Joyce Gacek

Check out the Tropitonics ARK Bio Plasma microwave thawer. Two units thaw in 5 minutes. We've had one since January and it would be hard to give it up. No mess - no broken units. Still have a Thermogenesis and liked it better than the Helmer and old Forma thawers, but the microwave beats all! The surgeons have commented on how quick we get thawed plasma to them now!

We have been using the ARK BIO Plasma Defroster (microwave) for almost a month. We've thawed 48 units of plasma without breakage or any other problem. Thaw time is 5 minutes. Prior to that we were using the Thermogenesis and average time was 13-15 minutes at 35C. So far we are pretty impressed with the microwave method.

We have been using an ARK BIO Plasma defroster (microwave) for almost a month. It thaws 2 units of frozen plasma in 5 minutes. We have thawed 48 units without breakage or any other problem. So far, we're pretty impressed with it.

I realize this post is not recent, but I just purchased a microwave thawer from Tropitronics to thaw FFP. I need info on what to do for validation and QC . Does anyone know this?

Our Surgical Services Dept is insisting that the Blood Bank take over the Tissue Process for the hospital by storing bone, tendons, etc and issuing the tissue to them on the day of implantation. We contend that no lab testing needs performed and putting this program in the Lab instead of keeping it contained in the OR Dept is inefficent and unnecessary. Does anyone know of resources or have experience with this that could help support our claim that the Lab does not need involved? For those of you in the Blood Bank that are performing this function, are you FDA registered? Do you actually order the tissues and keep inside your BB area? Thanks for your timely responses.