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mrdth5

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About mrdth5

  • Birthday 09/19/1973

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  1. I’ve done some internal research and we haven’t had an analyzer retic flag we couldn’t clear in over five years. We have little to no sickle cell population in my area. With the complication in keeping staff competent- it may be more cost effective to send out a manual retic, if needed on these rare occasions.
  2. We never had a problem with the API samples for the screen; we don’t do the quantitative testing.
  3. We use a WBC simulator offered though Media Lab. It allows the techs to test their competency against a variety of different cell types against the experts. Once a diff is completed, the experts discuss each cell type and identify characteristics of why they called it XYZ cell. The techs love it and they can do it whenever they have down time. The website will let you try a demo version if you ask.
  4. We have two Sysmex analyzers that offer the automated retic count so one is always the back-up to the other and we perform the analyzer to analyzer correlation twice per year. We are rarely performing manual retic counts except for surveys, so we’re having a tough time keeping the techs competent. I want to discontinue doing this test but the former Hem supervisor has convinced staff that it’s a CAP requirement to correlate the analyzers retic count against the manual method at least once per year. I am unable to locate such a requirement. We don’t verify other automated counts (WBC, RBC, etc.) against a manual method. I would love to hear form anyone else who has encountered this dilemma. Thank you.
  5. Is a microwave thawer the quickest plasma thaw technology currently on the market? Is Tropitronics, Inc. the only vendor of this technology in the U.S.? Thank you.
  6. Apparently the use of a buffy coat smear to detect malaria came from a 2011 study that was published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. I does state however that a larger and more complete study should be performed before implementing this into common practice. Here is the link if you’re interested. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609286/
  7. There seems to be a lot of variation among local users and those on this forum regarding this issue. Some run the QC after each rgt change (same lot#), whereas others will use various versions of patient control or XbarM. I think I’ll keep our current practice until I have time to dig deeper into IQCP, which could change everything. We’ll see.
  8. At our laboratory, we have a policy to run 2 levels of QC after each reagent change, even if it’s same lot number. I can see if it’s a new lot and Sysmex has provided documentation on that, but with every, same lot # change seems excessive to me. Does anyone else do this? Is this required by any accrediting agency? I’m a newbie Hematology supervisor so I’m looking at things with a fresh set of eyes, albeit a little rusty in Hem so I need the community help. Thanks for your response.
  9. The CDC does have good information and makes no mention of using a buffy coat smear for malaria. I can't figure out why this was required in our procedure but I'll be talking to our pathologist about removing this step.
  10. Is anyone using a buffy coat smear to confirm negative thick and thin smears for malaria and other parasites? I cannot find a reference to do this other than in our procedure.
  11. This is very common with solid phase and from what I've read, gel as well. In our experience, it's almost always a "solid-phase antibody" or a strong cold. Seen many a cold antibody identified by the reference lab that was 3-4+ on Echo. Immucor does not agree but I have to go with the reference lab on these. I suggest that you and your medical director develop a workflow on how you want techs to handle these scenarios, either very conservative or liberal, institution variable. I did and it stopped all the off-shift confusion.
  12. We have used it for over 2 years without a problem. We validate the temperature annually against a NIST thermometer and it has always matched.
  13. I have several but my biggest issue right now is that I need to know if alpha/numerical MRN (patient IDs) can be data converted from my current BB LIS into SQ BB GUI when that time comes. We no longer use alpha/numerical MRNs, but several historical records have this type of MRN and include important transfusion data that needs to be retained. If this can be done, then my next question is: If/when a patient with a historical alpha/numerical MRN comes back and is registered with a new MRN, will we be able to merge these records? Any insight here is appreciated.
  14. I would think so since the training for nurses is already much more than transporting.
  15. Does anyone have recent experience with Sunquest GUI BB module? We’re heading in that direction (like it or not) and I’m concerned with the sales support, or lack thereof, in getting some of my questions answered. I’d love to get some recent feedback from users. Thank you.
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