1. Looking to see how other Blood Banks comply with AABB std. 5.14.5. Are you using 2 signatures, or transfusing type O until a second specimen can be obtained?

2. For patients who have not been transfused or pregnant 3 months prior to surgery, what is the maximum length of time the pretransfusion sample valid for a crossmatch? Many manufacturer's insert for ABORH says 10 days if EDTA sample. Does anyone use heparin samples? Thanks!

1. We do not test a second sample.  See std. 5.14.5 c).  

2.  We are using a 10 day period.  If the OR date is beyond that, we do not draw the T&S at the time pre-admit work is done.

At a previous facility we required only one specimen with two signatures, we would give ABO/Rh specific, we used pink top tubes, and we extended to 14 days for those who met the criteria you mentioned. This was 4 years ago by the way. We used to have a file specific for 14 day hold patients and XM them the day prior to surgery.

Currently we don't have patients who required extended XM but do have outpatients who return a day or two later. We do require a separate collection before giving ABO/Rh specific. We leave the "crossmatch/product request" open and request an "ABO/Rh recheck" upon their return for surgery if the patient is anything other than group O. If the patient is O we setup the product without a second sample.

Upon return for surgery, the ABO/Rh recheck is drawn by the nurse upon starting the IV and sent to the blood bank. At this time, we perform the recheck and complete the crossmatch. 

 

Thank you all!