mollyredone

We use Isensix.

The only time we would dilute antibody screening or panel cells would be to use the cell as a rule out cell for antibody ID. On in date cells we would not do QC, as it is not required for antibody identification per CAP.

Thanks, both Scotts! I will try to "jerry rig" something!

Just like for an anti-M that either did or did not react at 37.

Does anyone have a source for a probe for BB saline that allows the cube to sit upright? The probe would aspirate from the bottom and you wouldn't need to tilt the cube when it gets low. Thanks in advance!

Thanks! We've calibrated them ourselves forever, and it is a timeconsuming pain, but I'm hoping to find someone on the west coast. Don't want to pay for travel from the east coast! LOL!

We were getting ready to send our pipettes out for calibration again and found out the company doesn't do them in house anymore and couldn't get us a quote. What companies do you use for pipette calibration? I'm on the west coast, so would prefer something close. Thanks!

We have Meditech and the only way we can issue A plasma if it is incompatible is through emergency release. It sounds like most systems are similar.

Mabel, ours is a little different than our emergency release, in that the provider has to sign it prior to issuance of the blood. We even had to create an order in patient keeper, which is our electronic provider ordering system, in case the provider was at home and too lazy to come in and sign it... We also added the comment that the provider needed to discuss the additional risk with the patient. I've attached a copy. HIGH RISK TRANSFUSION FORM.doc

In our hospital, if the vitals are documented on paper (ER or OR), it doesn't have to be a nurse. If they are documented in TAR (everyone else), a nurse has to document vitals.

For our outpatients who require transfusion, we use a Typenex band, so the patient's name, DOB and band number. When they are transfused, they must have that band on but then the nurses use the FIN to scan along with the barcodes on the unit. We have Meditech and use TAR. For inpatients, we use the hospital wristband, no separate BB band. The FIN (financial number) is what the nurses scan when they are transfusing a unit. We use the MRN when we check history.

Same here, except if they are just ordering FFP or PPH, we only require a type. It seems easier to keep this standardized, since all of our techs (except me) are generalists. Although we do give PPH regardless of type most of the time, since we only keep 2 A or AB in stock.

This is why, after our shooting incident in Roseburg in 2015, we will be sending a tech down to the ED to hand out the blood to the nurses and make sure they grab a label to document who got which units. The ED tech who took a box of 4 OP and 4 ON was just handing them out like Halloween candy! We never did get verification on where all the units went. We do send out emergency release occasionally before a patient arrives if it is a chainsaw accident.

We do what TreeMoss does, change the location and put in a canned comment that says "Issued in a validated cooler with Safe-T-Vues attached".

If emergency release blood is requested before the patient arrives at the hospital, there isn't much we can do except issue it without a name. We require a patient demographic label if the patient is in the system, and try to issue it in the computer so documentation is more complete. Do your emergency release blood requests usually come from the floor? That seems really unusual to me. If the patient is on the floor, they should be in the system and we would require a demographic label.

What is the ISBT code for thawed FP24? We just recently started getting it and I'm having trouble finding the thaw code. I know the frozen code is E2619. FOUND IT! Thanks, Mari

You probably didn't mean me in your reply for CLR. We use CleanBath which is recommended by Helmer for its antibacterial properties.

My Helmer Quick Thaw manual says you can use tap, distilled or deionized water and gives the advantages and disadvantages for each. We have used deionized water for years. The disadvantage in the manual states that it can cause pitting but we haven't had that problem. We drain weekly and add CleanBath.

My package insert for ImmuAdd states that adding ImmuAdd to red cells before plasma may lead to slight hemolysis of red cells.

Are you at OHSU?

I understand. Do you phenotype all eligible patients (un-transfused or not recently transfused), or just those that you expect to see again ? No, we don't phenotype patients as a rule. Just for DARA patients. Other patients we just antigen type for suspected antibodies.

This is why I was confused about the validity of antigen typing a pregnant woman!

No, I wouldn't ignore it. But it is a part of our workup to antigen type the patient if they have not been transfused in 3 months for future reference and if I expect my techs to follow it, I wanted to make sure my workup was valid.

I know you are not supposed to antigen type anyone who had been transfused in the last three months, but what someone who is pregnant? Seems like those two go together a lot, but if it is a simple immediate spin or RT incubation, would it be accurate if she is showing a new antibody right before delivery? She already had an anti-E and today, for her C-section, and is showing an anti-c. I was going to antigen type her but couldn't find any info about whether it would be valid or not. Thanks!

Mine too!