying the temperature calibrations on blood warmers? Our BioMed guy has been doing these checks quarterly but just noticed in the operator's manual that the manufacturer's recommendation is to perform the checks annually. He asked me if AABB or the Joint Commission had standards for the quarterly checks. I looked through the AABB standards and TJC QSAs and can't find anything about quarterly checks. I will stay with the quarterly checks because that is good practice, but wondered if I missed the regulatory st
  21. cbaldwin
    What are the regulatory standards for checking the temperature alarms and verifying the temperature calibrations on blood warmers? Our BioMed guy has been doing these checks quarterly but just noticed in the operator's manual that the manufacturer's recommendation is to perform the checks annually. He asked me if AABB or the Joint Commission had standards for the quarterly checks. I looked through the AABB standards and TJC QSAs and can't find anything about quarterly checks. I will stay with the quarterly checks because that is good practice, but wondered if I missed the regulatory st
  22.    joe0310 reacted to a post in a topic: Do you have a weak D policy when tested on the Provue?
  23.    swhit9290 reacted to a post in a topic: SBB Programs
  24.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Transport Cooler
  25. cbaldwin
    Our rapid HIV kit is non-waived for plasma/serum and waived for whole blood. We just went through a Joint Commission inspection and the inspector, when giving us the heads-up about IQCP, suggested we only perform the rapid HIV testing on whole blood. It seems like a simple solution. Does anyone see a problem with it?
  26.    yan xia reacted to a post in a topic: Frequency of Antibody Workups--revisited
  27.    Liz0316 reacted to a post in a topic: Frequency of Antibody Workups--revisited
  28. cbaldwin
    Thanks Liz for the explanation of the 3 month period. It makes sense and it will help me explain to physicians why we need to be concerned about more antibodies forming.
  29.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Frequency of Antibody Workups--revisited
  30.    cbaldwin reacted to a post in a topic: Frequency of Antibody Workups--revisited
  31. cbaldwin
    R1R2, No, our antibody screen on 4/18 showed the Jka reaction was definitely stronger. Also, I did not mention this before, in order not to distract from my main question, there was an antibody present to the 0.8% screening cell preservative. When we performed the gel antibody screen with our usual 0.8% cells, all cells were positive at 2+. The auto and DAT were negative, and when I XM'd all of our (8) units of O negative units, those XM's were compatible at gel IgG. So I suspected an antibody to the preservative in the 0.8% cells. As a backup, we have 3% antibody screening cells f
  32. cbaldwin
    I apologize for posting because this subject has been covered many times. Before posting I read some of the related threads, and I think I am on the right track, but I just want to make sure. I have a specific situation, and 2 specific questions: The situation: Patient, GI bleeder, is O, Rh negative. Patient received 2 units O, Rh negative pRBCs on 4/2/15 at another facility. On 4/10/15 the patient shows up at our small hospital, where we only perform tube ABO/Rh and manual gel antibody screens. Antibody screen is weakly positive. We send the specimen to our reference lab where a
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