We perform daily QC each morning on first shift. This standard contains a note that all staff are to be included in daily QC over a period of time. We have 1 tech in BB on 1st shift, 3 techs covering the lab on 2nd and 2 techs for the entire lab on 3rd shift. There are 5 techs who do not perform QC due to their work schedules. How are other facilites with minimal staff handling this?

Is that a Blood Bank per se standard or a lab general one? If it is not specific to blood bank I would not be concerned but rebut any deficiency cited due to that as causing confusioni in your operation. BB QC usually is done once/24 hrs. We do it on days. The off shifts have to be able to QC rare reagents, KBs, and fetal screens but for the routine daily-use reagents the day staff does it.

If you start staggering your qc you will eventually end up with a time when it is not performed when it should be. Be proactive for doing it right (even if it offends the standard).

We also do daily reagent QC once daily, on day shift. We have been questioned by inspectors, but we tell them that all BB staff has to know how to do QC if they are doing antigen typing, or opening a new lot number of any reagent that they use. It's on their annual competency.

I think the intent of that type of standard is to ensure that the same person does not due QC day after day. I agree that you should be OK with once/day QC that is not performed by everyone who works in an area. Chemistry is another area where this would apply.

Scott

We also do daily reagent QC once daily, on day shift. We have been questioned by inspectors, but we tell them that all BB staff has to know how to do QC if they are doing antigen typing, or opening a new lot number of any reagent that they use. It's on their annual competency.

Thanks Terri. THat is exactly how it works here. How do you include it on their competency?

I have all blood bank techs do routine daily QC once a quarter, and they fill in an extra QC sheet I've made, where they also fill in Qc when opening new reagents, etc. We still do it in the morning as usual.

Is that a Blood Bank per se standard or a lab general one? If it is not specific to blood bank I would not be concerned but rebut any deficiency cited due to that as causing confusioni in your operation. BB QC usually is done once/24 hrs. We do it on days. The off shifts have to be able to QC rare reagents, KBs, and fetal screens but for the routine daily-use reagents the day staff does it.

If you start staggering your qc you will eventually end up with a time when it is not performed when it should be. Be proactive for doing it right (even if it offends the standard).

Same as David.

We perform daily QC each morning on first shift. This standard contains a note that all staff are to be included in daily QC over a period of time. We have 1 tech in BB on 1st shift, 3 techs covering the lab on 2nd and 2 techs for the entire lab on 3rd shift. There are 5 techs who do not perform QC due to their work schedules. How are other facilites with minimal staff handling this?

We have it included on our list of annual comptetency. It is up to each individual to notify the BB tech if they need to be observed doing the QC. Then they can make arrangements do it. If it is 2nd or 3rd shift then I have to come in and observe them doing QC. It is done in duplicate on 2nd and 3rd. We always do it in the morning on first shift.

Sorry so late posting this