LynK

We call all XMs to the nurses. Unfortunately, our nurses are not trained to look in the computer for available products, although we are trying to change this practice to reduce interruptions in blood bank. We issue products to RNs, LPNs, MDs, unit secretaries, as long as they are an employee of the hospital. No volunteers are allowed to pick up products. I track all transfusions through the computer. We have a pneumatic tube system, but it's not for blood bank products.

Perhaps there's a reference lab who can provide some pos samples for you? Also, CAP samples are good to use.

Hey out there! I'm just wondering what the common practice out there is on this: Do you dispense units within 30 minutes of the product expiration time? The computer allows us to dispense the product, but what is the SQuIPP of the products if transfusion continues past the expiration time? Do we need to be concerned of bacterial infections?

Thanks, Guys. Anyone else requiring post transfusion tests for cryo and plasma? If so, what is your time frame?

How long after transfusing fresh frozen plasma and cryo do you recommend testing the patient for effectiveness? Does anyone out there perform a platelet count 30 minutes post plate transfusion?

We are currently looking into PPID (barcoded armbands with all pt info), which will positively identify the pt when armband is scanned. We are going live next week with the regular blood collections, but we're not moving to using for the blood bank ID, yet. In the meantime, we band our pre-ad pts. However, if the pt does not have a legible armband upon re-admission, the pt gets redrawn. We hope to avoid recollections with PPID.

Hey, fellow BBers, What is your protocol when you receive a BB tube labeled for John/Jane Doe, and the patient is later identified? Do you relabel the tube, redraw the tube? At our hospital, John/Jane Doe would be given a bogus DOB, and a MRN. When pt is identified, there may already be an existing MRN, and the accounts later get merged. HELP!

Thanks for your helpful responses! I will consider these when conversations with the surgeons start.

I am currently dealing with OR issues similar to what you're posting. By the end of this year, my little rural hospital will be bringing in cardiac surgeries. Can someone out there help me determine how this will affect my blood products inventory? I'm assuming one CABG can a minimum of 4-6 prbc, maybe more?

Hi Auntie D, I am in Hawaii, but am referring to the unit tag attached to the blood product, not the ISBT stickers adhered to the unit. We do not print our own ISBT labels here. Thanks for your response, though!

Hi! My lab uses an old-fashioned dot-matrix impact printer in order to print the tag in triplicate. I want to get away from this archaic printer, and implement a laser printer. Can I get feedback from y'all on what kind of printer you are using to print unit tags? If you use a laser printer, how do you get around the logistics of having the RN document vital signs on the chart copy AND the lab copy? The only good thing about the impact printer is having the carbon copy for documentation of vitals. Hope someone out there can help me get away from the impact printer!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the reference, Deb! Greatly appreciated.

Hi! I hope everyone had a merry Christmas! Was Santa good to y'all? I posted this question on the AABB site, but haven't received a response as of yet. (Does it take a long time to get a response from them?) So, I shall turn to my colleagues! How frequently are we to activate the alarm on the blood bank refrigerators and freezers? I'm doing it quarterly, but is that what the regs require? If we can do it less frequently, I will gladly revise my method! Have a Safe 2012!

Hi! I'm looking for a Clay Adams agglutination viewer since my light bulb socket has crumbled to pieces. Apparently, my biomed dept is having trouble locating a viewer...even from Clay Adams! Can someone help me find a viewer?