Lady_Jeni

We have been using Saf-T-Vue indicators for several years and they work very well. I did have several techs tell me that a large number of indicators were turning red immediately after application, but later found out that it was a training issue. The techs were taking out the indicators and setting them on the counter for a minute or two before application or were removing the foil portion and closing the indicator before application. According to the manufacturer, both techniques can lead to premature color change. Once the techs started applying the indicator immediately upon removing it from the refrigerator and then closing the indicator after application, we stopped having problems. I feel much better about giving out blood in a cooler if the units have indicators attached since it is the only way to be sure that the units were kept in the cooler until needed.

We very rarely saw reactions due to RhoGam injections in the tubes, unless it was given within the past couple of weeks. When we switched to using the gel system for antibody screens and identifications, we started picking up more RhoGam. We have a separate code for passive anti-D that is entered into the patient history. If we have no history of RhoGam injection, we call the doctor to see if the patient received RhoGam somewhere else (we have a lot of hospital hoppers), and then call that hospital BB to confirm. If we can confirm that RhoGam was given, we use the passive anti-D code and footnote when and where RhoGam was issued. In cases where we can get no confirmation of RhoGam injection, we call it anti-D.

John- We also send blood to OR in coolers and we attach Safe-T-Vue 10 indicators from Williams Laboratories. They do not start to change until ~ 9.0 C. OR can keep the blood in the coolers for up to 6 hours before they need to return it to be repacked. If any of the indicators have started to turn red, we discard the unit. This has only happened a couple of times. Jeanette Daniels, MT(ASCP)