Does anyone have any experience with the Tango instrumentation or any of the Biotest Reagents?

We have been using the Biotest Tango|optimo for almost one year and it has been the best year ever for blood bank. We evaluated the Ortho ProVue, Immucor Galileo Echo and Biotest Tango. We have had great results with sample quantity, result quality, department productivity/efficiency as well as a reduction in costs. We also switched over to the Biotest liquid reagent antisera and reagent red cells in the fall of 2008 and have not had any issues. The Tango does an excellent job with Rh-Kell phenotypes and I can't wait to get other phenotypes on the Tango.

What is the size of your facility as far as volume is concerned. Are you in a Donor Center or Transfusion Service? Is the Tango interfaced with your LIS?

We are currently a 380-bed level 2 trauma center. We do approximately 800 crossmatches per month and process approximately 800 RBC units per month. We are bidirectional with Sunquest.

So your C/T ratio is 1:1??

What is everyone's XM ratio? Referenced from?

Actually, our C/T ratio is about 1.25, which is not bad for a hospital with no transfusion committee.

What is the C/T ratio to be? Where is it referenced from?

C/T ratio should be below 2, but as close to 1 as possible is ideal. Don't have a reference for this.

There is somewhat of a reference concerning the Crossmatch:Transfusion Ratio in the AABB Technical Manual, 15th Edition, pages 92-93.

Yes, a C/T Ratio close to 1 is considered to be ideal. However, it is not ideal for all facilities, depending on such factors as your crossmatch technique (ie: full crossmatch vs. immediate spin only crossmatch, vs. electronic crossmatch, etc.), what type of customers/services you supply (Emergency Dept., oncology pts, GI bleeders, Surgery Dept., etc.), how far you are away from your blood supplier, etc.