New system, data import

[Cliff]

We are in the process of implementing a commercial blood bank system. We will be importing data from a home grown system and a different commercial system.

The concern I have is the new system will only import unit numbers in a code-a-bar numeric or code-a-bar alphanumeric format. They propose we alter our unit numbers.

Over the past 20+ years we have used a variety of unit number schemes. Most not strict code-a-bar. For some unit numbers we'd need to truncate the number, for others we would have to alter it completely. We will be able to store the original unadulterated number in an alias field; however, this field is for reference only and will not be searchable.

I am not too fond of this idea and we are soliciting comments from others and may contact FDA for their opinion.

I'd like to hear if anyone else has implemented a new system and if they had a similar problem.

[korchek]

I don't think I would start renumbering my unit numbers as your vendor suggests. Most vendors can not import unit numbers to give you the functionality necessary for look backs. We have provided people a unit archive database for this in the past.

[catmontgomery]

This year during implementing of our new blood bank system, we incorporated the historical information of components from our old LIS to disks. I can now retrieve lookback information on past components from our old system.

[TOBYCAT]

How did you hanlde the ability to meet retion of records from you old system to meet the critera of CAP, AABB, FDA