SMILLER

You could call your local blood donation center and ask what they do with their extra plasma. Scott

I would think that it would have to be arbitrary to the point of uselessness, but what do I know? In any event, we are not CAP certified but have been inspected by JCAHO forever. I am pretty sure you will need cell-count QC like mentioned above. You can always check your inspection standards when you get a copy! Scott

Really? So if there are cells on the slide and cells on the hemacytometer then you are good for QC? Those CAP dudes are far-out! Crazy Man! Scott

We do indeed run wet controls when we do cell counts on the hemacytometer. We use Streck Cell-chex. JCAHO noted that we needed to do this a few inspections ago. Once every 8 hours when testing patients. (Not sure what you mean by a procedural control vis a vis manual cell counts...) Scott

Welcome Steve! This web site: http://medical.oneblood.org/biologics/distribution/search-and-view-isbt-product-codes.stml among others, seems to at the least have a listing of the codes available. It looks like you want code E0272? You may want to call AABB just to make sure if that is the source that your inspectors use for standards. Scortt

Oh no, I get it. We do not dismiss things like this here out of hand either! But I know of other Labs where they have different policies regarding follow-up testing for cases like these. (I suppose they would say that when they hear the sound of horses hooves they don't bother looking for aardvarks, pigeons or spyrogyra...) Scott

I appreciate the point about someone not being around when the alarm goes off! Just one more note, the sedi-mat uses the same Polymedco tubes used for a manual test. So if you get that or another auto ESR that uses standard tubes, you would have your back-up available STAT. Scott

By artifact I mean gel interference/mixed field/cold agglutinates that go away with a redraw or alternate method such as tube, proving that it was specimen or technique related and not otherwise. The thing is, if you have even one stubborn positive cell, it could be a sign of a developing atypical antibody that might be significant down the line (if the patient is given blood from a donor with that particular antigen). Granted -- I would think it's extremely unlikely that the patient would ever have a problem with a transfusion just because of a limited situation like this. But I know of at least one big university hospital that will NOT bother with future AHG crossmatches in situations like these. Scott

Agree with those who say that as long as it cannot be ruled as an artifact at some point, one must do a AHG crossmatch for the life of the patient. Scott

I just answered this question. My Score PASS  

We have been using a Polymedco sedi-mat for a few years and have had little trouble with it, other than getting used to its simple menu. With only 10-15 ESRs a month I have to wonder why you don't just use the old-fashioned 1 hour manual test. You need it as back-up anyway if I am not mistaken. Scott

And the snow! Snow all over my monitor! Scott

No. Scott

Yes, I would think so, as a unit was released from blood bank that was not compatible based on your own P&Ps. But you should check with the FDA! Scott

If I am not mistaken, for a massive transfusion, a D neg patient who receives D pos blood is unlikely to develop an anti-D, (but I appreciate the concern!). In any case, each facility has to decide how it will reserve O neg units for those trauma patients that must have them. Scott