babsglab

Whoa!!!!!

I use expired commercial antigens (the ones I use for antigen testing) to make up antibodies for students. Ironically, my concoctions are always too strong! I also make positive DATs by mixing the same antigen typing antiseras with cells testing positive for the sntigen. Those always come out too strong reacting as well!!!!

We are a 22 bed hospital who would normally transfer pedi pts, but in the event of an emergency, my procedure says to transfuse O neg red cells, AB FFP. and the blood would have to be removed from the unit by syringe.

Thank you! Babs

I've had a positive fetal screen that was negative on the Kleihauer- Betke (which we have to send out to another hospital) AND I've had a kit that had such a weak positive control that I took it out of use before the outdate and switched to a more current lot that worked better. I agree the positive control "ain't what it used to be" Babs in the lab

I use a Biohit and am waiting to see if anyone replied. I send it once a year (twice a year was recommended) to Cal Scientific in N.J. for accuracy and precision checks, I don't know of anyone closer to home (Maine). The company recommended twice a year but it is expensive. I've had the Biohit for about 3 years, it has issues. I clean it with alcohol about once a month, it draws up too much every so often. If you can afford it I'd send it to Cal Scientific twice a year as recommended.

I have also been using gel for 2 years- any odd reactions bring me right back to immucor cells, tube and PEG if I suspect an alloantibody. David Saikin, I am so sorry I can't make your lecture on gel that you are giving at the Fall Seminar, Northeast Conference. People from my lab will be there, hope to meet you on Thursday at the Blood Bank Rountable discussion. Babs in the lab in Bridgton Maine

I present "Transfusion Reactions 101" twice a year at our nursing skills sessions, and make sure I mention it once or twice a year at lab meetings. Babs

I had both samples positive on my last CAP survey, one of them was supposed to be negative. The result did not count because so many people had the same positive result. I also use the Immucor Fetal Screen. Babs in Maine

Thank you so much for your answers! Babs

I need a new blood bank scale for therapeutic phlebotomy. What would anyone recommmend? OHAUS seems to be a good brand, I don't know which model would be best for a small hospital (22 beds) and we do about 4-6 therapeutic phlebotomies a month. Thanks for your input! Babs

I just wash the bottle out with a bleach solution, rinse very well with distilled water, let them dry then fill with saline.

I have no problems with cells because we are a small hospital (22 beds) and we put the cells away between use. I will say I'm less than thrilled with the Ortho system- I only use their screening cells- all workups are done in tube with Immucor reagents. Ortho used to set the standard for Blood Banking, now I think Immucor reagents are much better. I wish Ortho would read this site.

I have no problems with cells because we are a small hospital (22 beds) and we put the cells away between use.

I did have a patient with a very weak Anti-E which was picked up with the new Ortho screening cells but not with the old cells.

I agree with DANDERS, why can't this be an A2B ?

elrusso, I'm going to run your idea by my pathologist. Thank you! Babs

Thank you for your reply rcurrie- we are a very small hospital with a very busy oncology, ED and OR schedule so I don't think it would be practical to try to stock only type O blood (I think my Red Cross rep would kill me) but please know I'm open to any ideas. What I really think CAP wants is a barcode barrier system. That's not going to happen any time soon at my hospital.

Dear Mary, I am very interested in the response to your post. I am about to develope a policy concerning second samples. As I read TRM.30575 it says that "simply using an additional banding ID system does not satisfy the intent of this checklist question." My pathologist wants me to obtain a second sample on all pts without history that need a transfusion!!!! We are a tiny (22 bed) hospital with nurses who won't draw blood. This means any tech working after 5:00 pm-6am will have to stick twice! HELP!!!!!! Babs in the lab in beautiful Bridgton Maine

I'm very sorry I don't have a reference, but I do remember reading that there is no "standard" waiting period necessary before taking an H+H on a transfused patient. Unless the patient is actively bleeding an H+H is usually done with the AM draw after the transfusion. Babs

Thank you so much for all your input. Last Friday I participated in the nursing staff "skills fair" which is held every 6 months. It is mandatory for all nurses to attend 1 a year. I presented handouts on blood administration and transfusion reactions along with a little quiz. I've put all this in a binder to keep at the nurses station for new staff. It's important the nursing staff knows how important they are to transfusion medicine and that they feel supported with any questions. Thank you again for all your help! Babs

I do an immediate spin crossmatch in tube. Babs

Thank you so much bbkdiane, I will follow a similar format! Babs

We do baseline, 15 min and every half hour after that. I think it's too often. My pathologist won't change the criteria

Hello everyone, Right now I am dealing with the issue of educating nurses on the topic of transfusion reactions, so this topic has great interest to me. I will be present at the nursing skills seminar with a small handout and short test. Signs and symptoms of a transfusion rxn are posted on top of the transfusion flow sheet but everyone seems to miss reading them. I would like to discuss criteria for "calling" a transfusion reaction. Does everyone use a 1 degree C rise in temp from baseline temp as an automatic call for a transfusion reaction workup? Babs