We are currently using Meditech 5.5. I would love to hear from hospitals who receive double red cell units. How are you currently handling these units, and will that change with ISBT128? Currently we have a different mnemonic for each different product barcode, rather than lumping, say, all of the leukocyte reduced barcodes under the same mnemonic. Each product translates into a description which contains the corresponding 4-5 digit ARC codabar product code. This facilitates the techs in picking the correct unit during crossmatch and issue.

Also, we have been able to wand the ISBT128 pruduct barcodes with our scanner, but Meditech seems to only read a truncated version of the barcode. If this is the case, having more elaborately defined product barcodes (ISBT128 purpose) is a mute point. What are others seeing? Are you able to scan and translate the entire product code, including auto, volunteer, split, etc.? How does this work?

MEDITECH only recognizes the first five characters of the product code as the product code. You will need to use the E/E Other fields to further define the type of donation and divisions. Each pheresed product in ISBT 128 will be given a separate product code.

If you facility has not applied for registration with ICCBBA, you will need to do that first in order to legally scan ISBT 128 products. You can go to their website:www.iccbba.org. There is also a ton of information and the standards for use on this website.

When you create your ISBT 128 products, it is important to have only one barcode defined for each product. This is neccessary if you plan on using the HEMATRAX printer to print your product labels. HEMATRAX will only recognize the first barcode listed in the product dictionary. I created all new products when defining ISBT 128 products. I did not use the old PC,FP products because there were many products that were defined with this product.

Your blood supplier should be able to give you a list of products that you will need to be able to receive using ISBT 128 and sample barcodes.