[Blood Bank Automation]

we like our Provue and would not go back to manual for anything. Our techs were very relactant even negative at first , it all changed and now they can stand it when it goes down. We find it more sensitive in general and are trying to learn how to interpret the results. Cord blood still come in Purple tops and are transferred to another tube , they often have clots.

Ortho's customer service could use some improvement.

[SDPs for infant use]

We do the same as others commented and use SDP'S as well as R PC's. We do use a

SCD and make aliquotes with syringes and or transfer bags . platelets are CMV Neg and leucoreduced. We do not add extra to the request because they are already filtered.

j.werch

[SDPs for infant use]

Does anyone know of a reason that a single-donor pheresis could not be split for neonatal/infant use?? Providing platelets for babies is the only reason we would receive a platelet concentrate. Our ARC region does not produce this product any longer so we would have to specifically request it. I do not want to have to develop methods to test for bacterial contamination for the one platelet we might receive every 2-5 years so I am trying to come up with an alternative. I was just wondering if anything would contraindicate this use?

Thanks for your help!

Reply: We use RPC'S OR APC's CMV serology Neg. and leucoreduced.

I do not see any reason for not using aliquotes of apheresis platelets.

[neonatal LRC aliquots in prefiltered syringes]

Syringe aliquotes : we prepare SCD aliquotes for our neonates of RBC,platelets and plasma. We use the 4 Hrs limit for better control and because our viability studies for irradiated RBC's and PC. were done within that timing . However i can not see why not 6 Hrs.We did report to AABB IN 1997.

There are no studies to show viability for longer periods.

DR J.Werch

Medical Director Transf.Service

Ben Taub Gen.