I started a new job in a rural hospital in south west Wyoming on September 17th.  I'll be working nights as the lone generalist.  So far I've questioned my sanity for doing so no less than once every hour.  The only thing I am sure of is I HATE GEL!!  I never liked it from the first time I saw it many years ago.  Now that I am actually going to be using it, I dislike it even more.  Sorry but I see no advantage over tube testing at all.  My only hope is to convince them to go to automation. 

We had some resistance to gel here when we implmented it a few years ago. Even on nights though, we never have fewer than three people who can work BB. Most of took to it right away, for others it took awhile.

Good luck with that sanity thing!

Scott

When you see most of the cold agglutinins go away, you will learn to like it John. 

 

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."

--Karen Kaiser Clark,
American motivational speaker and consultant

I am planting the seeds for an Echo.  Hope they grow quickly. 

May I ask, John, why did you decide to take this action and put your sanity at risk???

 

Donna

Why would anyone hate gel?? I don't understand - it picks up weak, but significant antibodies that would be very easily missed in tube technology.

 

When I first came onto this forum I couldn't believe that the US are so behind in the technology. The US are supposed to be the most advanced nation in the world but are using technology that the UK abandoned 30 years ago.

 

When you start doing electronic issue you will wonder how you ever managed before gel

Morning Donna, it was under protest that I returned to the hospital environment.  My wife told me that I still needed to contribute to the household income and as a dutiful husband (38 years today) I always do as she tells me. 

 

As far as hating gel, I have every right to hate gel if I so choose.    It's slow, it's cumbersome and it makes no sense.    My opinion and I am entitled to it.      As for as being behind, I don't consider gel as progress.    I first automated my transfusion service in 1999 and have been a proponent of electronic crossmatching for years.  The last transfusion service I supervised was well into validating the new computer system for e-crossmatching and I am sure they have been enjoying the rewards for the past 6 years.  (Most of the preceeding was typed with a small level of tongue in cheek)

I have to chime in a little bit here to say that the advantage to gel is that as us babyboomers (37 years of marriage for me next week and Hubbie better not even think of retireing yet!) lose our eyesight and/or new students are subjected to 'subjective" eyes of other techs, interpreting a gel result beats interpreting a tube result hands down!! But yes, its still time consuming like using tubes.

We are validating the Echo right now bringing my little lab up to the 21st century. Very different from the gel but since the majority of us squabble over tube interpretations, I hope to see a lot of that disappear including use of the gosh-darn microscopes.

Good luck with overnight. It was great for me in college but now- no way!

 

I started a new job in a rural hospital in south west Wyoming on September 17th.  I'll be working nights as the lone generalist.  So far I've questioned my sanity for doing so no less than once every hour.  The only thing I am sure of is I HATE GEL!!  I never liked it from the first time I saw it many years ago.  Now that I am actually going to be using it, I dislike it even more.  Sorry but I see no advantage over tube testing at all.  My only hope is to convince them to go to automation. 

John...I hate tube testing. Have not done tube testing since the last century and could never go back!!

same as Dansket....I would not want to work in blood bank which primarily uses tube methodology.

I love Gel and ProVue... Better than ECHO...

 

The Gel is more sensitive and it picks up antibody earlier than tube..

The Gel is more sensitive and it picks up antibody earlier than tube..

 

 

 

And you see less 'junk' too

Still not convinced.  There had to have been one last dinosaur left when all the others died! 

Still not convinced.  There had to have been one last dinosaur left when all the others died! 

 

It's that sort of thinking though that has left the US 30 years behind the rest of the world in transfusion testing

Do you really believe that Auntie-D?

 

I would remind you of such people as Marion Reid.

 

I would also say that we use tube techniques on a daily basis in NHSBT.

Yes, Malcolm, but you aren't doing 'routine' work.  Tubes will ALWAYS have their place - just maybe not for routine dross.

Very true Anna.

Do you really believe that Auntie-D?

 

I would remind you of such people as Marion Reid.

 

I would also say that we use tube techniques on a daily basis in NHSBT.

 

 But for everything? I can understand for specialised testing but, for the routine bread and butter work, where you can just put the samples on and walk away - and also minimise the risk of human error, I can't understand the logic.

 

Yes, Malcolm, but you aren't doing 'routine' work.  Tubes will ALWAYS have their place - just maybe not for routine dross.

 

This is what I was getting at

I don't believe that I ever said I wanted to go back to tube testing only that I saw no advantage of gel over tube.   Of course I am referring to manual gel techniques here.  With all the pipetting of different volumes in the gel system I think it lends it'self to a potentially higher degree of human error than tube testing. 

Give me automation and solid phase any time.

 

As far as being 30 years behind the rest of the world, I supposed, Auntie-D, that you are entitled to your opinion and you are welcome to voice it as often and loud as you like but that does not make it true or valid or any less insulting.

I or any less insulting.

Sorry

The real question is why on earth would you want to live in Wyoming?!  I kid.  Welcome back!!

The real question is why on earth would you want to live in Wyoming?!  I kid.  Welcome back!!

 

I was born and raised in Wyoming.  I love the fact that it is the least populated state and there are still places I can easily go and not see another soul for days on end.  I know the old saying that "you can never go home" but sometimes it's worth the try.  Besides, from a tax standpoint, Wyoming is extremely retirement friendly! 

John,

   I would work until I can but may not want to work night shift....but it depends on individual circumstances. 

John,

   I would work until I can but may not want to work night shift....but it depends on individual circumstances. 

 

I am a little concerned about working nights but it is only 3 nights per week and hopefully for just over 1 year.  Then, barring any unforseen circumstances, it's time to enjoy what's left of my life.  Of course we are currently on plan H since plans A thru G have all gone bust.  I'm one who has worked to provide the old food, shelter, clothing thing, not for the love of the work.  Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed my career for the most part but it has been simply to provide me with the means to enjoy life as best I can.  Wow more philisophical drivel and it's still early in the morning.    

Hardly drivel John!