Extending specimen outdate to 30 days?
The Blood Bank Supervisor at a Washington Regional Medical Center in Northwest Arkansas writes: We have a blood bank extended specimen policy for a 14 day specimen expiration on pre-admit patients who qualify (no transfusions within the past 3 months and not pregnant). Our physicians are requesting this policy be changed to a pre-admit specimen expiration extended up to 30 days prior to admission." For those using this long of an outdate, she asks "Do you see any drawbacks? Any issues when additonal crossmatches are required on admission? Do you draw a fresh specimen at time of admission?" The editors are interested, for those not using this long of an outdate, why not?
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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Senior Editor & Moderator
W. Tait Stevens, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator
Elizabeth M. St. Lezin, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Associate Editor & Moderator
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