ksmith

Does any one have experience with the Genesis CM350 Blood Collection Monitor for collections? Looking for pros/cons of device use including maintenance and calibration. This may be used for Therapeutic Phlebotomy (not for transfusion).

We give mostly IV RhIg post-partum. I learned this because we started to get calls from nursing stating the Post Partum testing is STAT and where are the results. If I have the specimen collected, I don't consider that testing STAT especially when I have other patients needing blood products. Obviously, they want to give the RhIg so they can remove the patient's IV.

We use a Sartorius Scale (LA120s) to calibrate laboratory pipettes. We have a third party calibrate the scale on an annual basis. Our currently policy states to perform in-house calibration quarterly. When the manufacturer does not specify how often the scale should be calibrated, is there a standard or recommendation for frequency? Would someone be willing to share your policy/form for the calibration? Should the weights used be sent of for calibration on a scheduled basis? I'm new to how this scale should be maintained. The original policy was last revised in 2003. Someone else took care of this at the other facilities I have worked. I appreciate any information you can provide.

We use a Sartorius Scale (LA120s) to calibrate laboratory pipettes. We have a third party calibrate the scale on an annual basis. If you have a scale you use to calibrate pipettes or weigh out chemicals, would you be willing to share your policy/form for the quarterly calibration? We have weights the lab uses to perform the quarterly calibration. However, we need to purchase new standard weights. I'm a Blood Banker that has never been responsible for this aspect of the Scale. Need guidance to make sure we are in compliance with the CAP COM.30880. I believe they need to be Class 2 weights. I'm curious at what measurement range we should have on site. Original policy was written in 2003 and doesn't look like it has been updated since. Thanks - any information will be appreciated.

After 2 years, we are getting the E1 error message on our Ortho Workstation multiple times a day when we go to start the device under normal operation. I'm a 'fix it myself if I can' kinda person. Has anyone experienced this error? If so, were you able to fix the Workstation or did it require something more. Thanks.

We are updating our Massive Transfusion Protocol. We are a 400 bed non-trauma facility that does not keep FFP thawed. We would probably have 2-4 MTPs per year. How are other similar sized facilities handling these? Do you include only blood products in the initial phases? At what point do you add other labs or meds to the protocol? Who do you designate to contact the BB of the initiation & to stop the MTP? If anyone has a flowsheet or process map that they are willing to share, it would be much appreciated. Also interested if anyone has designed a review form to evaluate each MTP after the event to look for ways to improve the process. Thanks.

We just purchased a new Helmer refrigerator. We need new dividers or trays to store RBC bags. Has anyone purchased trays or dividers recently? I'm interested in options from sources other than Helmer. Thanks.

Does anyone have the title of the national guidelines so I can search for it? I have desperately wanted to stop investigating the positive DATs when the treatment is the same. But, I'd like to review the reference prior to stating my case. Or more likely, having the reference to use when my Medical Director notifies them we are no longer performing certain testing. This would save us lots of time when it doesn't add any value.

I haven't seen anything defined in writing and was concerned that I was overlooking something. Our goal is to give them some general guidance and remind them about TACO. That's what the newer nurses are looking for.

With our current multi-facility EMR, there was no rate built with the component orders. It was decided each facility would have 'recommendations' of a time frame or as the physician orders.

We are revising our blood component administration policy to flow along with our RBC administration policy. I cannot find the original source for our current administration rates for FFP, platelets or cryoprecipitate. Looking for a reference/best practice for administration guidelines for blood components.

For Mom, we routinely perform Type & Screens on all OB patients. For Baby, we routinely perform cord blood testing (ABO/Rh & IgG DAT) from deliveries of all Rh Negative and Group O moms. We still perform additional testing when the baby has a positive DAT (IgG testing only). When there is an ABO incompatibility or mom has a current detectable Anti-D due to Rh Immune Globulin, are any facilities still doing more testing on the cord blood? We still do even though the baby is going to be treated the same way. Our protocol is use of a bili light and for a bilirubin to be performed 12 hours after delivery. I haven't reviewed recent literature on the subject. Curious to see what other facilities are doing for positive DATs when the is not a clinically significant antibody involved.

Thanks, that's good news. We purchased one. I'm getting ready to write up a validation plan.

Has anyone purchased the new cell washer from Thermo Fisher, the Cell Washer 3? I'm interested in your experience with it and any advantages/disadvantages you see. Are there any extensive maintenance requirements you wish you would have known prior to purchase? I was unable to find the operators/service manual online. Our old Sorvall 2+ finally died, may it rest in peace. I've reviewed the operators manual to the new Helmer. It looks nice. Not sure how long the display will last with my staff. I also thought a negative was that they recommend running distilled H2O through it daily or after it sits for more than 4 hours. We don't use it often, so we'd be running distilled water through it prior to every use. Thanks!

It is, but I use this environment throughout the year for new employee training and competency. I didn't think there were any actual regs, but wanted to make sure. The other option is to purchase another server for the upgrade environment to use until we implement the upgrade.