Medical laboratory scientist motivation to pursue graduate education.

Background: Medical laboratory staffing shortages have persisted, with challenges in maintaining adequate medical laboratory professionals. The career trajectory for medical laboratory scientists beyond entry level is ambiguous, but advancement opportunities are enhanced with specialist certifications and advanced degrees.

Objective: This study explored the motivation and preferences of medical laboratory scientists in pursuing graduate medical laboratory science education based on the importance of professional development, career advancement, recognition, and employment benefits.

A Department-Sponsored, Hospital-Based Pathology Education Symposium Is a Cost-Effective Method to Provide Laboratory Staff With Highly Rated Continuing Education Experiences.

Context.—: Continuing education improves the quality of medical care and is a required part of most health care professions. Although a variety of educational modules are available online or at external conferences, completion of these activities can be expensive and time-consuming.

Hemostatic properties of cold-stored whole blood leukoreduced using a platelet-sparing versus a non-platelet-sparing filter.

Background: Whole blood (WB) is an appealing alternative to component-based transfusion in patients with significant bleeding. Historically, WB was transfused less than 48 hours after collection and was not leukoreduced (LR). However, LR components are now standard in many hospitals and LR WB is desirable.

Sulfhydryl treatment of serum or plasma for the reduction of IgM antibodies.

Dithiothreitol (DTT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) are sulfhydryl compounds that can be used to treat serum or plasma to denature IgM antibody reactivity. By using sulfhydryl agents, IgG and IgM antibodies can be separated, the relative amount of IgM and IgG antibodies can be determined, and the risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn can be assessed.

The epidemiology of bacterial culture-positive and septic transfusion reactions at a large tertiary academic center: 2009 to 2016.

Background: Bacterial contamination and associated septic transfusion reactions (STRs) remain the leading infectious risk to the blood supply. We sought to characterize the risk and clinical presentation of blood culture-positive transfusion reactions (BCPTRs) and STRs at our institution.

Study Design And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all suspected transfusion reactions reported to the transfusion service at a 1000-bed tertiary academic medical center from January 2009 to September 2016.

ABO antibody titers are not predictive of hemolytic reactions due to plasma-incompatible platelet transfusions.

Background: The overall risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) from plasma (minor)-incompatible platelet (PLT) transfusions and the role of a critical anti-A or anti-B titer in predicting and preventing these reactions has not been clearly established.

Study Design And Methods: We evaluated all apheresis PLT (AP) transfusions for 3 months. Using the gel titer method, we determined the anti-A and/or the anti-B immunoglobulin (Ig)G titer for all incompatible APs.