:rolleyes:It is all semantics of no scienific basis and no reliable prediction to red cell survival in the patient.

:rolleyes:It is all semantics of no scienific basis and no reliable prediction to red cell survival in the patient.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Any thoughts on how I might possibly be able to "prove" this to our Dr's? We don't have the equipment/technology to do any sort of flow (of which I am aware) with specifically marked cells.

One way would be to do a look-back and see if those who were given "compatible" units required fewer transfusions than those that were given !incompatible/suitable" units.

One way would be to do a look-back and see if those who were given "compatible" units required fewer transfusions than those that were given !incompatible/suitable" units.

Thanks Malcolm. However, we have an EXTREMELY conservative BB Medical Director (conservative to a fault on several issues). I believe he would immediately make the argument that patient status ie..GI bleed vs chemotherapy, trauma, liver failure status, etc etc has more to do with transfusion numbers than "Least Incompatible" blood does.

Thanks Malcolm. However, we have an EXTREMELY conservative BB Medical Director (conservative to a fault on several issues). I believe he would immediately make the argument that patient status ie..GI bleed vs chemotherapy, trauma, liver failure status, etc etc has more to do with transfusion numbers than "Least Incompatible" blood does.

Yes, I must admit that I did think of that after I had posted.

You would have to ensure that the patients being compared are in the same "category", and even then, that their clinical condition at the time of transfusion (i.e. how "ill" they are) is also comparable; NOT AN EASY TASK BY ANY MEANS, I KNOW.

:redface::redface:

I am VERY interested in references/studies you might have on this topic. I would be very grateful if you could provide them.

Another question...What do you call AHG compatible crossmatches with absorbed plasma on a patient with a warm auto? Yes, the crossmatches will appear compatible in vitro, but what happens when you introduce that blood into the patient's body??

I'll look and see what references I can find on this and post them.

Your 2nd question, we would still call them incompatible. We might explain to the doc verbally that we were able to perform a technique that makes them "appear compatible", but that there is no way to really know what will happen in vivo. He/she would still have to sign.