As I'm sure everyone else is doing, we are trying to find ways to cut costs. We are a medium sized hospital (<400 beds) in a rural setting without a trauma designation. Annually, I look at supplier contracts including reference lab testing. We currently do our own antigen typing and primary and secondary antibody ID panels but do not keep an enzyme panel nor do we do adsorptions, although we do perform elutions. Most of my staff are generalists and at least half of them are MLT's.
I am curious to know the size of your institution and how much, if any, of your serology you send to a reference lab. We are seeing more complex patients (in volume, not necessarily complexity) and I am considering bringing in enzymes and adsorptions. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks!