29 April 2022 (Friday) - BTLP - TACT Exercice

I thought I might do another BTLP-TACT exercise this morning. I was presented with two cases.

31172 – a one hundred year old chap in out-patients requiring group & save

He grouped as A Rh(D) Negative with antibody screen positive in cell 2.
I requested antibody panels.
The enzyme and IAT panels were positive in cells 3 & 5 which corresponded with anti-E 

75430 – a seventy-five year old chap in the vascular clinic also requiring group & save 

He grouped as AB Rh(D) Positive with an antibody screen positive in cell 1.
I requested antibody panels.

The enzyme and IAT panels were positive in cells 1, 4, 5 & 6 which corresponded with anti-Le(a) but could not exclude anti-Cw

I got the green light…

28 April 2022 (Thursday) - Transfusion News Update


Bits of plastic in our bloodstreams, HDN, and this week’s take on convalescent plasma… the Transfusion News update is always a good one…

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Levels after Blood Donations

April 27, 2022Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are ubiquitous synthetic compounds found in many products, including Teflon, water-resistant materials, paints, and firefighting foams. PFASs are commonly detected in biomonitoring studies in everything from air, water and soil to fish, animals, and human blood. Environmental and health agencies in Europe, the U.S., and Australia have identified PFASs as potential carcinogens and have linked them to several other adverse health effects. [Read More]


 

Guidelines for Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn

April 20, 2022 Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a serious disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. HDN occurs when maternal antibodies attack fetal red blood cells (RBCs) causing hemolysis; alloimmunization can occur to more than 50 antigens, but the most severe forms of HDN are associated with RhD, Rhc and K antigens. First-line treatments include phototherapy to help break down excess bilirubin and exchange transfusion to physically remove bilirubin. [Read More]

 

AABB Issues COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Clinical Practice Guidelines

April 12, 2022 The use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been highly controversial since the beginning of the pandemic. With the Food and Drug Administration’s approval and establishment of the Expanded Access Program, over 100,000 units of CCP were distributed to U.S. hospitals every month during the winter of 2020-2021 despite limited data on its efficacy. [Read More]

 

28 April 2022 (Thursday) - A Load Of Rubbish

Laboratories generate a lot of waste. Does anyone really​ think about what happens with the stuff once it goes into the bin?
Back in the day no matter what rubbish I generated in the lab went into a dustbin which "Auntie Pat" (the nice lab assistant in microbiology) then autoclaved. "Auntie Pat" and her assistant (Val?) spent all day every day autoclaving pretty much everything the lab staff touched, and once autoclaved, the resultant slurry got incinerated.

These days everything has a "waste stream". A rather trivial matter? Not really.  Putting the wrong waste into the wrong bin can be dangerous, to say nothing of resulting in a pretty hefty fine, so it is important to get it right. Here’s a useful guide. 

Not belittling the matter in any way, wouldn't it be easier to have Auntie Pat and Val autoclave the lot (like they always used to)? I suspect that while it would be easier, it wouldn't be cheaper...

(oh – the piccie was something I blagged from the internet…)


 

27 April 2022 (Wednesday) - Anaemia of CKD

The boss’s boss’s boss mentioned to me the other day that the nice people at Medscape set quizzes for CPD purposes. I did one today on the anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. I can’t pretend I was pleased with my (rather poor) result but having got the thumbs-down I knew where I was weak, and so needed to read up.
I was directed to an article on the management of the anaemia of chronic kidney disease.

I’m seeing this as a CPD result. I’ve identified where I am weak, and have actively improved myself. I’m going to look out for these Medscape quizzes… Or that is my intention. I wonder if I will?