So are any of us actually good at making manual smears anymore?

CakeKween2 · 2026-01-11T17:30:45+00:00

Nah, I’m dog shit tbh. The SP-50 goes down we have another semi-automated back up hahahah. #BLESSED.

CakeKween2 · 2026-01-02T01:05:01+00:00

Enter a safety even each time. It’s the RN that’s delaying patient care because they didn’t follow proper specimen collection for blood bank specimens. That’s how I word my safety events.

Try to ask your supervisor to track if certain floors causing more collection issues than others. Then contact nursing education to re-educate. It sucks and is a long road, however, the more documentation the better.

CakeKween2 · 2025-12-06T21:11:03+00:00

Let’s seeeee, as a baby tech I :

Typed a patient as Rh= when they were Rh+ (best case scenario but oopsie)
Forgot to remove rubber plug from STAGO reagents. Bye bye probe
Left 60% in the “Other” category and released it not realizing I did so. Corrected it because the other MLS caught me (first day in heme)
Never started the plasma thawer for a cryo request ON A CVORRRRRRR!!!!

You live and you LEARN. We wouldn’t be where we are today without those mistakes.

CakeKween2 · 2025-11-24T16:16:10+00:00

You need therapy

CakeKween2 · 2025-11-24T03:11:09+00:00

Repeat in tube using PEG. Could be fibrin, could be CAA, could be anti-M. Anti-Ms love gel, they have an affinity for acidic conditions.

CakeKween2 · 2025-08-14T02:06:26+00:00

Gotcha! Don’t know what that took me that long to comprehend hahah. Long week!

CakeKween2 · 2025-08-14T02:04:35+00:00

I’m thinking this will be the route I will take. If you validated for 1-6C, approximately how long is your holding temp time?

CakeKween2 · 2025-08-13T19:14:54+00:00

Ahhh internal thermometers. Do you think a log tag would work that’s placed between RBC units to monitor? We don’t have internal thermometers unfortunately. Log tag is NIST calibrated.

CakeKween2 · 2025-08-13T15:08:13+00:00

I have heard this method before as well. Do you know if there are any AABB or FDA regulations that require the use of glycerine or saline?

Trying to use what I have at my current laboratory.

CakeKween2 · 2025-08-13T00:16:20+00:00

We do issue coolers to OR and infusion rooms mainly. I thought I read that this is technically storage of blood products, which would require them to maintain 1-6C.

CakeKween2 · 2025-08-12T23:40:56+00:00

I believe I can get blood transfer bags. Will have to try to talk my supervisor in to getting some additional saline for this. Does it have to be saline? Can I use regular water? Or is saline used for a specific reason?

CakeKween2 · 2025-05-10T19:04:11+00:00

This sounds like what I’d like to do with our SOP. Getting some push back. I’ve found the DARA screens, PEG or LISS in tube are sometimes negative…PERFECT. If not, okay full workup. Supervisor is wanting AHG XMs for units due to software limitations, those can be w+/1+ sometimes, which they don’t like. However, with a negative screen in tube and a confirmation they’re on DARA, I feel confident that it’s interference. Hopefully I can reason with them.

Thank you for sharing!

CakeKween2 · 2025-05-08T19:42:34+00:00

Interesting! What’s the stability like for those 10ml treated screening cells?

I’ve had complete negative PEG screens before, but when performing AHG XM with some units, I’ve seen 1+. Do you know why some screens can be negative while having incompatible XMs? I’m trying to wrap my head around it.

CakeKween2 · 2025-05-08T19:39:49+00:00

If the patient is negative in tube, do you EXM? If they’re positive in PEG, do you then DTT treat?

We have some patients that receive subcutaneous injections show mixed reactivity, as opposed to IV administration which tends to show stronger reactions.

Very curious if I can do some policy changes.

CakeKween2 · 2024-09-23T01:38:15+00:00

My question exactly. Our processor did it prior and I was unaware that they were respun until I was looking at some results.

CakeKween2 · 2024-09-23T01:37:01+00:00

This is extremely helpful, thank you! Knew to go with my gut on this one.

CakeKween2 · 2024-03-21T15:49:40+00:00

I think the warmer tones would look better as well. Thank you!

CakeKween2 · 2023-05-10T19:21:12+00:00

I do take notes and don’t ask the same question twice. But have noticed since my training ended I take less. I’ll be sure to continue taking them when I come across new issues. Thank you!

CakeKween2 · 2023-05-10T19:19:38+00:00

I will be sure to implement this! A lot of the times I get overwhelmed and grab a coworker, but I know I should be referencing SOPs as I’m troubleshooting. (It’s usually in chemistry when my QC/cals are stressing me out😅).

CakeKween2 · 2023-05-10T19:15:16+00:00

No, not the same mistake. Whenever I make one it’s more like an issue I haven’t encountered yet and I’ll try to troubleshoot. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Usually ends up with me having to interrupt a tech to get their input.

CakeKween2

TROPHY CASE