We have always used 6% albumin to perform annual serofuge calibrations.  This reagent is no longer used in our blood bank and is only supplied as 10 vials per package (They would expire before I could use them all.)  What other reagent(s) do others use for serofuge calibration?

Why not just use the actual reagents (that the 6% albumin is meant to imitate).  Cheaper than buying the 10 btls.  Some vendors will sell you lots of 3 btls (Quotient and Immucor I think). 

I have two suggestions:

1. For saline-active antibodies: Find a patient whose plasma gives a 1+ reaction with the B Reverse Cells (so you won't have to dilute the patient's plasma with anything.) For high-protien antibodies: Would it work if you used "Rh Control Reagent" to dilute the Anti-D?

2. Beg or borrow a vial of Albumin from a fellow-hospital or your blood supplier?

Donna

What were you doing exactly with the 6% albumin?

Why not just use the actual reagents (that the 6% albumin is meant to imitate).  Cheaper than buying the 10 btls.  Some vendors will sell you lots of 3 btls (Quotient and Immucor I think). 

Duh - I forgot about the 1+ reactivity.  I think using the Rh control is a great idea.  You'll still use a lot of it.  I purchase albumin because we use it sometimes and it also used in other areas of the lab.  It is not that expensive and the newer vendors are less expensive.

We have a new supervisor, who has advised us to add 6% albumin to the reagent anti B (for serofuge calibration). We previously added normal saline to dilute. Is there a difference?