mld123

I use a Poly reagent by Immucor that states you must perform QC using the IgG coated as well as complement coated check cells.  We QC the poly reagent with both cells once per day of use and then when we perform patient testing we only us the IgG coated cells to QC the negative results.  

I find that Gel screens are positive and tube are negative when there is either a Cold Antibody or Rouleaux.  Sometimes the gel finds an HLA that may not be picked up in tube either.  In all 3 of these cases, they are more of a nuisance then anything else.

At another hospital I worked at we used an infared thermometer I believe from Market Lab or Fisher.  It was so inexpensive that we would just order a new one when the calibration ran out.  About 1 every 2 years.  It cost almost as much to have it recalibrated as a new one did so we just ordered a new one so we would not have to ship the old one out.  Come to think of it, it would be beneficial to have 2 of them and have them recalibrated at different times during the year so you always had one.

I was told by CAP when I contacted them that this applies to Kits only in Blood Bank.  We perform lot to lot on Fetal Screen Kits only, but we do not perform Elutions.  I believe the Elu-Kit would require a lot to lot if you perform that testing.

At a previous hospital I worked at we had a policy and they were only accepting Cryo product and nothing else.  They would just not sign the consent for blood if they did not want to accept blood products.

The Helmer i-series freezers come with an automatic alarm check for high and low settings.  The freezer itself when the alarm check button is pressed warms and cools the probe to a temperature below or above the setting to get the alarm to go off.  This does not however show a spike on the chart recorder because only the temperature probe is adjusted (not the chart recorder probe).  Manufacturer's instructions state to test the high and low alarm quarterly.

I just recently switched from 6% albumin to Immucor's monoclonal control.  I validated it by running a certain number of Rh Positive and Rh Negative patients performing Weak D testing as well.  We also tested it with our Daily QC because we used the 6% albumin as our negative control.  I really debated about the necessity in validating a Control product but decided just to perform a short validation just in case anyone ever asked.

I have used Safe-T-Vue 10 and 6 versions.  We had an extremely hard time getting the 6 version from turning red to say it was out of temp.  We moved to the Hemo-Trac 6 indicators and we love them.  They can be stored at Room Temp and work really well.  We get them from Fisher.

I have used Safe-T-Vue 10 and 6 versions.  We had an extremely hard time getting the 6 version from turning red to say it was out of temp.  We moved to the Hemo-Trac 6 indicators and we love them.  They can be stored at Room Temp and work really well.  We get them from Fisher.

We went a few years ago to Physician's only ordering blood products for definite transfusion.  So our only units that are crossmatched that we do not routinely use are either ER patients or OR cases that we set blood up for the procedure.  After the procedure the OR cases have to get a transfusion order placed in our Hospital system.  We do not have a Type and Crossmatch order - only a Type and Screen and we guarantee that blood will be available if they need it crossmatched in less than 15 minutes.  The physician orders a Type and Screen and then when blood products are needed an order is placed for that.  All transfusion orders are separate in our system.  
It took a long time for the physicians to get it and every once in a while we get a doctor that wants blood "on hold" or a "Type and Cross" order.  We just explain how to order what they want and it works fine.
 

We purchase commercially available Fetal Stain controls by Sure-Tech.  It works well for us.

Thanks for posting this.  It looks like the RBCAT survey is new for this year.  I agree - we should ask for the ungraded antigen types to be removed from the J Series then because it is a waste of time and money if we have to order the RBCAT survey anyway.

I am on the East Coast and we had a local company that would come in at my last job. It was Bio Calibration Company out of New Jersey.  My current facility we calibrate them ourselves.  It is usually a slow weekend job because it takes a long time.  I would prefer to send them out.  

I hated the new format when I entered my DAT survey results over the weekend.  I preferred the PDF file.  I was able to save the results easier after I filed them.

I just bought Glycerin from Fisher recently and we just make a 10% solution ourselves.

I actually tried this yesterday after contacting the company.  It seems to work if you put the indicator on the unit with it placed on the cold gel pack you are going to use in the cooler.  They also said not to activate it (snap it closed) until getting ready to place it in the cooler.

Just trying to find out if anyone is performing bacterial testing on their apheresis units in the Transfusion Service prior to issue.  Looks like the FDA is recommending that even apheresis units that are cultured by the blood supplier have a rapid bacterial test performed prior to issue on day 4 and day 5 of the shelf life of the unit.  Anyone following this recommendation?  If so, what test are you using?  I have used the Verax test before, but wondered if there are others available.

We just purchased the new Hemo-trac Blood Temp 6 indicators. This seems to be a new product from them.  I have not validated them yet, but the procedure does not indicate that they require activation as Scott has indicated.  These are different then the "flower" hemo-temp II indicators that people have used in the past.  They are stored at room temperature and are activated by pressing on a button on the indicator.  Then it is placed on the unit.  
I will let you know what I think of them after validation.  I am hoping these can replace our Safe-T-Vue 6's.
 

When I came to my current hospital they were using expired panel cells.  I got rid of the practice because of the QC issue and having to maintain a policy for when to use and not use expired panel cells.  I am glad that I did because this issue looks like it is turning into a problem.  So as of about 6 months ago, we do not use expired panel cells for any reason.  I would rather give antigen negative blood for an antibody I cannot rule out or send the specimen out to the reference lab if we have multiple antibodies that cannot be ruled out.
How did the CAP and AABB reps answer this question?

So we are in the process of looking for a blood bank instrument and I have seen demos of Immucor ECHO, Ortho Vision, Grifols Wadiana and Erytra, and Biorad Tango Infinity.  I cannot find a lot of information on turn around times for these instruments above what little information I received from the vendors.  Anyone have any feedback that uses these instruments?  Approximate turn around times for Type/Screen, Panel, and Full Crossmatch?
 
Also, if you have any good recommendations for instruments that you use.  I am having trouble narrowing down to 1 as my favorite right now.
 
Thanks,
mld123

I contacted CAP today and they stated that the lot to lot comparison does not apply to any transfusion service related reagents including kits.  I specifically asked about the Fetal Screen Kit and they said it is not required.
I may change our procedure to only the kits and not any of the other reagents just to be on the safe side.
 
thanks!!

I contacted CAP today and they stated that the lot to lot comparison does not apply to any transfusion service related reagents including kits.  I specifically asked about the Fetal Screen Kit and they said it is not required.
I may change our procedure to only the kits and not any of the other reagents just to be on the safe side.
 
thanks!!

I contacted CAP today and they stated that the lot to lot comparison does not apply to any transfusion service related reagents including kits.  I specifically asked about the Fetal Screen Kit and they said it is not required.
I may change our procedure to only the kits and not any of the other reagents just to be on the safe side.
 
thanks!!