Google Flu Trends, the website that monitors flulike illness, has a 72% accuracy rate in predicting actual cases -- lower tha -More- 

Blood Component Visual Inspection Guide — Now Available!
Originally developed by the American Red Cross, this full-color photographic Guide is intended as a vital tool for any individual who handles or visually inspects blood units. It depicts normal and abnormal components and provides definitions and causes of conditions that may affect components. To read more and order, click here.

A study in Pediatrics of 25 U.S.  -More- 

A new study found that outdated communications systems in hospitals can result in wasted money, reduced efficiency and workfo -More- 

Stemgent has obtained $5.6 million in equity financing, with Morganthaler Partners and other investors listed as "related per -More- 

Hospital intensive care units across the country are reducing the number of accidental infections thanks to simple steps desi -More- 

CareFusion has finalized the purchase of Medegen, a Canada-based maker of intravenous drug-delivery devices, for $225 million -More- 

President Barack Obama nominated Dr.  -More- 

The Texas House Committee on Public Health on Monday conducted a hearing to discuss issues with the Department of State Healt -More- 

A study featured in the May issue of Transfusion found that serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification helps to bring qua -More- 

Flatterers look like friends, as wolves like dogs. -More- 

We are currently using Pall's single random donor platelet filter (Purecell PL) to provide leukoreduced platelet product to pediatric patients. We monitor the effecitveness by measuring 4 selected units each month checking for leukoreduction, platelet recovery, and platelet yield. Since December 2009, we started to see some failures with leukoreduction. We have performed a number of studies associated with investigation resulting in approximately 60 units tested within the past month, and are still experiencing about a 7% failure rate (our acceptance criteria is no greater than 5% failure rate). We have also been sending used filters to Pall for investigation (on failures), but their response time is slow (approximately 1 month). There does not appear to be anything lot specific, process specific, or technique dependent. Because we are having difficulty getting our process under control, we are exploring other ways to provide leukoreduced products to pediatric patients. Here is a list of things we are considering:

1) Discontinue the acceptance of leukoreduced single random platelet orders, but allow orders for leukoreduced 2-unit pools (filtering using Pall's Purecell LRF)

Advantages: Leukoreduced pooling process is in control. Therefore product is effectively leukoreduced.

Disadvantage: Increased donor exposure to the patient.

2) Discontinue use of Purecell PL filter and begin using Purecell LRF filter to leukoreduce single RDP's.

Advantages: The product is effectively leukoreduced (according to previous studies)

Disadvantage: The platelet yield and recovery is significantly lower. Additional orders may be necessary to effectively treat the patient.

3) Setup aliquot system for single donor leukoreduced apheresis platelets.

Advantages: The product is effectively leukoreduced (according to previous studies)

Disadvantage: Apheresis platelet inventory is highly variable. No validated system to provide this product. Apheresis storage bags have storage specifications that when a certain amount has been removed, the remaining product can no longer be stored (according to manufacturer specificaitons) resulting in increased wasted product. Developing, validating and implementation of a process is a long-term project.

We are considering (in the short-term) going with either option 1 or option 2. Ultimately, we are moving toward option 3, but this will be long-term.

The reason for my post is that I am interested in what other facilties do to provide leukoreduced platelets to pediatric patients. Any other comments regarding our situation is also welcome.

Thanks much!
Mike

We have been recently having discrepant Rh typing results, especially from Moms whose pre-natal testing was performed in another Lab. I have been asked to send a memo to the Medical Staff explaining how this could happen. I was wondering if anyone has already had to deal with this issue. I began to quote Chapt 13 of the Technical Manual, but I realized that the physicians probably would not want to read anything in this detail. Any physician memos circulating out there regarding D antigen typing & clones from various vendors???:cries: